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Problems with Foreigner’s Immunity Certificates: PMO Head Says Gov’t Offices Can Help

Tamás Vaski 2021.05.13.

Anyone with an issue involving their Hungarian immunity card should inform a government office, where they can request their certificates to be produced and mailed to them, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Gergely Gulyás announced

People vaccinated in Hungary who do not have a Hungarian passport or an identity card, primarily foreign citizens, have faced a number of difficulties in acquiring their immunity certificates. The main issue is that without the number of such documents, the National eHealth Infrastructure (EESZT) database cannot register these individuals for immunity cards.

Bureaucracy Blocks Hungary’s Foreign Citizens from Immunity Certificates
Bureaucracy Blocks Hungary’s Foreign Citizens from Immunity Certificates

Unfortunately for foreign citizens, the immunity card can only be received with a valid Hungarian identity card or passport, which they likely do not have. The solution to the issue is not far off.Continue reading

Hypothetically, foreign citizens were supposed to be provided with an identifying number that could be used instead of a passport or identity card number by the doctors who vaccinated them, but this was not communicated to either party properly. Those who requested such a number after their vaccination had to have their record refreshed, which resulted in EESZT not recognizing them as having been vaccinated, thus not being eligible for a Hungarian immunity card.

While the issue was supposed to be solved by the 13th, Minister Gulyás’ announcement in Thursday’s government press conference made it clear that this is not the case, and that people facing trouble with immunity certificates should turn to government offices.

Vaccination Open to Foreigners and Hungarians Without TAJ Cards
Vaccination Open to Foreigners and Hungarians Without TAJ Cards

Registration for non-citizens, Hungarians living abroad, and repatriated Hungarians who do not yet have a TAJ card opened on Tuesday.Continue reading

Considering that many have already done this, their best course of action now seems to be, as Gulyás suggests, to ensure that their government office knows about their issue and that they will be mailed a Hungarian immunity card once it is ready.

Featured photo illustration by Attila Balázs/MTI


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