Where to Buy Hungarian ID Card? Your Easy Guide

Alright, alright, let’s talk about this Hungary ID card thing, ya hear? Folks keep askin’ about it, so I figured I’d lay it all out for ya, plain and simple, like it is. No fancy talk, just the facts, the way I see ’em.

What’s this Hungary ID card all about anyway?

Well, from what I gather, it’s like a little card they got over in Hungary. Shows who you are, you know? Like a driver’s license, but for, well, just bein’ you. Now, they say it ain’t somethin’ everyone has to have, not like the law says you gotta have it. But it seems like a lot of folks want one. Guess it makes things easier over there.

How do you get your hands on one of these cards?

• Seems like there’s a couple of ways, dependin’ on where you are and what you’re doin’.
• If you’re already over there in Hungary, just visitin’ like, and you’re from a place where you don’t need a special paper to get in, you can go online. They got this website, somethin’ called EnterHungary, run by the folks who deal with folks comin’ and goin’. You just fill out the stuff online, easy peasy.
• But if you’re already there and you need to get a new card ’cause your old one’s no good anymore, you gotta do that online thing too. Just a heads up, like.
• Now, if you’re not over there, I heard you can go to some office, a “Protocol Office” they call it, in Budapest. Sounds fancy, huh? You gotta go on Tuesdays or Thursdays, in the mornin’ time. Sounds like a hassle if you ask me.
• And sometimes, they just send you one, without you even askin’. “Ex officio” they call it. Big words for somethin’ simple. They just decide you need one, and boom, there it is.

How long is this card good for?

Well, that depends on how old you are. If you’re a grown-up, over 18, it’s good for six years. They make it run out on your birthday, so you don’t forget, I guess. If you’re younger than 18 but older than 12, it’s only good for three years. Kids grow up fast, I reckon, so they gotta change the picture sooner.

What do you need to get the card?

They didn’t say it straight out, but I’m guessin’ you need some papers. Stuff that proves who you are. Like a birth certificate, maybe. Or that passport thing, you know, the blue or red one. And they take your fingerprints now, too. Fancy stuff, I tell ya. Put it all on a little chip in the card.

What else can this card do?

Well, it’s mostly just to show who you are. But they say it’s got this “electronic storage element” thingy. Sounds like it can hold more than just your name and picture. Maybe they put your address on there too, or your medical stuff. I don’t rightly know, but it sounds useful.

And what about that Personal ID thing?

Oh, that old thing? They used to use it back in the day, when the Communists were runnin’ things. But they don’t use it no more to say who you are. Just for keepin’ track of numbers, I guess. Like how many folks live in a town or somethin’.

So, is it hard to get this card?

Well, it sounds like it can be a bit of a pain, goin’ to offices and fillin’ out forms. And you gotta make an appointment sometimes, can’t just walk in whenever you feel like it. But it ain’t impossible, see? If you need it, you need it, and you’ll figure it out. Just gotta be patient and follow their rules.

Where do you get it if you’re not in Hungary?

Seems like you can go to the embassy, if you got one of those nearby. They got a special place there, the “consular section,” where they handle this kind of stuff. You can ask for the card there, but I bet it takes a while. Government work ain’t never fast, ya know?

Anything else I should know?

Well, they keep changin’ things, makin’ the cards more secure. New fingerprints and all that. So, what you hear today might be different tomorrow. Just gotta keep your ears open and ask around if you ain’t sure. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s what I always say. Folks are usually willin’ to lend a hand, long as you’re polite about it.

So, there you have it. The whole Hungary ID card thing, explained as plain as I can make it. Hope it helps ya out. Now, go on and get yourself one if you need it. And don’t forget to smile for the picture!