The official requirement reads:
a kérelmező saját kézzel írt önéletrajza, a 18. életév betöltését követően (a kérelemnyomtatvány erre rendszeresített helyén)
A handwritten autobiography by the applicant, covering the period from the age of 18 onwards — written in the designated section of the application form. If the applicant has lost the ability to write, a medical certificate with a certified Hungarian translation must be provided.
There are no official content criteria, but there are several things worth knowing in advance.
- The biography must be written by hand, directly on the application form.
- It is not a CV: a coherent narrative is expected, not a list of jobs and qualifications.
- There is no need to describe the first 18 years of life in detail.
- That said, education and career should not be left out — it is best to describe your academic and professional path in order: where you studied and in what field, any internships, skills gained, and how you came to your current profession.
- Key personal life events should be included: marriage, children, divorce, relocations, and other significant changes.
- The text must follow strict chronological order.
- There should be no gaps: the reader should never be left wondering where you were or what you were doing at a given point in your life.
One more piece of advice: a biography is an account of the past and present, not the future. Plans and aspirations are not usually included. However, as a closing note, one or two sentences about why Hungarian citizenship matters to you personally can be a fitting addition.
