Brexit and its implications for British, HU and any other citizens

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url - @SimCityAT

Shambolic at Rotterdam getting off the Hull ferry a few weeks ago.  Queue wasn't much and I got out of the car to go through the fingerprint and photo process; fingerprints went OK, and I was chatting with the Marechaussee guy while he set up the camera; he took the shot and the system confirmed I could proceed, then it had a second thought and said I needed to repeat the photo, which we did,  The system then refused to allow me to proceed as the previous photo which it had rejected, was still in the system and I suspect the guy on duty didn't have the authority to reset it.  So, the guy then checked on the system, my fingerprints were OK, but no photo,  He said ordinarily it wouldn't be a problem, but as I intended to cross into Germany to see my wife's sister, the Germans may detain me.  By then the queue was backing up back onto the ferry, so I shrugged my shoulders and the guy let me in.  No problem later on and I got back OK when we came back to the UK.

‘Pretty shambolic’: new EU border checks cause stress for UK travellers https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … re_btn_url - @SimCityAT

Every time I have gone through Budapest airport, I've never seen anyone standing at the machines. It's always manual after long queues.

Budapest has special RP queues. Maybe other countries should do the same for RP and visa holders.

Woman stranded in Spain after UK’s eVisa system mistakes her for twin sister

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 … re_btn_url

ChatGPT:

What is the procedure for residence permit renewal under Article 50 in Hungary?

Answer:

Yes. I checked the current Hungarian immigration authority (NDGAP/OIF) guidance, and there has been a **specific 2026 update for British citizens holding the Withdrawal Agreement/Article 50 residence status**.

If you have the **Hungarian national permanent residence permit issued under the EU–UK Withdrawal Agreement (Article 50)**, the renewal is now essentially a **document replacement/extension**, rather than a fresh immigration application.

### The procedure

**1. Apply about 3 months before expiry**

OIF specifically asks applicants to submit the extension **3 months before the expiry date** of the existing national permanent residence permit. ([OIF][1])

So, if your card expires in **early January 2027**, you should be applying around **early October 2026**.

**2. Apply electronically through Enter Hungary**

The application **must be submitted through the Enter Hungary electronic platform**. ([OIF][1])

[Enter Hungary – English](https://enterhungary.gov.hu/eh/tajekozt … hatgpt.com)

This is important: you don't simply make an appointment at the immigration office and fill out a paper renewal application.

**3. Upload the required documents**

OIF says you need to upload:

* the electronically generated application form;

* a **photograph**;

* a **complete copy of your valid British passport**, without certification or translation.

The system-generated form must then be **printed, signed by you, scanned, and uploaded back into Enter Hungary**. ([OIF][1])

**4. Pay the fee**

The current fee for the extension is **HUF 20,000**. ([OIF][1]) <- This seems like a lot

**5. Attend the immigration office for fingerprints** <- what again?

After you have paid and the application has progressed, NDGAP will notify you through Enter Hungary that you need to attend the **competent NDGAP client service office for your place of residence** to have your fingerprints taken. ([OIF][1])

This is the only significant face-to-face part of the process.

**6. Wait for the new card**

The stated administrative processing time is **21 days**. ([OIF][1]) <- think this will take longer

The replacement document will be a **National Residence Card (Nemzeti Tartózkodási Kártya)** and will normally be valid for **10 years**. ([OIF][1])

### The particularly important point

You **do not have to re-prove your eligibility for permanent residence**.

For Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries, OIF expressly says that the authority **does not reassess**:

* means of subsistence;

* entitlement to healthcare; or

* state of health.

You don't have to make declarations about those matters. ([OIF][1])

In other words, this is **not equivalent to applying for a new Hungarian residence permit**.

Your underlying **right of permanent residence is indefinite**. Expiry of the physical residence document does **not** cause the underlying right of residence to expire. OIF nevertheless recommends keeping a valid residence card and Hungarian ID card because they are important for everyday administration. ([OIF][1]) <- This I did not know.

### One thing I would do in your case

Given your **early-January 2027 expiry**, I would aim to submit the application **in October 2026**, rather than waiting until December.

There is also a very recent OIF announcement specifically saying that British nationals with these national permanent residence permits **must apply through Enter Hungary before their existing document expires**. ([OIF][2])

If you want, I can also walk you through **exactly what you will see in Enter Hungary and which application/document type to select for an Article 50 renewal**, including what to enter in the Hungarian fields.

[1]: https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/informati … ly-members "Information note for british nationals with the right of permanent residence and their family members"

[2]: https://oif.gov.hu/index.php/news/new-i … out-brexit "New information about Brexit"

(BTW, ChatGPT is starting to become my firm friend for answers but I always cross reference what it says).

p.s.  This is also worth reading:

Information note for british nationals with the right of permanent residence and their family members

(it's the Footnote 1 show in my previous post).

My eyes glazed over at **2; is this good or is it worthwhile reading to advise others?

My eyes glazed over at **2; is this good or is it worthwhile reading to advise others? - @Cynic

Yes, I think it works for ONLY for British people with the Article 50 cards.   Immigration here is just a murky business and no-one goes there regularly - in theory once every 5 or more likely soon to be 10 years. 

But it is ChatGPT output, so there's no guarantee it's not hallucinating.  It was quite good at finding the guidance.

And it's formatting is dreadful but I'm as lazy as hell and I could have tidied it up.  Maybe I can have a go later.

I don't remember how many British people are here on Art 50 cards.  I have an idea it's about 7,000 but that's just dredging up memories or just imagining.

When I lived in NL (for the 2nd or 3rd time), there were 14,000 British people there but that was in the early 2000s.