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As a member of the European Union, from 29 June 2009 the Hungarian passport authority will only issue biometric passports incorporating the electronic scanned fingerprints. In future passports can only be applied for in person: in Hungary at one of the Document Offices [okmányiroda] (www.nyilvantarto.hu/kekkh/kozos/), and abroad at embassies and consulates (but not honorary consulates).
Given that Hungarian embassies and consulate-generals do not yet have fingerprint scanning machines (these will be installed in due course), those Hungarian citizens residing abroad long-term, can apply for passports that will be issued for 1 year in the meantime.
The following options are available when applying for a new passport:
If you are not planning on visiting Hungary in the near future (within the next 12 months), then apply for a passport that will be valid for 1 year.
If you are planning to travel to Hungary in the near future and your passport is due to expire after that date then it is a good idea to apply for a biometric passport that will be valid for 10 years. You can submit your application at the Document Office [okmányiroda] nearest where you live (www.nyilvantarto.hu/kekkh/kozos/). The processing will take up to 28 days. In cases of urgency, for double the fee, the processing will take up to 8 days. If you don't have a permanent address in Hungary, then submit your application in Hungary at the Central Passport Office (1133 Budapest, Visegrádi u. 110-112), where it is advisable to make an appointment ahead of time by email: idopontfoglalas@ahiv.hu to avoid the queues. If you are not in Hungary long enough to pick up you new passport (an you have a New Zealand or other passport with which to return to New Zealand), you can ask for you new passport to be sent to you via the Embassy in Canberra.
If you are able to, postpone renewal of your passport until later. Existing passports remain valid until their expiry, even once the new passports are in circulation.
The procedures outlined above will remain in force until Embassies have become fully equipped with the necessary hardware, and further until procedures have been implemented enabling New Zealand based Hungarian passport-holders to apply.
Note: It is still important to submit passport renewal applications before the expiry of the passport, as it is the proof of your Hungarian citizenship. If in doubt please contact your nearest Honorary Consul:
Miklós Szabó, responsible for Waikato area and everything north of it