Temporary Protection - Hungary | DIP EUAA
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Hungary transposed the Temporary Protection Directive in 2004 by Law LXXX of 2007 on asylum | 2007. évi LXXX. törvény a menedékjogról. The pertinent provisions with regards to temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine, activated on 11 March 2022 with the Government Decree No. 86/2022 (III.7.), on the differed application of rules related to emergency measures concerning persons eligible for temporary protection and of the provisions of Law CVI of 2011 on public employment and on the modification of laws related to public employment and other laws | 86/2022. (III. 7.) Korm. rendelet az ideiglenes védelemre jogosultként elismert személyekkel kapcsolatos veszélyhelyzeti szabályokról, továbbá a közfoglalkoztatásról és a közfoglalkoztatáshoz kapcsolódó, valamint egyéb törvények módosításáról szóló 2011. évi CVI. törvény szabályainak eltérő alkalmazásáról. The decree was adopted on 7 March 2022 and entered into force on 11 March 2022. This decree was transposed to Law L. of 2025 on raising the state of danger decrees to the level of law in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine | 2025. évi L. törvény az Ukrajna területén fennálló fegyveres konfliktusra tekintettel kihirdetett veszélyhelyzeti rendeletek törvényi szintre emeléséről on 20 July 2025.
The Government Decree No 86/2022 (III. 7.), Article 5(3) extended the temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine until 4 March 2025, while Government Decree No 196/2025 (VII.8.), Article 2(4) until 4 March 2026.
Law LXXX of 2007 on asylum | 2007. évi LXXX. törvény a menedékjogról and subsequent amendments effective as of 01/01/2025-28/02/2025.
Law L. of 2025 on raising the state of danger decrees to the level of law in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine | 2025. évi L. törvény az Ukrajna területén fennálló fegyveres konfliktusra tekintettel kihirdetett veszélyhelyzeti rendeletek törvényi szintre emeléséről
| Area | Competent national authority | Assistance to the competent authority (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening at the external border (if relevant) | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | Not applicable |
| Biometric data (if relevant) | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | Not applicable |
| Granting temporary protection | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | Not applicable |
| Issuing the residence permit | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | Not applicable |
| Providing accommodation | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | |
| Medical care | Local health care units | |
| Social welfare | National Directorate-General for Aliens Policinge | Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság | Not applicable |
According to Law L, Section 11, the following categories of persons are eligible for temporary protection:
- Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
- stateless persons or non-Ukrainian third-country nationals, who were granted international or a national form of protection before 24 February 2022;
- family members of the two categories above.
According to Law XC of 2023 on the general rules for the entry and residence of third country nationals holders of a biometric passport can enter visa-free and stay in the country for a total of 90 days within the last 180 days.
In the absence of a biometric passport, Ukrainians with a non-biometric passport can enter the country. Persons without any documents should report to the police at the border, who will register them and provide them with the necessary documents depending on their legal status.
Security screening is not routinely performed.
Border crossings are registered in the police's database.
Medical screening is not carried out routinely. Persons with temporary protection can have access to medical care.
More information is available on the website of the National Directorate General of Immigration Police.
Information material
Information platforms
- National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) dedicated information materials.
Other
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee e-mail address: ukrainecrisis@helsinki.hu
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee leaflet for refugees from Ukraine (HU/EN/UA/RU)
- Hungarian Helsinki Committee leaflet for unaccompanied children (HU/EN)
- Menedék website dedicated page with frequently asked questions
- Menedék leaflet with frequently asked questions (UA/ RU)
EUAA Booklets
EUAA Booklet on Temporary Protection in Hungary also available in UA and RU
The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) is the responsible authority. Asylum Law, Articles 76-80 defines the procedures for granting and withdrawing temporary protection status. Asylum Law, Chapter V defines the legal status and content of temporary protection. Immigration registration with the police (not registration for temporary protection) is only compulsory for persons who do not meet the entry requirements to the country.
Ukrainians can apply for temporary protection and receive temporary protection in one of the hotspots near the border. It is also possible to apply for temporary protection at one of the client service offices of NDGAP. Persons wishing to apply for temporary protection have to first provide their data through an electronic data recording platform (a dedicated app or the Enter Hungary Platform). However, this does not equal to submitting an application for temporary protection. Persons are still required to appear in person before the asylum authority to formally apply for temporary protection.
The processing of an application and decision is usually issued within a few weeks. The legal deadline is 45 + 10 days. The NDGAP grants temporary protection until 4 March 2026.
According to the Government Decree No. 196/2025 (VII. 8.), Article 2(4) and the Annex of this decree, persons with temporary protection receive a Hungarian ID, mentioning their status and it is valid for one year. With the extension of temporary protection, the validity of Hungarian ID cards will be automatically renewed until 4 March 2026.
| Registration | The Police is responsible for immigration registration and not for the registration of temporary protection. Immigration registration is only compulsory for persons who do not meet the entry requirements to the country. Persons wishing to apply for temporary protection have to first provide their data through an electronic data recording platform (a dedicated app or the Enter Hungary Platform). However, this does not equal to submitting an application for temporary protection. Persons are still required to appear in person before the National Directorate General of Immigration Police client service offices to formally apply for temporary protection. Family members of persons concerned should appear at the same time and submit their application. If the applications of family members are not submitted together, it is necessary to indicate the family members who have already been recognised as beneficiaries. More information about the application process is available here Documentation: When appearing in person before the authority, an applicants should bring with them the completed form Information on submitting an application for asylum and the use of the electronic data recording interface, their passport/other available personal documents (in the absence of a passport, an identity card, driving license, birth certificate, temporary residence permit, etc.). The authority will check and record the personal data (e.g. name, date of birth, citizenship, marital status, etc.) included in the form filled out and signed by the applicant in person, the place and time of the border crossing, the address of the accommodation in Hungary, and also records the applicant's photograph and, in the case of a person over the age of 14, their fingerprints. When the application is registered, a document is issued to the applicant indicating the submission of an application. The process does not involve the paying of any fees. |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | According to the Government Decree No. 196/2025 (VII. 8.), Article 2 (4) and the Annex of this decree, persons with temporary protection receive a Hungarian ID, mentioning their status. With the extension of temporary protection, the validity of Hungarian ID cards will be automatically renewed until 4 March 2026. No social security/tax number is issued with the temporary protection document, as most health care services are granted by law. |
| Legal aid | Law L. of 2025, Article 14(1)(c) notes that the rules of the Asylum Act related to legal assistance are not applicable for temporary protection, and as such, the authority is not obliged to ensure legal assistance. According to the AIDA Temporary Protection Hungary - 2024 Update, legal assistance concerning temporary protection were provided predominantly by the civil society organisations (e.g. HHC and Menedék Association), a network of legal assistance providers called ‘Hungarian Attorneys for Ukraine’ set up by the Hungarian Bar Association and by international organisations such as the UNHCR and IOM. |
| Appeal | The grounds for an appeal of a decision on temporary protection are laid down in Article 68, Asylum Law. An appeal can be submitted within eight (8) days from the negative decision to the court, who has sixty (60) days to decide. The appeal does not have a suspensive effect. |
| Exclusion | The grounds for exclusion from temporary protection are laid down in Article 21 of the Asylum Law. The law list circumstances, when a person can be excluded from temporary protection. |
| Termination/Withdrawal | The grounds for termination from temporary protection are laid down in Article 25 of the Asylum Law. The law lists circumstances, when temporary protection ceases. |
Reception is organised outside of the traditional reception system for asylum applicants. The NDGAP highlights that accommodation and care for those applying for temporary protection and those granted temporary protection are carried out by the protection committees of the county government offices
In case the accommodation is not needed at arrival (as people may be relaying on friends or family already living in Ireland) can request it at any time at a later stage.
As reported in the EUAA Asylum Report, in 2024, Hungary continued to host many individuals with temporary protection fleeing Ukraine. However, changes in support policies left thousands, primarily women and children, at risk of homelessness as they had to leave their accommodations. Since August 2024, only those arriving directly from war-affected areas have been eligible for housing assistance. While many appealed to stay on humanitarian grounds, only a few were granted exemptions. Meanwhile, court cases were ongoing to determine the legality of these evictions.
Initial reception: According to Government Decree No. 196/2025 (VII. 8.), Article 11(1), persons arriving from Ukraine are entitled to accommodation for 1 month. After this period, they remain entitled only if they had requested temporary protection in the meantime.
Accommodation: In principle, according to Asylum Decree, Articles 21(1)(a), 41(2) and 101, persons requesting temporary protection and persons with temporary protection are entitled to be accommodated in a state reception facility and receive material reception conditions there. Government Decree No. 196/2025 (VII. 8.), Chapter 3 and 4 note that municipalities can provide shelters and are reimbursed by the government, while private operators may provide shelter with reimbursement for a month, after which reimbursement will only be granted, if the person with temporary protection is in employment (with the exception of pregnant women, children under the age of 18, one of the legal guardians of the child or children living in the same accommodation, persons with disabilities and their carers and persons above the age of 65). Since August 2024, only displaced persons having residency in zones directly impacted by the war at the time of the entry can receive accommodation support.
Provision of means to obtain housing: Financial support scheme for housing can only be requested if the person is in employment, through the employer.
| Rights | Description |
|---|---|
| Access to the labour market | According to the information provided by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (here and here): Ukrainian nationals holding a biometric travel document may undertake employment in certain shortage occupation positions without a permit immediately after their entry into the territory of Hungary, even without registering for temporary protection. Ukrainian nationals holding a biometric travel document may undertake employment in non-shortage occupation positions for a period not exceeding 90 days after their entry into the territory of Hungary, if they hold a work permit, for whose issuance the employer submits an application at the competent government office. Applicants for temporary protection may undertake employment in shortage occupation positions without a permit; undertaking employment in a non-shortage occupation position is conditional on having a work permit, for whose issuance the employer submits an application at the competent government office. An applicant may also undertake community work during the procedural period which takes a maximum of 15+45 days. A person recognised as beneficiary of temporary protection is entitled to undertake a job within the territory of Hungary without a permit. For additional information consult the Overview of national measures regarding employment and social security of displaced persons coming from Ukraine - Country Fiches by the European Labour Authority. |
| Access to medical care | Persons under temporary protection have access to essential medical carefree of charge, as listed in Articles 26-28, Government Decree No. 301/2007 (XI.9.). Government Decree No. 196/2025 (VII. 8.), Article 3(b) completes the list with certain medication and medical care for cancer patients and patients suffering from other chronic diseases. The same rules apply for persons applying for temporary protection. Persons from both groups can go to the competent health care institution with territorial responsibility. Information is provided by NDGAP on their website. |
| Social welfare assistance and means of subsistence | A subsistence allowance is paid for persons with temporary protection: 22,800 HUF/adult, 13,700 HUF/children. The payment of the allowance is linked to several conditions: All persons above the age of 6 (or their legal representative for children between 6 and 18) must appear monthly at the district office of their accommodation. All adults and children above the age of 16 must register at the district office’s employment service, and must accept within 45 days any employment offered. (Exceptions: persons already with legal employment in Hungary, persons caring for a child younger than 3, persons under 18 undertaking regular education). |
| Education | Children in compulsory education age have the same rights and obligations in education, as their Hungarian peers. Children displaced from Ukraine can also be enrolled in daycare and pre-school education for free. Children can enrol at the competent educational establishment (i.e. pre-school, primary school or secondary school) with territorial responsibility. They are entitled for free school meals for 6 months. Information is provided by NDGAP on their website. |
| Family reunification | The general rules for third-country nationals apply, as defined in the Law XC of 2023 on the general rules for the entry and residence of third country nationals |
| Other | According to the information from NDGAP here: Payment of the costs for public funerals is covered. |
A legal guardian is appointed according to the same general rules for applicant unaccompanied child according to Article 35 (6) of the Act on the right to asylum.
Provision of accommodation is the same as for asylum applicant children: They are accommodated in the special home for children in Fót.
Children in compulsory education age have the same rights and obligations in education, as their Hungarian peers.
Children displaced from Ukraine can also be enrolled in daycare and pre-school education for free.
Children can enrol at the competent educational establishment (i.e. pre-school, primary school or secondary school) with territorial responsibility.
See here.
According to the general rules, as defined under Article 4(3) of the Asylum Law, the special needs should be taken into account, but details are not defined for the implementation of this provision.
Not applicable.
Under the general asylum rules, persons with temporary protection may apply for international protection separately. They retain their temporary protection status, and the rights and obligations as specified in Article 71 of the Asylum Law.
However, due to the currently implemented exceptional rules (see under Access to procedure), applicant would need to first submit a letter of intent at the Hungarian embassy in Belgrade or Kyiv.