Returning to Hungary - how many complications will I face?

Hi everyone, I'd really appreciate any input from people who have been in a similar situation.My background: I lived in Hungary for many years, and received an Article 50 withdrawal agreement permanent residency card, which is still in date. However, I returned to the UK last year. I did not return my residence card, or inform anyone, as I know I can live outside of Hungary for up to 5 years. At the time, I did speak to NEAK about my TAJ and they told me not to give it back, as it will just become invalid once my previous employer stops paying my contributions. Now, I'm living and working in the UK, and I was always technically registered with the NHS during my time in Hungary, and still am, although I've never used it (NHS is not plugged into things it seems). If I return to Hungary in a year's time (no guarantee), with all my HU documents still in date, how many issues am I likely to face? Do you think I will be able to rent an apartment, get a new job, and have my TAJ working again, without any serious issue?Or have I done something wrong / not notified someone etc etc? To be honest, by the end of my time there I was very tired and stressed of all the bureaucracy, although I do love Hungary and consider it home. I just wanted to get back to the UK as soon as possible though, and could find no clear answers about anything. To make it more complicated, I am receiving EU citizenship (Italian) due to my family background. I suppose I could cancel all my existing Hungarian permits by sending them to the immigration office, and then return as an Italian EU citizen and start again?Thanks in advance. I appreciate any insights. - @József Attila

Just to say, in case anyone else misunderstands, the Article 50 card doesn't have any relation to employment.   

You're entitled to that anyway although be careful as they will all come up for renewal in the latter part of 2026.  You should renew it and get a 10 year version and you can come and go for long periods.  I believe they might give out 10 year versions next time with EU coverage but I'm guessing.  If you lose Article 50 coverage, you'll never EVER get it back. But it may not matter to you (with an Italian passport).

If you're in the UK, get a UK Health card.  Then you can have reciprocal cover.   That's enough for health care coverage. BTW, if you come back as a retiree, you can then use the S1 form to register for the TAJ.  Depends on how old you are and if you're in receipt of a government social security pension. With that, it's not employment dependent for the TAJ.

You could pay the TAJ contributions voluntarily but how you do that, I do not know.  I think it's administered and collected by NAV (tax office).  It's not expensive. I've forgotten how much, something like 8K HUF a month - others here will know.   It would at least give you continuity and give breathing space to consider your options.  You'd need that even if an Italian citizen and not working. Presumably Italy won't give you a EHIC.

@fluffy2560

Thank you for your reply.

I did not even realise that there is a new version of the EHIC card which I could apply for! I was sure that the EHIC as a concept was long gone for the UK since Brexit. I just checked my residence permit and it expires in March next year, so I will have to get to Hungary for Jan/Feb to make sure I can find an apartment, update my lakcimkártya, and apply etc. I speak decent Hungarian and am not too concerned about finding a job (salary is a separate issue of course).

I'm of working age and will be for many years, and would need to work and pay into TAJ at some point after arrival. I'm just slightly worried that I will return to a load of administrative hassle and fines from the local government. I was assured that my TAJ would just become inactive and not incur debts, but I'm second-guessing myself now. Technically, I'm probably still registered at my previous address too, which if that's become an issue could leave me with a headache. This is why I originally left haha, I was tired of all this!

But yes, I could cancel it all, start afresh, wait for my first Italian passport, and then move as a completely new EU citizen, which is functionally the same. Or move to the Székelyföld and deal with the Romanian bureaucracy haha.

@fluffy2560 Thank you for your reply.I did not even realise that there is a new version of the EHIC card which I could apply for! I was sure that the EHIC as a concept was long gone for the UK since Brexit. I just checked my residence permit and it expires in March next year, so I will have to get to Hungary for Jan/Feb to make sure I can find an apartment, update my lakcimkártya, and apply etc. I speak decent Hungarian and am not too concerned about finding a job (salary is a separate issue of course). I'm of working age and will be for many years, and would need to work and pay into TAJ at some point after arrival. I'm just slightly worried that I will return to a load of administrative hassle and fines from the local government. I was assured that my TAJ would just become inactive and not incur debts, but I'm second-guessing myself now. Technically, I'm probably still registered at my previous address too, which if that's become an issue could leave me with a headache. This is why I originally left haha, I was tired of all this!But yes, I could cancel it all, start afresh, wait for my first Italian passport, and then move as a completely new EU citizen, which is functionally the same. Or move to the Székelyföld and deal with the Romanian bureaucracy haha. - @József Attila

If you have to wait 3 months for your Italian passport, then probably not worth bothering with but if it's 18 months, you probably should update your status as though you're British only.

Personally, I'd pay the voluntary TAJ payments to make sure  there was ongoing coverage under all circumstances.   If it was me, I'd do that and then address all the other issues.   Maybe you'd want to do the Lakcimkartya first otherwise any letters will turn up at your old address.

And yes, there's a UK Health Insurance card which is exactly the same in all ways as it was as the EHIC but it isn't called an EHIC anymore.   However, I do believe there is some kind of quasi-normalised limit underlying it although most people don't know. I think it's £4000.  But I don't know any details or anything like that or even maybe if I dreamt it.  Maybe Google knows.  I don't think it's in any way enforced.  The assumption is that anyone using it for serious matters ultimately has travel insurance (in the best case).   Anyways, you can Google it and apply.  You have to give your NHS number if I remember correctly.   A few years ago, I applied for my Dad and his turned up fast.  Like in a week. 

The expiry of the Article 50 RP cards is going to go on almost all year in 2026.  It should be very routine but best to make a reminder for it as that Article 50 business for the British is impossible to get back if lost.

BTW, they updated the app for the Kormanyablak etc and the old IDs have or will expire so maybe you want that organised.  I didn't bother as I'm not a Hungarian citizen and always have to go to their offices and I usually get paper letters in the post.  I was registered online but no-one from the government has ever sent me anything important electronically. 

With an Article 50 Card, you are allowed out of the country for 6 Months with a 5 year card, and with a 10;year card you are allowed out of the country for 5 years.

@fluffy2560 Thank you for your reply.I did not even realise that there is a new version of the EHIC card which I could apply for! I was sure that the EHIC as a concept was long gone for the UK since Brexit. I just checked my residence permit and it expires in March next year, so I will have to get to Hungary for Jan/Feb to make sure I can find an apartment, update my lakcimkártya, and apply etc. I speak decent Hungarian and am not too concerned about finding a job (salary is a separate issue of course). I'm of working age and will be for many years, and would need to work and pay into TAJ at some point after arrival. I'm just slightly worried that I will return to a load of administrative hassle and fines from the local government. I was assured that my TAJ would just become inactive and not incur debts, but I'm second-guessing myself now. Technically, I'm probably still registered at my previous address too, which if that's become an issue could leave me with a headache. This is why I originally left haha, I was tired of all this!But yes, I could cancel it all, start afresh, wait for my first Italian passport, and then move as a completely new EU citizen, which is functionally the same. Or move to the Székelyföld and deal with the Romanian bureaucracy haha.  - @József Attila
If you have to wait 3 months for your Italian passport, then probably not worth bothering with but if it's 18 months, you probably should update your status as though you're British only.
Personally, I'd pay the voluntary TAJ payments to make sure there was ongoing coverage under all circumstances. If it was me, I'd do that and then address all the other issues. Maybe you'd want to do the Lakcimkartya first otherwise any letters will turn up at your old address.

And yes, there's a UK Health Insurance card which is exactly the same in all ways as it was as the EHIC but it isn't called an EHIC anymore. However, I do believe there is some kind of quasi-normalised limit underlying it although most people don't know. I think it's £4000. But I don't know any details or anything like that or even maybe if I dreamt it. Maybe Google knows. I don't think it's in any way enforced. The assumption is that anyone using it for serious matters ultimately has travel insurance (in the best case). Anyways, you can Google it and apply. You have to give your NHS number if I remember correctly. A few years ago, I applied for my Dad and his turned up fast. Like in a week.

The expiry of the Article 50 RP cards is going to go on almost all year in 2026. It should be very routine but best to make a reminder for it as that Article 50 business for the British is impossible to get back if lost.

BTW, they updated the app for the Kormanyablak etc and the old IDs have or will expire so maybe you want that organised. I didn't bother as I'm not a Hungarian citizen and always have to go to their offices and I usually get paper letters in the post. I was registered online but no-one from the government has ever sent me anything important electronically. - @fluffy2560

EHIC is now called GHIC in the UK. Still has no effect because of Brexit, we are still European. We used to have the E111 even before the EU was formed.

@fluffy2560
Thank you for your reply.
I did not even realise that there is a new version of the EHIC card which I could apply for! I was sure that the EHIC as a concept was long gone for the UK since Brexit. I just checked my residence permit and it expires in March next year, so I will have to get to Hungary for Jan/Feb to make sure I can find an apartment, update my lakcimkártya, and apply etc. I speak decent Hungarian and am not too concerned about finding a job (salary is a separate issue of course).

I'm of working age and will be for many years, and would need to work and pay into TAJ at some point after arrival. I'm just slightly worried that I will return to a load of administrative hassle and fines from the local government. I was assured that my TAJ would just become inactive and not incur debts, but I'm second-guessing myself now. Technically, I'm probably still registered at my previous address too, which if that's become an issue could leave me with a headache. This is why I originally left haha, I was tired of all this!

But yes, I could cancel it all, start afresh, wait for my first Italian passport, and then move as a completely new EU citizen, which is functionally the same. Or move to the Székelyföld and deal with the Romanian bureaucracy haha. - @József Attila

Have you applied for your Italian passport yet? If you haven't then I would start the process now because a EC citizen is far better than just having an Article 50 card, e.g. should you wish to buy property in the future you won't have any hurdles.

EHIC is now called GHIC in the UK. Still has no effect because of Brexit, we are still European. We used to have the E111 even before the EU was formed. - @SimCityAT

Yes, that's the one, I couldn't remember the name on the fly.

GHIC application (at the UK govt web site)

It says there that you can still apply for an EHIC if you have Article 50 rights.  Didn't know that. Looks like EHIC has more limited coverage than the GHIC so why the new EHIC exists is unclear.

Have you applied for your Italian passport yet? If you haven't then I would start the process now because a EC citizen is far better than just having an Article 50 card, e.g. should you wish to buy property in the future you won't have any hurdles. - @SimCityAT

Absolutely, an EU passport gets you around so much.   Definitely it's more like 1st class citizen rights than the 2nd class permissions of the Article 50 RP.

Probably no issue with buying residential property with just a UK passport but more a formality than with an EU passport.  It would be a slight hurdle with agricultural land,  places in National Parks or historic buildings.   The decisions on purchase are local government level in the land registry process.