Stricter rules for Hungarian passports ahead: What the new plan means
The government is preparing to introduce stricter and more transparent regulations regarding Hungarian passport handling and data access, according to a recently published draft decree by the Ministry of Energy. The proposal, which is currently under public consultation, aims to create a more unified, legally secure, and efficient system across various authorities involved in passport-related duties, such as district offices, consular officials, and the general passport authority.
Unified rules for uncollected Hungarian passports
One of the most notable proposed changes concerns uncollected passports. According to Portfolio, under the new rules, if a passport is not picked up within 60 days at a district office (or within one year at a Hungarian consulate), it would be invalidated. The document would then be returned to the Hungarian passport authority, where it would be decommissioned, prepared for destruction, and each step would be logged in the passport registry.
Although this practice partially exists today, the process is not uniformly regulated or consistently applied. The new regulation seeks to standardise this procedure and ensure stricter enforcement.
Tighter conditions for data requests
The proposal also sets out more rigorous conditions for requesting personal data from the passport registry. Applicants would be required to submit their request directly to the general Hungarian passport authority, proving their connection to the individual concerned and providing a legal basis for data use. This legal basis must be documented, either by referencing a specific law or attaching relevant documentation.
Importantly, data provision would only be granted if the identifying details match a single individual in the registry. Moreover, any granted access would be valid for a maximum of one year. Should the purpose or legal basis for access cease to exist, the passport authority would revoke the authorisation.
Emphasis on transparency and legal safeguards
As InfoStart writes, the government says the ultimate goal of the proposed amendments is to enhance legal safeguards and improve oversight of the entire passport handling and data processing system. Authorities stress that these changes would make processes more transparent and ensure that personal data is handled with increased care and accountability.
Technical updates also included
In addition to procedural changes, the draft decree includes technical adjustments to modernise the language used in Hungarian passport regulations. For example, terms like “invalidation, decommissioning, and destruction” would be more precisely defined, and outdated sections of the regulation would be repealed to make way for clearer and more current rules.
If approved following public consultation, the new rules could mark a huge change in how passports and related data are managed in Hungary, affecting both citizens and those interacting with Hungarian consular services abroad.
Read more news about the Hungarian government HERE.
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