Hivatal

Hivatal is a Hungarian term that refers to a public administrative body or office. It can denote the institution itself, the building where administration takes place, or the authority responsible for public services. The word is commonly used in compound names to name specific agencies, such as adóhivatal (tax authority), földhivatal (land registry), járási hivatal (district office), kormányhivatal (regional government office), polgármesteri hivatal (mayor’s office), and anyakönyvi hivatal (civil registry).

In everyday usage, hivatal can also refer to the public administration as a whole or to the staff of such an office (hivatalnok). Hivatalok administer public services and public order, issue permits and certificates, collect taxes and fees, maintain official records, and enforce regulations. They operate under national ministries and local government structures, with a hierarchical organization that includes ministries, government offices, and municipal or district offices.

The term is neutral and formal, distinguishing official government functions from informal or private work. It is contrasted with private offices (magániroda) and with individual civil servants (hivatalnok) rather than the institutions themselves. Understanding the various usages of hivatal helps in navigating Hungarian public administration, whether referring to a specific agency, its building, or the broader civil service.