A development project co-financed by the European Union has enabled the National Archives of Hungary to establish an electronic service package. This new system allows citizens and administrative bodies to obtain the necessary certificates for official procedures in a simple, fast, and efficient manner.
Archives are primarily known for their cultural activities, and like other public collections, the National Archives of Hungary has traditionally been active in this field. However, the institution also has another essential function: its integration into the public administration system. The archives are not only used by researchers studying medieval charters but also by citizens requesting various certificates. One of the most common requests involves documents proving entitlement to social security benefits, such as those needed for pension determination. However, the archives are also consulted for matters related to construction, expropriation, easements, and inheritance. In cases where documents are not available in other records and cannot be reproduced, the archives provide the only source of evidence for both clients and official authorities to obtain the necessary certifications in a legally credible manner. The documents preserved by the archives serve as a legal safeguard and are often the only means of verification in many administrative procedures. The National Archives of Hungary receives tens of thousands of requests annually.
As a result of the development, the National Archives of Hungary expanded its central server room and improved the IT infrastructure of its branch institutions. This upgrade enabled the standardization and nationwide expansion of administrative processes. Today, citizens can contact the archives electronically via a personalized administration interface (https://szuf.magyarorszag.hu) or through the renewed electronic archival portal (https://www.eleveltar.hu). Additionally, the system now allows the archives to handle citizen requests initiated at government service offices (kormányablakok) electronically, significantly speeding up case processing and reducing administrative workload.
The National Archives of Hungary operates with 20 branch institutions across 83 locations in the country. The new digital system enhances transparency by providing clear information on where specific documents are stored. This allows for much faster access, as the electronic service package automatically supplies the required certification documents to applicants and administrative bodies.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project KÖFOP-1.0.0-VEKOP-15-2016-00011 under the Public Administration and Public Service Development Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
