allows ethnic Hungarians to apply for simplified naturalisation if they can speak Hungarian and provide evidence of Hungarian ancestry. A person may apply for simplified naturalisation if the applicant is a descendant of a person who was a Hungarian citizen before 1920 (only the Kingdom of Hungary, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is eligible) or between 1941 and 1945 and the applicant speaks Hungarian. They may become a Hungarian citizen even if they do not live in Hungary. The law has created controversy as some five million ethnic Hungarians living beyond Hungary's borders, mostly in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine, may claim Hungarian citizenship. There are Hungarians living in Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Romania, and Austria whose ancestors lost Hungarian citizenship as a result of the peace treaty ending World War I. By December 2019, more than 1,100,000 applications had been filed and over 950,000 people had been granted citizenship. The main sources of applicants were 650,000 from Transylvania (Romania), 150,000 from Vojvodina (Serbia) and 120,000 from Ukraine. Hungarian citizenship by declaration Declaration is a simplified form of naturalisation. The following people may be eligible to acquire Hungarian citizenship by declaration: persons who lost Hungarian citizenship through emigration between 15 September 1947 and 2 May 1990. Stateless persons aged less than 19, born in Hungary and residing in Hungary for the 5 years prior to the declaration. Oath of allegiance Persons becoming naturalised Hungarian citizens are expected to take an Oath of Allegiance as follows: "I swear that I regard Hungary as my country. I will be a faithful citizen of the Republic of Hungary. I will respect and obey the Constitution and laws of this country. I defend my country to the utmost of my strength, I serve it to the best of my abilities. So help me God". Those who prefer may take an equivalent solemn promise instead of an oath. Loss of Hungarian citizenship It is not possible for a person to lose Hungarian citizenship involuntarily. The exception concerns fraudulent applications for naturalisation (subject to a 20-year time bar after which action cannot be taken). Hungarian citizens who hold another nationality and live outside Hungary may renounce their Hungarian citizenship. Dual citizenship Hungary allows its citizens to hold foreign citizenship in addition to their Hungarian citizenship. Some countries, however, do not permit multiple citizenship e.g. adults who acquired Hungarian and Japanese citizenship by birth must declare, to the