Hungarian government’s shocking new administrative fee proposal: Here is what to expect!

The Hungarian government has issued a draft regulation for public consultation, proposing significant increases in various administrative fees. The stated aim is to align public revenues with the 2025 fiscal framework while introducing greater transparency in service fees.

According to Portfolio, these changes would have far-reaching implications for sectors such as healthcare, justice, education, intellectual property, and customs. Although rising costs are cited as the reason for the proposal, the scale and impact of these administrative fee increases are expected to vary.

The administrative fee changes

In the healthcare sector, administrative fees for certain reimbursed services will increase. A notable example is the cost of obtaining a medical opinion for public employment or work in the public interest, which would be standardised at HUF 6,000 (EUR 14). While this is not a dramatic increase compared to current rates, the fixed fee is justified by rising operating costs. This adjustment is intended to help healthcare providers cope with inflation and other economic pressures.

Fees related to intellectual property are also under review, with significant increases anticipated. For instance, the cost of patenting biological material will rise from HUF 150,000 (EUR 365) to HUF 202,500 (EUR 493), an increase of 35%. This adjustment is designed to cover administrative costs while simultaneously incentivising improvements in the quality of services.

Licences for orphan works—intellectual creations whose rights holders cannot be found—will also become more expensive. For commercial use, the fee will rise to HUF 124,800 (EUR 304), while non-profit use will cost HUF 40,500 (EUR 98). This tiered pricing system aims to ensure a fairer distribution of costs between commercial and non-commercial users.

Border crossing fees are set to increase as well. For example, the cost of a temporary border crossing permit will double from HUF 3,000 (EUR 7) to HUF 6,000 (EUR 14). Similarly, training fees for customs agents and consultants will rise from HUF 8,000 (EUR 19) to HUF 11,000 (EUR 26). These increases are expected to affect companies involved in foreign trade, as they could raise administrative costs for operators in this sector.