🏛City hall

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Budapest has a two-tier municipal administration: the City of Budapest (Fővárosi Önkormányzat) handles citywide matters, while each of the 23 district offices (Kerületi Hivatal) manages local services for residents.

Two-Level System

Most day-to-day administrative services (residency registration, civil status documents, local taxes) are handled by your district office, not the central city hall. Each district (kerület) has its own government office.

Central City Hall Services

• Strategic urban planning and development
• Public transport coordination (BKK)
• Major infrastructure projects
• City-wide regulations and policies
• Budapest tourism and cultural programs

District Office Services

• Residency registration (lakcímkártya — address card)
• Civil status documents — birth, marriage, death certificates
• ID card issuance (handled by district offices as government windows)
• Local taxes — property tax, vehicle tax, local business tax
• Building permits — smaller construction and renovation projects
• Social services — housing support, family aid
• School enrollment — primary and kindergarten registration

Finding Your District Office

Budapest is divided into 23 districts numbered I-XXIII (Roman numerals). Find your district by:

1. Checking your address — Budapest addresses include district number (e.g., “Budapest 1055” = District V)
2. Looking up your location on budapest.hu
3. Districts are often called by number or traditional name (e.g., “District V” or “Belváros-Lipótváros”)

Common central districts:

• I. Várkerület — Castle District
• V. Belváros-Lipótváros — Downtown, Parliament area
• VI. Terézváros — Andrássy Avenue, Opera
• VII. Erzsébetváros — Jewish Quarter, ruin bars
• XIII. Újlipótváros — Margaret Island area

Appointments

Many services require prior appointment. Book online through:

• Your district’s website (search “Budapest [district number] Önkormányzat”)
• Central government portal: magyarorszag.hu
• Customer service centers (Kormányablak) for ID and residency matters

Walk-in service availability varies by district and service type.

Required Documents

When visiting a district office, typically bring:

• Valid ID — Hungarian ID card or passport
• Address card (lakcímkártya) if you have one
• Relevant documents — lease agreement for residency, birth certificate for civil status services, etc.
• Payment receipts — some services require advance payment to designated bank accounts

Mayor and Governance

Budapest is led by Mayor Gergely Karácsony (elected 2019, re-elected 2024) from the Dialogue party. The city operates under a mayor-council system with the General Assembly of Budapest making key decisions.

Digital Services

Online services available at budapest.hu:

• Information on city services and programs
• News and announcements
• Cultural event calendars
• Urban development plans
• Contact information for all district offices

For government services (ID cards, passports, residency), use magyarorszag.hu — the official Hungarian government portal.

Language

Most district offices have limited English-speaking staff. Bring a Hungarian-speaking friend or translator for complex matters. Major customer service centers (Kormányablak) in tourist areas may have occasional English support.

Tips

• District offices can be crowded; arrive early or book appointments in advance
• Each district has slightly different procedures and opening hours
• For residency registration, you must register within 3 days of moving to a new address in Hungary
• Keep copies of all official documents; replacement fees can be expensive