New allegations have surfaced concerning Hungary’s citizenship programme, with claims that wealthy Canadian nationals obtained Hungarian citizenship despite allegedly failing to meet the legal requirements.

Former government accused of facilitating controversial citizenship approvals

The accusations have reignited debate over the use of so-called “state-interest naturalisation” during the previous government’s tenure.

The controversy was raised by György Velkey, a state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who said an internal review of practices during the Péter Szijjártó era had uncovered signs of abuse in the citizenship system.

According to Velkey, some Canadian applicants received Hungarian citizenship (and with it the right to travel freely within the European Union) even though they did not satisfy the standard eligibility criteria.

Private consultancy allegedly charged tens of thousands of dollars

Velkey claimed that a Canadian company called Hungarian Citizenship Consulting managed citizenship applications for clients in exchange for substantial fees reportedly ranging from USD 30,000 to USD 60,000 (from around HUF 9.2 million to HUF 18.4 million).

According to information cited by Hungarian media outlet HVG, the company was founded by Gergely Bodnár, a former project manager of the Hazaváró Programme, which previously fell under the portfolio of Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén. Bodnár has denied influencing citizenship decisions and maintains that his business operated legally.

Attention has also focused on Anna Szenthe, the Canadian president of the Hungarian Diaspora Council and co-director of the consultancy. Reports suggest that she signed recommendation letters supporting certain applicants seeking citizenship under the state-interest procedure.

Diaspora leader admits making recommendations

Szenthe has acknowledged that she exercised her right to recommend applicants “on a few occasions” between 2024 and 2026. She stated that she only supported individuals whom she believed would benefit Hungary through business, economic, cultural or artistic contributions.

She also rejected suggestions of personal gain, insisting that she received “no compensation or advantage” for submitting recommendations. Furthermore, she denied using her position within the Diaspora Council to facilitate official procedures for applicants.

When asked whether any of the individuals she recommended were also clients of the consultancy, Szenthe declined to comment, citing Canadian privacy legislation.

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Former ministers deny the accusations

The allegations have been strongly denied by members of the previous government. Gergely Gulyás, former head of the Prime Minister’s Office, described Velkey’s claims as “baseless slander” directed at himself, Péter Szijjártó and Zsolt Semjén.

Gulyás argued that the rules governing state-interest naturalisation remained unchanged throughout the Orbán administration and reflected a practice found in many countries.

Under Hungarian law, citizenship may be granted by the President of the Republic upon government recommendation when national interests—including economic, cultural, scientific, diplomatic or strategic considerations—justify such a decision.

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