
HUNGARY
Blue Dot Country Information
© UNHCR/Zsolt Balla
Here is what you can do on this page:
- Look at the map below to find the nearest Blue Dot and all the active Blue Dots in Hungary.
- Search for information and organizations active in Hungary, through the below sections.
- See how you and persons you are traveling with can stay safe during your journey.
- Provide us with feedback and/or complain and flag harmful behaviours you or any of the persons traveling with you witnessed or suffered from.
- For more information about general services for refugees in Hungary and for persons fleeing Ukraine into Hungary, please consult the UNHCR Help page for Hungary or the UNICEF Help App for Hungary, also available in Hungarian.
The content of this page has been developed with support from PILnet, the Magyar Suzuki Corporation and Baker McKenzie’s Budapest and Kyiv offices.
Information and services in Hungary
Legal Stay
- Information on Legal Stay in Hungary
PILnet - Information for people fleeing Ukraine (all nationalities)
National DG for Aliens Policing (NGDAP) - Information for Ukrainian citizens and their families fleeing Ukraine (EN) and FAQ (EN)
Hungarian Helsinki Committee - Information for Hungarian-Ukrainian dual citizens fleeing Ukraine
Hungarian Helsinki Committee
Where to apply for temporary protection:
-
- At any office of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) (Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm)- at Záhony collection point
- In Budapest, at the OIF Budapest Customer Service Office ( 1108 Harmat Street 131. Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm)
- At any government office.
To speed up the process, you may consider uploading your data in advance to the “Menedekes” app or via the Enter Hungary interface
- Information for Russian citizens
- Russian citizens coming from Ukraine or other countries can enter Hungary with a valid passport and a visa, which allows them to stay in Hungary for up tp 90 days. If you wish to stay in Hungary for longer than this, you will need to apply for a residence permit at any office of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP)
Work, livelihood and cash assistance
Those who are granted temporary protection and are over the age of 16 can work without a work permit. Applicants for temporary protection who are permanent residents of Ukraine and who arrived from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 and have Hungarian citizenship can also be public employees above the age of 16.
- Employment Information
PILnet - Information on the current status of Public Work Scheme (PWS) in Hungary
Government of Hungary, Ministry of Interiors
- Job information & support to employability
- Financial assistance for Temporary Protection holders:
- You may submit an application to the labour authority within the government office where you live. Map of District Offices is available here.
- The amount of the allowance is HUF 22,800 per person per month for adults and HUF 13,700 per person per month for children.
- An adult beneficiary of temporary protection who is able to work and a child beneficiary of temporary protection over 16 years of age (if they are not attending full-time education) must first register for employment with the labour authority in the place of residence.
Medical care, psychological help and disability support
As a beneficiary of Temporary Protection, you are entitled to the following free healthcare if you are not covered by social security:
- Primary care (i.e., general practitioner, general pediatrician)
- Emergency outpatient specialist care or hospital care
- Prenatal care, obstetric care
- Subsidized medicines (it is important to know that Ukrainian citizens who do not apply for temporary protection can access medicines at full price after 30 days)
- Oncology and other chronic diseases care
- Emergency dental care
- Patient transport (ambulance) if your medical condition prevents you from being transported otherwise
- Other medical aids and their repair, with doctor’s prescription
- Age-specific compulsory vaccination:
Healthcare info
- Healthcare (PILnet)
- Mental Healthcare (PILnet)
- National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary (NEAK)
- How to consult the primary healthcare facility, the family doctor and the pediatrician responsible in their place of residence
- How to find the family doctor and pediatrician by municipality and postcode: .
- Oncology and other chronic diseases care
- To call an ambulance: call 104 or 112!
- To call the police: call 107 or 112!
- If you are under 18 and sick: the Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute provide fast, professional and free care for children aged 0-18 years from Ukraine who need medical care 24 hours a day, every day, with a Ukrainian interpreter to help you communicate if necessary. Service provided include patient care, referrals, medical check-ups, COVID-19 vaccinations, missed and continued compulsory vaccinations for children, etc.
Healthcare and mental health care resources
- Doktor24 provides free medical, diagnostic and laboratory services to adult and child refugees in its Budapest centers.
- Together for Health, an initiative launched by TritonLife and Doktor24,
- Emergency Hotline: +36 80 200 223 (free-of-charge green number). Specialists at the Children’s Outpatient Clinic for Mental Crisis help with the stress of war and leaving home, as well as with bereavement and loss (+36 30 44 34 751).
- Mental health support for those affected by the Ukrainian war (Trauma Kozpont)
Disability support
- National Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SINOSZ)
- contact: [email protected] / +36 70 930 7547
- Information for refugees from Ukraine with hearing impairment (SINOSZ)
COVID-19 vaccination
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is not compulsory, but it is important to stop and prevent the spread of the virus. Vaccination is the strongest protection against the virus, which is why the Hungarian government is asking unvaccinated people to get the vaccine and those who have been vaccinated before to get a booster vaccine.
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is allowed from the age of 5 and it is possible to register without a social security number (TAJ number). The vaccine is still available at hospital vaccination points, GPs and general pediatricians.
- You can register for vaccination and booster here. Once registered, you can book an appointment for the vaccination here and at the GP.
Accommodation
Applicants for and beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to free accommodation and meals at the reception center for the entire duration of temporary protection. Meals are part of the accommodation. A food service is provided at all reception centers. Meals will be provided at the reception center 3 times a day, or five times a day in the case of minors, pregnant women or nursing mothers, or an equivalent contribution to meals.
- Finding accommodation in Hungary
PILnet - Housing
UNHCR
- Where to find support for accommodation
- BOK hall (1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 1)
- Hungarian Reformed Church Aid
- Hungarian Interchurch Aid
- Hungarian Maltese Charity Service
- Hungarian Red Cross
- Habitat for Humanity Hungary
- Street to Home Association (ULE)
- City is for all
Education and childcare
- Education is compulsory between the age of 3 and 16 in Hungary. Refugees, asylum seekers and children in subsidiary protection status, as well as temporary protection status holders, have the right to go to nursery care, kindergarten (from the age of 3) and to school, like all Hungarian children. Kindergartens, primary and secondary education is free of charge in Hungary in public institutions.
- Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools are obliged to offer access to their institutions for all children within their educational districts, unless they do not have the capacity to do so. In these cases, the child should have access to a neighboring school. Children over the age of 3 years are obliged to attend kindergarten, primarily in the kindergarten nearest to where you live. Information on how to fulfil the obligation to attend kindergarten is provided by the local authority.
- Pre-school children and all students under the age of 14 with a valid Hungarian student card are entitled to free travel on Budapest’s Budapest Public Transport (BKK) lines and on the Budapest section of the surrounding buses and HÉV lines.
- Click here to find the closest KG/school
- Click here for an informative video on how to find the closest KG/school.
- Information on Childcare
PILnet - Information on Education
PILnet
- Education resources
- Educational and recreational programmes for children (Next Step EU)
- Hungarian Language Classes (UNHCR)
- School Districts Centers (Government of Hungary)
- Vocational Training Centers (Government of Hungary)
- Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Bilingual Baptist High School
- Day care, creative and educational classes, language studies, meals, a library and native Ukrainian-speaking teachers for child refugees from Ukraine (Learning Without Borders / Migration Aid)
- Educational opportunities in Budapest for students who are refugees from Ukraine (Eötvös Loránd University)
- Piarist High School, Budapest
- Peace School in Zugliget, Budapest
- Projects for children (Menedék)
- A textbook and workbook Ofor 10-11 year old children who are refugees from Ukraine to start learning Hungarian can be downloaded here (Education Office, Government of Hungary.
- Resources for children
- Bebbo App A free mobile application developed by UNICEF for parents of young children (0-6 years old) with tools and expert advice on health, development, nutrition, parenting, safety, play and many more. Dowload Bebbo App from Google Play or AppStore
Social assistance
Community support :
- Social inclusion programmes
Next Step EU - Community Building programmes
Next Step EU - Social activities
Menedek - Mental health and trauma processing
Cordelia - The Ukrainian National Self-Government (UOÖ)
- Skool – trauma healing activites for children:
- contact Kinga Aszalós, PeaceBuilders Project Manager, at [email protected]
Large church/charitable aid organizations providing humanitarian assistance (e.g., accommodation, food):
Safety, protection and legal aid
- Stay safe tips
UNHCR
- Anti-trafficking hotline
La Strada International Members - Blue Line Children’s Crisis Foundation offers a telephone and written helpline service in Ukrainian to children and young people up to the age of 24.
- Fundamental Rights Ombudsman’s Office (Ombudsman)
- contacts: [email protected], +36-80-215-000; +36-30-126-2242 (Debrecen Regional Office)
- Free legal aid
- Legal aid and services in Hungary
PILnet - Legal counseling
Menedék - Legal aid and representation
Hungarian Helsinki Committee - Legal counselling
Next Step Hungary
- Legal aid and services in Hungary
- Assistance to safe and voluntary retunrs for third-country nationals (IOM)
- contact: [email protected]; phone — +36 1 472 2500
Child protection and children helplines
Blue Line Children’s Crisis Foundation offers a telephone and written helpline service in Ukrainian to children and young people up to the age of 24.
Unaccompanied children
You are considered an unaccompanied child if you are under 18 years of age and have arrived in Hungary from Ukraine alone (i.e., you do not have an adult relative with you, such as a parent or guardian) or are currently alone in the country.
If you are over 14 but under 18, you can submit the application for Temporary Protection yourself. According to the law, you are entitled to a legal guardian and the authorities may appoint a legal guardian for you, after assessing your situation.. If you are younger than 14, you will need the consent and help of a legal guardian to manage your application for temporary protection, so the first and most important step is to have a legal guardian. If you do not have a legal guardian with you, you can contact the asylum authority, the police or the local guardianship office and they will help you with the appointment of a legal guardian.
You can apply for temporary protection:
- At any office of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) (Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm)
- at Záhony collection point
- In Budapest, at the OIF Budapest Customer Service Office ( 1108 Harmat Street 131. Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm)
- At any government office
To speed up the process, you may consider uploading your data in advance to the “Menedekes” app or via the Enter Hungary interface
Other
- Transportation from/to help points and transit hubs
UNHCR - Information on travel and health measures in the EU and Schengen associated countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
ReOpenEU
- Transportation allowance:
- The allowance covers 100% of the fare price.
- It can be claimed available for interurban transport (e.g., train, HÉV, regional train and bus services)
- It can be requested if you have a certificate from the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing for a specific purpose, e.g., when you are dealing with an official matter, when you are receiving the health care you are entitled to, when you are participating in a program to help you integrate or you are being helped by a non-governmental organization and you are travelling there, to settle your accommodation, or to look for a job or to work. ,
- You must submit your application to the OIF (in person at the regional directorate responsible for accommodation) together with the documents proving that you wish to travel for the above purposes