Guidance

Hungary: Knowledge Base profile

Published 19 March 2024

Version 3.0

About: Hungary

This document contains useful information about Hungary which will assist HM Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 3.0

• published for Home Office staff on 14 March 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Hungary: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Hungary.

Names in Hungary consist of:

• family name (surname)

• given name (forename)

• name (second forename)

Names in Hungary documents such as passports and birth certificates will show:

• a family name

• up to 2 forenames

If a foreign birth certificate shows more than two forenames, the parents must choose which names they want to include on the Hungary documents.

When registering a birth in Hungary, parents can choose to use the Hungarian version of any forename, for example JOSEPH can be converted to JÓZSEF, or CHARLES can be converted to KÁROLY.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Hungary.

When a person applies to change a name, all their documents are amended, and the original records sealed. They will be issued with a new birth certificate and a marriage certificate if they are married.

Upon marriage the husband and wife can choose whether they adopt their spouse’s family name as their own. If a marriage takes place outside Hungary, the couple must register the marriage at a registry office in Hungary or at a consulate outside of Hungary. Change of name cannot be completed if the marriage is not registered.

A widow may add özvegy or özv. before her married name, for example özv. SZABO Istvánné would be the widow of SZABO István.

Name alignment

HM Passport Office will not ask a customer to align their Hungary passport if:

• the names on the British passport application shows the English transliteration of the names in the Hungary passport and the application has:

  • more than 2 forenames

  • more than 1 surname (as Hungary do not allow more in their passports)

  • a hyphenated surname

• the Hungary passport shows a title such as Dr. in the surname field

In all other cases the customer must align their foreign passport to the new name.

The Hungary authorities require evidence of the customer change of name and proof they use their new name for all official purposes before they will change the passport. Examples of name in use evidence include a driving license or foreign passport in the new name.

Hungary: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Hungary.

Dual nationality is allowed in Hungary.

Hungary: parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about and parental responsibility in Hungary.

Parental responsibility

Both parents will have parental responsibility if they are married or live together. Parental responsibility is not lost if the parents separate or divorce.

Hungary: adoptions

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoptions in Hungary.

Adoptions are legal in Hungary.

It is illegal for same sex couples to adopt a child.

Hungary: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Hungary.

Surrogacy is illegal in Hungary.

Hungary: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Hungary.

Transgender citizens are recognised in Hungary.

Hungary: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Hungary.

Following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, HM Passport Office cannot accept Multilingual Standard Forms (MSFs) issued by member states. An MSF will:

• contain a reference to the convention signed at Vienna on September 8 1976, this may be on the reverse of the document

• be marked as a Formul A (birth certificate), normally in the top right corner on the front of the document in the language of the country where the document was issued

  • there will also be marriage certificates and death certificates that will have a different Formul version that is also not acceptable

These documents are an extract of a civil registration record translated into the language needed and not a full, original certificate.

Birth certificates

Births in Hungary are registered centrally. Copies of birth certificates can be obtained.

When a birth is registered in Hungary, it will not show a specific borough but only the town or city. For example, if the child is born in the UK and the place of birth is Barnet but the administrative area is London Borough of Barnet, the Hungarian authorities will put London in the Hungarian Registry. Therefore, London will appear on the Hungary passport.

Marriage certificates

Only civil marriages are legal in Hungary. Marriages are recorded in the Civil Registration, and this is compulsory. If a couple do not live in Hungary the marriage can be registered in a Hungarian consulate or embassy in the country they live in.

Identity documents

Identity cards are compulsory for Hungary citizens from 14 years of age, although they may be obtained by anyone after birth. ID cards are issued to permanent residents of Hungary. For foreign nationals, the card has a different colour.

There are three types of valid identity documents (Személyi igazolvány, abbr. Sz.ig.):

• a hard-covered, multi-page book issued before 1989 by the People’s Republic of Hungary which has a photo and signature of the holder and signature of the local police’s representative

• a soft-cover, multi-page book issued after 1989 which has a photo and signature of the holder and signature of the local police’s representative

• a plastic card, usually called a Personal Identity Card, issued with the photo and signature of the holder digitally reproduced

The identity card shows the owner’s full name, maiden name if applicable, date and place of birth, mother’s name, sex and validity period, as well as the local state authority which issued the card. It does not have any information about the owner’s residential address.

Hungary passports will show the place of birth as the town or city where the person is born not a specific borough, for example the place of birth is Barnet but the administrative area is London Borough of Barnet, the Hungarian authorities will put London in the Hungary passport.

Foreign nationals must carry their passport with them at all times in Hungary. If the passport is away for renewal the authorities will also accept:

• proof the passport has been sent for renewal

• a copy of the personal details page of the passport sent for renewal

People who encounter any difficulties in Hungary about this matter, will need to approach their nearest embassy or consulate for assistance.