Who can apply for a Hungarian passport?
All Hungarian citizens can apply for a passport. Your photo and your fingerprints are captured on-site when you apply for a passport, therefore you will have to apply in person.
The average processing time is 5-6 weeks. If you have no proof of citizenship, you must have your citizenship verified before applying for a passport. This procedure takes an average of 8-10 months but could take much longer.
Special rules pertaining to minors:
Applications of minors (persons under legal guardianship) for a passport must be submitted by the legal guardian or parent. As a general rule, both parents (legal guardians) must consent to the issuance of the document. If one of the parents are absent, she/he has to attach proof of the termination, revoke or suspension of parental responsibility of the other parent or attach the consent of the other parent. Please note, that such consent can be used only in procedures initiated within 15 days from the date of the consent was given. The fingerprints of the applicants between the ages of 12 and 18 must be digitally recorded as well, thus the applications can be submitted in person only. Passports are issued with a maximum validity of five years.
Passport applications can be initiated at a foreign mission for Hungarian national children who have not reached the age of 18, if
- They were born in Hungary or their birth abroad has been registered in Hungary (they have a Hungarian birth certificate); or
- The registration of their birth is initiated at the same time as the passport application (applies only to children under the age of six).
In the absence of a Hungarian birth certificate, please make sure to read the section on civil registry events first.
In order to submit the application, you must bring along all the documents below that are available to you:
- valid Hungarian passport or ID card of the Hungarian parent(s) (guardian);
- the non-Hungarian parent’s (guardian) valid passport, or ID card issued by EEA member state;
- If the parents exercise custody jointly, but only one of them appears in person, the signed consent form by the other parent;
- if the parent appearing in person exercises custody rights alone but the other parent is also on the child’s birth certificate, the document verifying the suspension of custody rights of the absent parent (e.g.: court decision, death certificate);
- if application is submitted by a guardian, the court decision appointing the guardian (if the original document is in English then a legalized Hungarian translation is also needed);
- original Hungarian birth certificate of the child;the valid passport of the child or one that has expired within a year;
- in the absence of a passport, the child’s valid ID or one that has expired within a year (if applicable);
- Hungarian address card of the child;
- ID photo of the child taken by a professional photographer no longer than 6 months ago, with a white or light grey background.
Required documents:
As proof of Hungarian citizenship:
- valid Hungarian ID card, or
- Hungarian passport expired within one year, or
- valid certificate of citizenship;
- payment of the consular fee;
- in case of lack of valid Hungarian passport/ ID card: valid document with a photo (valid foreign passport, ID card, driving licence) or Hungarian birth/marriage certificate showing your current name;
- if you apply with a new surname/first name: Hungarian certificate of marriage or Hungarian certificate of the changed name;
- if you can not prove your Hungarian citizenship: a filled in form for verification of citizenship (the form is available at the Consulate);
- if your previous (valid) passport was stolen: police record or reference number;
- if you have never had a Hungarian passport or ID card you should apply for a certificate of citizenship first (for further information please visit the following link on the website: “Verification of citizenship”).
- for an application filed on behalf of a minor, the minor's birth certificate must be submitted.