COMMENTARY ADDRESSING STATELESSNESS THROUGH THE HUNGARIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT BLANKA UJVÁRI* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction........................................................................................................... 202 The Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship .................................................... 203 A General Overview ..................................................................................... 203 B Acquisition of Citizenship by Birth .......................................................... 205 C Naturalisation ........................................................................................... 206 D Renunciation, Revocation and Restoration of Citizenship ....................... 208 E Evaluating the Hungarian Citizenship Act in Light of the Prevention of Childhood Statelessness ........................................................................... 208 Concluding Remarks............................................................................................. 209 INTRODUCTION In Hungary, four legislations regulating citizenship-related issues in detail had been enacted starting from the second half of the 19th century. The Hungarian legislation recognises the legal status of statelessness and the concept of a stateless person. Hungary has ratified both the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (‘1954 Convention’)1 and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (‘1961 Convention’). 2 Consequently, there was an intention to find a solution for persons who submit an application for stateless status in its territory. In this commentary, I introduce the Hungarian citizenship legislation in force, particularly focusing on the articles concerning the acquisition of Hungarian citizenship and how these relate to statelessness. I examine whether statelessness is adequately addressed in the legislation governing the acquisition of Hungarian citizenship and whether the legislation in force is able to provide appropriate safeguards in order to prevent statelessness, especially childhood statelessness. Comprehensive analysis regarding this matter is currently lacking. I argue that the situation in Hungary could be viewed as a ‘glass half empty’, as the citizenship legislation does provide some safeguards against statelessness, but significant flaws remain in the legislation regarding the prevention of statelessness, especially childhood statelessness. The National Assembly should address these gaps to enable Hungary to fulfil its international obligations under the 1961 Convention to prevent and eradicate childhood statelessness. This commentary only focuses * 1 2 Blanka Ujvári is a visiting lecturer at the Department of Constitutional Law, Pázmány Péter Catholic University. She has a PhD in human rights law focusing on statelessness, as well as an LLM degree in both European human rights law and in data protection law. Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, opened for signature 28 September 1954, 360 UNTS 117 (entered into force 6 June 1960). Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, opened for signature 28 September 1954, 989 UNTS 175 (entered into force 13 December 1975). 202