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Ancestor extracts and certified translation — practical guide

How to get civil registry extracts for Hungarian citizenship, why in-person is often better, and why only a sworn interpreter’s translation counts.

For the ancestry chain you need civil registry extracts: birth, often death, and marriage when needed. Every family step from you to the ancestor must be documented.

In Serbia, newer entries can go through eUprava, but older ancestor records often require an in-person visit to the registrar or archive. Going in person is usually faster and reduces form-type mistakes.

Translation and names

If the extract is not bilingual in Hungarian, a sworn court interpreter must translate it — the stamp is required. A regular translator or machine translation will not be accepted.

First and last names must match from you to the ancestor. If a name changed, you need a document that proves it.

See the Requirements page for forms and booking. Practise consul questions and biography in the course for the interview.