Hungarian Cultural Knowledge Exam Guide

Hungary uses the exam to confirm applicants understand the country they intend to settle in. It checks familiarity with:

• National symbols and historical memory
• Basic constitutional and civic structures
• Cultural traditions and everyday social context

It measures recognition and recall—not spoken fluency or grammar.

Usually required for:

• Permanent residence (letelepedési engedély)
• Long-term residence where cultural integration is mandated
• Any pathway that explicitly asks for a cultural knowledge certificate

Typical exemptions:

• Applicants with verified Hungarian ancestry or restoration routes
• Under 16 or over 65 (most cases)
• Documented severe learning or cognitive disabilities
• Explicit exemptions stated in law

Always check the rule for your exact application type before scheduling.

You do not have to pass before filing your residence application. A practical sequence:

1. Start the residence application and confirm eligibility.
2. Once it is clear the exam is required, register.
3. Submit the certificate when requested to avoid end-stage delays.

Waiting on the certificate can slow the decision, so allow buffer time.

Registration is not automatic—you must apply with the official form (introduced in 2025).

1. Get the registration form. Download from the immigration authority: official page.
2. Complete and sign by hand. Typed or digital signatures are refused.
3. Pay the fee. Follow the exact bank reference on the form and keep proof.
4. Email the packet. Send the signed form, proof of payment, and passport / residence card copy; wait for confirmation.

Scheduling often takes 4–8 weeks. Most candidates are offered a single date; rescheduling is rarely approved.

• 12 questions total (2 from each of six official topics)
• 60 minutes, handwritten, Hungarian only
• Mix of multiple choice and short answer

Short answers demand legible names, dates, and institutions.

• 30 points total; pass mark is 16+ points (50% plus one).
• Short answers often carry higher value than multiple choice.
• Clear handwriting helps ensure answers are marked correctly.

Use a two-phase approach:

1. English-led learning. Understand key facts, dates, institutions, and context.
2. Hungarian-only practice. Switch to reading questions and writing answers in Hungarian to mirror exam conditions.

Even without formal Hungarian classes, focused practice with topic summaries and past-style questions is usually enough.

Short answers often decide your score. Practice writing:

• Names of people, institutions, holidays
• Dates (e.g., 1956. október 23.)
• Rights and duties
• Geography and neighbours

Partial, recognisable answers can still earn points—avoid leaving blanks.

• Clarity beats grammar; bullet or list your answers.
• Use simple connectors like és (and); singular forms are usually fine.
• Accents help but recognisable spelling matters more.
• Write on separate lines or use semicolons to separate items.

• Two pens, water, tissues
• Valid identification
• Snacks or money—waiting for results can take hours

Phones and notes must be stored away from your desk once the exam starts.

Arrive 15–30 minutes early. You will:

• Queue with other candidates and show ID
• Confirm your name and sign attendance
• Receive instructions before booklets are handed out

Results are usually given the same day. Expect to wait on-site for several hours. Names are called out to distribute pass/fail slips; no detailed breakdown is provided.

You receive a stamped, signed certificate—check your name and date before leaving. Keep the original safe and include it with your residence application.

You may retake up to three times. Most people pass within one or two attempts with focused short-answer practice.

Know the Himnusz (Kölcsey Ferenc) and Szózat (Vörösmarty Mihály), the flag and coat of arms, and the colours red-white-green.

Key holidays and dates to memorise:

• 15 March – 1848 Revolution
• 20 August – St Stephen and the state foundation
• 23 October – 1956 Uprising and 1989 Republic proclamation

Expect short answers requiring precise names or dates.

Focus on recurring milestones:

• Foundation of the state by St Stephen (year 1000)
• 1848–49 Revolution and figures like Kossuth, Széchenyi, Petőfi
• 1956 Uprising and the 1989–90 regime change
• Treaty of Trianon (1920) and EU membership (2004)

Be ready to write names, dates, and brief aims of events.

Literature essentials:

• Petőfi Sándor – Nemzeti dal
• Arany János
• Ady Endre
• József Attila
• Vörösmarty Mihály – Szózat

Music essentials:

• Bartók Béla – composer, ethnomusicologist
• Kodály Zoltán – composer, educator
• Liszt Ferenc – Romantic-era pianist and composer

Questions often match names to works or periods; spelling matters.

Core bodies and roles:

• Országgyűlés – National Assembly (legislature)
• Köztársasági Elnök – President (ceremonial head of state)
• Miniszterelnök – Prime Minister (head of government)
• Kormány – Government (executive)
• Alkotmánybíróság – Constitutional Court

Expect questions about which institution appoints, signs, or oversees specific actions.

Key rights:

• Education
• Freedom of expression and assembly
• Property rights

Key duties:

• Obey the law
• Pay taxes
• Ensure children’s education
• Protect the environment

Questions often ask for two rights or two duties in Hungarian.

Practical facts to memorise:

• Neighbours: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia
• Currency: forint (HUF); EU member since 2004
• Key regions: Alföld, Dunántúl, Balaton
• Official language: Hungarian

Expect short answers on geography, customs, or everyday civic life.