On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Hungary LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Hungary country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Hungary COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Hungary.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Hungary is a signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Since 1989 Hungary has been both a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol. Hungary acceded to the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (henceforth the 1954 Convention) in November 2001 and to the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2009.
Additionally, as a European Union Member State, Hungary is bound by EU rules on asylum and return, including the Asylum Procedures Directive (Directive 2013/32/EU), the Reception Conditions Directive (Directive 2013/33/EU) and the Return Directive (Directive 2008/115/EC).
However, the Court of Justice of the European Union and European Commission have penalized Hungary for its failure to act in accordance with EU provisions.
Hungary, a European Union member, broadly transposed the relevant EU asylum related Directives into national legislation through the Law on Asylum, which was adopted in June 2007. In November 2007, the Government promulgated the enabling provisions to the law, which cover the structures and procedures to determine international protection needs, reception and pre-integration services. The law introduced subsidiary protection for individuals who do not meet refugee status as defined by the 1951 Convention and measures to decrease repeat applications. The Office of Immigration and Nationality (OIN) has remained responsible for asylum procedures, providing reception services and some limited pre-integration services.
Practically, while border procedures exist in law, they are not applicable due to the state of crisis due to mass migration announced by the Hungarian government in 2016— a decision that has been extended several times.
Further, asylum procedures are rarely conducted in Hungary, due to the restrictive legislation that requires the submission of a statement of intent at the Embassies of Kyiv or Belgrade prior of being allowed to enter Hungary in order to apply for asylum (see Embassy procedure).
Section 35(7) of the Asylum Act provides that in the case of an unaccompanied child, the asylum procedure shall be conducted as a matter of priority. Before 2021, this was not always the case. In 2021, the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) processed with priority applications from three unaccompanied children and two asylum seekers held in asylum detention. In 2022, the NDGAP processed with priority the applications of unaccompanied children and those held in asylum detention.
For more detailed information on the Hungarian Asylum Procedure, The Asylum Information Database has compiled a flowchart outlining the process.
Legal aid organisations
Website
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Address: Dohány utca 20. II/9., Budapest, Hungary
Tel: +36 1 321 4141
Email: helsinki@helsinki.hu
The HHC ensures access to effective, free-of-charge legal counselling and representation at all places (reception centres, community shelters, alien policing jails) where persons in need of international protection are accommodated or detained in Hungary.
The organisation regularly comments on draft legislation in the field of asylum and immigration as well as analyses legal practices. To assist with casework, the HHC provides legal advice and country information (COI) to its network of lawyers. The HHC also organises trainings on domestic, European and international refugee law as well as immigration law and practice for its own staff and lawyers and other asylum professionals working in government agencies and courts.
Furthermore, they curate a comprehensive ‘Refugee and migrant rights‘ page.
Website
Facebook
Address: Ráday utca 9, 1092 Budapest
Tel.: +36 70 325 5205
Email: info@nextstepeu.org
Next Step Hungary Association (formerly MigHelp) supports and empowers vulnerable people (foreigners and Hungarian nationals) through job market skills, community building, and social inclusion.
They regularly offer workshops in topics that help people make daily life more stable, secure, and comfortable, covering topics including Legal information and consulting programs. To reach out for more information and assistance, visit their ‘Contact‘ page.
Website
Email: contact@w2eu.info or w2eu_info@yahoo.com
This hyperlink –w2eu.info – leads to an independent source of information for refugees coming to Europe. w2eu.info might be useful on their journey to and through Europe by giving access to counseling and useful contacts in different European countries. They have a Hungary country page which gives information on the Czech asylum application process and provides useful contacts.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
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Address: Kárpát u. 1/b, Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +36 1 349 1450
Email: cordelia@cordelia.hu
The Cordelia Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims offers complex psycho-social rehabilitation to severely traumatized asylum-seekers and refugees and their families. The professional staff usually treat refugee clients at the Hungarian reception centres. Specific services include: psychiatric, psychological and non-verbal therapies and social assistance; assisting torture survivor clients in the legal process with medical reports documenting the evidence of torture; offering trainings and supervision for professionals working with refugees, and organising awareness raising programme on the international day of torture victims.
Website
Facebook
Address: Balzac u. 8-10 , Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +36 1 238 0046
Email: hatter@hatter.hu
Háttér Society is one of the largest and most active LGBTQI organizations in Hungary. Founded in 1995, its aims are to protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people and to promote their wellbeing. Háttér works towards these aims by calling attention to the problems faced by LGBTQI people; lobbying against discriminative laws and promoting legislation protecting LGBTQI people; providing support services; encouraging the self-organization of LGBTQI communities; and preserving and spreading LGBTQI heritage and culture.
Activities of the organization are centered around four core programs. The information and counseling hotline available via a toll free telephone number and online chat offers to provide support for the LGBTQI community, including migrant and refugee members of the community. The HIV/AIDS prevention program operates a 24h hotline, a network of condom machines at LGBTQI venues, and publishes brochures on safer sex. The archive and library collects books, articles, audiovisual material, as well as other relics that document the history of the LGBTQI movement in Hungary. Besides the core programs, Háttér is also regularly involved in research, training and advocacy activities.
Website
Facebook
Address: Ó utca 39., Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +36 20 450 7245
Email: menedek@menedek.hu
Menedék, the Hungarian Association for Migrant, provides social, informational, and mental-health programmes promoting the social integration of refugees and migrants staying in Hungary. Through their national network of social workers, they provide personal assistance to migrants in order to promote their integration and to protect their rights.
Website
Facebook
Address: Abonyi utca 21, Budapest, Hungary
Tel.: +36 1 460 0708
Email: oikumene@reformatus.hu
The Református Missziói Központ Housing Program pays the rent for refugee families for up to 18 months and helps them to find work and navigate Hungarian bureaucracy.
Further, their Education Program offers high school education and intense Hungarian language instruction and tutoring to youth between the ages of 13 and 18. They are also provided with assistance with housing in dormitories, and if necessary, school supplies, books and anything else to help them succeed in school. Further, they provide social work services, counseling, fellowship through social activities and familiarization with the culture and history of Hungary.
Finally, their Nanny program provides refugee women with intensive Hungarian language instruction and skills training so that they can get employment as nannies in Hungarian preschools and nurseries. After successful completion of the programme, the women can receive a Basic Hungarian Language Exam Certificate and a Certificate in Pre-school Assistant Education.
Hungary LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary.
Hungary COI
Find Hungary country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023