Hungary to retire old book‑format ID cards, 135,000 seniors must replace them

All book‑format personal identification cards issued before 1 January 2000 will lose legal validity on 3 August 2026. Holders must obtain the new electronic ID card (eSzemélyi) at any government office; the card is free for citizens who have reached age 70. No automatic renewal notices will be sent.

Approximately 135 000 older citizens are affected. The government announced that a parliamentary vote on extending the use of the old cards was cancelled due to an energy‑saving emergency session, so the deadline stands. Mobile government‑office services are available for people with health or mobility issues, allowing applications to be processed at care homes or other local sites.

The change aligns Hungary’s identification system with EU regulations and aims to modernise official procedures.