Old booklet ID cards: how families can help replace them

It is worth arranging the replacement of an old booklet-style ID card before the end of the year, particularly if the holder needs help with the process. According to the Digital Hungary Agency, these already expired documents can be used for certain domestic administrative matters until 31 December 2026. Relatives can help most by reviewing the holder's documents with them, preparing the necessary paperwork and arranging a visit to a government service centre or an on-site service.

They do not expire in January: limited acceptance ends at the end of the year

According to the Ministry of Interior, booklet-style identity cards issued before 1 January 2000 ceased to be valid on 3 August 2026. It would therefore be inaccurate to regard them as remaining fully valid for all purposes until the end of the year.

According to the Digital Hungary Agency's guidance, the old documents will still be accepted for certain social welfare and essential domestic matters until 31 December 2026. The areas listed include receiving pensions and social benefits, accessing healthcare, using travel concessions and civil registration procedures. This is a limited transitional arrangement, not an extension of the card's general validity.

1. Check together which identity card is being used

The first step can be a calm conversation and a joint review of the documents. Find the identity card used regularly, check its format and issue date, then set aside the documents needed for the application. This avoids discovering on the morning of the visit that a document still needs to be found.

According to the Ministry of Interior's notice, the authorities do not send a separate, personalised notification when these cards cease to be valid. There is therefore no reason to wait for a letter before starting the process. Family support here is mainly about paying attention and making arrangements: the holder should understand why the card needs to be replaced.

2. Prepare the documents and agree on the practical details

According to the Digital Hungary Agency, the existing booklet-style identity card and address card are required for the replacement. It is sensible to keep these together somewhere easily accessible. If either document is missing, or the holder's circumstances are unusual, contact a government service centre before travelling to ask what else needs to be done.

According to the Ministry of Interior's statement, a new identity card can be requested at any government service centre. When choosing a location, consider how easy it is to reach, the availability of the person accompanying the holder and how much the holder can comfortably manage. Check opening hours and step-free access directly with the chosen service centre.

According to Szentendre City Council, an old booklet-style identity card can be replaced without booking an appointment in advance. Family arrangements therefore do not have to revolve solely around a booked appointment. Even so, it is worth agreeing beforehand when the holder and their companion can visit the service centre together.

3. Relatives can help, but cannot apply on the holder's behalf

According to the Digital Hungary Agency, an identity card application cannot be made through an authorised representative. When arranging help, it is therefore not enough to plan for a family member to take in the documents and submit the application on the holder's behalf. Accompanying someone and acting as their authorised representative are two different things.

A family member can nevertheless take much of the burden off an older relative: they can arrange transport, accompany them to the service centre and help compile questions. It is useful to write down in advance what needs clarifying, such as how the new document will be collected or what happens next. Throughout the process, it is important that the holder understands what is happening and can take part in handling their own affairs.

4. If visiting in person is difficult, request an on-site service

According to the Ministry of Interior's notice, people who are unable to attend or are confined to bed can request an on-site service through a mobile government service centre by contacting the government office responsible for their place of residence, with a medical certificate if required. Anyone unable to reach a service centre should therefore first ask about this option. Difficulty attending in person is not a reason simply to set the replacement aside.

When making enquiries, it is useful to ask how to submit the request, what supporting evidence is required and how the on-site visit will be arranged. The family can note down the guidance received and the agreed next steps. Allow some flexibility when arranging the visit rather than relying on an assumed date.

5. Clarify fee exemptions and postal pension payments too

According to the Ministry of Interior, a new permanent identity card is issued free of charge to citizens aged 70 or over. Those who do not meet this age requirement should ask the service centre about the fees applicable to their circumstances. This avoids estimating costs based on hearsay or another family member's previous experience.

According to RTL's report, from 1 January 2027, recipients holding an expired booklet-style identity card may have difficulty receiving their cash pension through the postal service if they have no other valid, acceptable identity document. This does not mean their pension entitlement ends: the report concerns an obstacle to the identity checks required to receive the payment.

According to RTL, recipients can also prove their identity to the postal worker with a valid passport or a valid photocard driving licence, and can continue to receive their pension through the postal service using these documents. When reviewing documents together, it is therefore worth finding these too and checking their validity. This makes it easier to establish which identity documents are available until the new identity card is ready.

Make sure the next step is clear after the visit too

Family support is most useful when it does not end with arranging the visit to the service centre. Note down what the holder was told about collecting the document, whether they need to do anything else and who will help them. The aim is not to rush, but to make every step of the replacement process clear and avoid leaving anything unresolved at the end of the year. The general information provided here does not replace official guidance on an individual case or professional legal advice.