Only Hungarian citizens can apply for an ID card at the Consulate General and only permanent ID cards can be requested. It is not possible to apply for a temporary ID card.
The permanent ID card can be renewed or replaced in the following circumstances: change in personal data, expiration of validity, error of fact or if the card gets lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.
It is possible to renew the ID card that is about to expire no sooner than 60 days before the date of expiration.
ID card application can be submitted only in person by prior appointment. Appointments can be made via the online reservation system.
The use of the online reservation system and making appointment is free of charge.
Those underage applicants who have turned 14 can apply for an ID card on their own behalves.
At your appointment you are required to present the following documents:
- valid permanent ID card or an ID card that expired not more than 1 year ago;
- Hungarian passport or a passport that expired not more than 1 year ago;
- address card (lakcímkártya)
- birth certificate or marriage certificate
If you possess a valid Hungarian ID card or passport, yet you are unable to present them during the procedure, your application for the ID card will not be accepted, except if the valid document has been lost or stolen. In this case, you have to give a declaration about the fact that the card was stolen or lost. Your declaration will be drawn up in an official report at the Consulate.
In case you do not have a valid Hungarian ID card or passport, you have to present either one of the following documents:
- valid foreign ID card or passport
- valid Hungarian or foreign driving license card
If the applicant is under age of 14, both parents must give their consent to submit the application form and provide a copy of the child's birth registration. Both parents must have valid documents to prove their identity.
If only one of the parents is present in person at the appointment to submit the application, a finalized court order stating that the other parent's parental rights have been terminated or suspended must also be submitted. If such a document is not available, the application request must be accompanied by a handwritten or computer-generated consent for the issuance of the child's identity card from the absent parent (or legal guardian) before a notary public or a competent authority (the district or capital office of the capital and the state department for the protection of children's rights and guardianship of the state department for the protection of children's rights and guardianship / the director of the penitentiary institution / the consular officer), or by a handwritten or computer-generated consent for the issuance of the child's identity card from the absent parent (or legal guardian), bearing the personal signature of the parent and the signatures of two witnesses.
If the applicant is under age of 14, one of the parents may also submit an application and it is not necessary to submit the other parent's declaration of consent or a court order stating that the parental custody rights have been terminated or suspended. The applying parent must present valid identification document and a copy of the child's birth registration.
In case the applicant is under age of 12, a recent photo of the child is required. The photo shall be taken with a white background by a professional photographer. Minors who are less than 12 year old are not required to be present at the appointment.
The old ID card must be taken. Valid ID cards are given back for use until the arrival of the new document. However, in this case the new ID card can only be taken after handing over of the old document at the Consulate.
Upon the submission of the application, your photo, fingerprints and signature are digitally recorded.
Fingerprints will not be recorded if:
- the Hungarian citizen is under age of 12;
- the applicant refuses to give his/her fingerprints (Attention! In this case certain functions that are attached to the data stored on the chip of the new ID card will be inactive)
- the applicant is physically unable to give fingerprints
Upon the submission of the application the applicant is given a PIN envelope that contains the PIN code and PUK code of the Electronic ID card. Once you have received the ID card, you can create a Governmental Client Gate (Ügyfélkapu) profile online at www.magyarorszag.hu using your PIN code. The PIN code is necessary for some of the Hungary-based services provided by the E-ID card. The PIN code can be changed once the E-ID card is handed over to the owner. Services provided by the E-ID card are not available without the activation of the PIN code. However, the document can be used for travelling and personal identification even without the activation of the PIN code.
Please note that in case you lose the PIN envelope before receiving the new ID card, the Consulate will not be able to initiate an application for a new PIN code, as it can be requested only in the government document offices located in Hungary. Likewise, the Consulate has no competence in the re-activation of the blocked PUK code, either.
Services provided by the E-ID card: registration of social security number (TAJ-szám), tax number, and the phone number of an emergency contact.
Upon submission of the application for an E-ID card, the consul checks the database in order to find out whether the applicant has a registered social security number (TAJ-szám) and tax ID. In case the query returns no results, the social security and tax ID will not be recorded on the storage unit of the E-ID card. In case you possess a social security card (TAJ-kártya) or a tax card, make sure you have both of the documents on you at the time of your appointment.
You can request the registration of the phone number of an emergency contact either together with your application for the ID card or after having received your new ID card. It is possible to register two phone numbers.
The Electronic ID card application is for free of charge.
Duration of the procedure
The new documents arrive to the Consulate within 5-8 weeks after the date of application. After the arrival, the applicant is immediately informed via e-mail.
The validity of the E-ID card
In case the cardholder is over 18 years of age, the ID card has a validity of 6 years and expires on the birthday of the owner.
In case the cardholder is over 12 years of age, but has not yet turned 18, the ID card has a validity of 3 years and expires on the birthday of the owner.
In case the cardholder has not yet turned 12, the ID card is valid for 3 years and expires on the birthday of the owner or on the day the owner turns 12. (For instance, if the date of issue is 20 January 2017 and the birthday of the owner is on 5th April, the E-ID card will expire on 5th April 2020, except if the owner turns to 12 before 5 April, 2020.)
Those who are over 65 years of age can request an ID card without an expiry date. ID cards without an expiry date have no storage units; the date of expiry is established as 1st January of the 60th year after the date of issue.
The application can be rejected if:
- the applicant is not registered in the personal data and address information database;
- if the applicant has a passive record in the personal data and address information database (for instance because formerly having settled abroad);
- the applicant has failed to register an event (marriage, divorce) happened abroad which caused the change of the name (for instance, she has taken her husband’s surname);
- a travel ban has been imposed on the applicant.
The applicant can lodge an appeal against the negative decision within 15 days. The appeal must be submitted to the consulate where the negative decision has been made. The appeal must be explained.
It is not possible to request an electronic signature (E-sign) at the consulates. It can be applied after having received the E-ID card online or personally at any government office located in Hungary.