If you are coming from Ukraine, you may be eligible to Temporary Protection. Click here for more information on Temporary Protection and how to apply. If you are under 18 years old, you can find important information here.
For information on exiting Ukraine, please click here. Please note that UNHCR Hungary is not in a position to advise on the law of Ukraine or the practice of Ukrainian authorities.
Protection for arrivals from Ukraine: if you are coming from Ukraine, members of the Charity Council, UNHCR, local and international organisations can help you. The information materials provided by the asylum authority of Hungary can be found on their official website in Hungarian, English, and Ukrainian.
🛑 If you think you or someone you know is in danger of being trafficked or taken somewhere against their will to work or other purposes, you can call the European emergency number 112. 🛑
You may wish to follow UNHCR Hungary on Telegram for useful updates. You may contact the UNHCR Refugee Helpline Toll-Free number: 0680984583 (Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm), and you can contact UNHCR in Hungary through the following email address: [email protected]. You may also contact UNHCR Hungary on Facebook.
If you are looking for information about traveling to the European Union and how you can stay in different countries, you can consult this website.
If you have questions about relocating to the United States, Canada, or another country, you should directly consult that country’s embassy websites or information sites. UNHCR does NOT conduct resettlement out of Hungary and cannot help with travel. UNHCR Hungary cannot help with relocation.
Please consult the following sites for more information:
▸ European Union (EU): in English, Ukrainian, and Russian
▸ For information from the UK: in English and Ukrainian
▸ U.S. Embassy in Hungary: in English
▸ Canadian government: in English and French
▸ Other information for travel outside of the EU in English
What to know before coming to Hungary from Ukraine?
Crossing the border – If you are planning to come to Hungary, you can cross through one of the following border crossing points: Záhony – Čop 00:00-24:00 (also by train from Čop to Záhony train stations); Lónya – Dzvinkove 07:00-18:00; Barabás – Koson’- 07:00-19:00; Beregsurány – Астей 00:00-24:00; Tiszabecs – Vilok 00:00-24:00. You may find information on waiting times on the website of the Hungarian Police. Please note that it only reflects waiting times for Hungarian (inbound) border control, and not Ukrainian (outbound) border control.
🚆 If you are crossing from Čop to Záhony via railway, look for UNHCR colleagues at the train station and feel free ask them for assistance! UNHCR is present every day from the morning until the evening.
Help Points – If you are arriving from Ukraine to Hungary just now, there are some organisations that may be able to help you at the border and across Hungary with legal assistance, finding transportation, accommodation, relief items, among others. Members of the Charity Council are providing support at Help Points close to border crossing points between Ukraine and Hungary. You can ask for directions to the closest Help Point when crossing the border. If you arrive on foot, you may request the authorities to be taken there by bus. You can also get in touch with the organisations directly. Please see the list of Help Points below. Transit centers and information points in Budapest are also listed below.
Temporary Protection – If you are arriving from Ukraine, you may be entitled to apply for Temporary Protection in Hungary. This is a protection status for persons fleeing Ukraine which is available in the European Union. It is different from the 30-day temporary residence certificate (“ideiglenes tartózkodásra jogosító igazolás” in Hungarian) given at the border, which only lets you stay in the territory of Hungary for 30 days, if you do not have a biometric passport. Temporary Protection grants you residency in Hungary and entitles you to services like accommodation, healthcare and education. Please see more information on this page. You may contact the UNHCR Refugee Helpline Toll-Free number: +3680984583 (Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm). You may also wish to follow UNHCR Hungary on Telegram for useful updates: https://t.me/UNHCR_Hungary.
Where to get help?
You can find the contact details of the organizations supporting people arriving from Ukraine below. When you arrive at a Help Point, you can also look at the bulletin boards for notices from other organizations present that are offering support.
Charity Council members providing assistance to refugees from Ukraine
- Hungarian Baptist Aid
- HELP POINT at Tiszabecs: 4951 Tiszabecs, Rákóczi Ferenc utca 13.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 20 886 2292
- Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta
- HELP POINT at Beregsurány: 4933 Beregsurány, II. Rákóczi Ferenc utca 1.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 70 653 1324
- Hungarian Red Cross
- HELP Point at Lónya: 4836 Lónya, Árpád út 115.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 1 374 1374
- Hungarian Reformed Church Aid
- HELP POINT at Záhony: 4625 Záhony, Ady Endre út 79.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 80 296 844
- Hungarian Interchurch Aid
- HELP POINT at Lónya: 4836 Lónya, Árpád út 115.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 70 664 8645
- Caritas Hungary
- HELP POINT at Barabás: 4937 Barabás, Árpád utca 28.
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: +36 1 37 20 910
Transit and help centers in Budapest
- BOK Sportcsarnok transit center (operated by the Hungarian Government)
- Main services: information, referral for state-provided accommodation, relief items
- Address: 1146 Budapest, Dózsa György út 1.
- Hungarian Interchurch Aid Centre to Support Ukrainian Refugees
- Main services: information, referral for accommodation, social assistance, food, relief items, mental health counselling
- Address: 1085 Budapest, Baross utca 28.
- Caritas Hungary Integration Center
- Main services: food vouchers and rental support to vulnerable persons, by application
- Appointment only, please call +36 80 630 179 (toll-free) or email [email protected]
- Address: 1115 Budapest, Bartók Béla út 104.
- Caritas Hungary Distribution Point
- Main services: food, clothes and hygiene items are available for those in need (open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 15 – 18:00 and Wed 8 – 16:00)
- Address: 1086 Budapest, Lujza utca 27.
- Budapest Helps information and community center (operated by the Budapest Municipality, IOM and UNHCR)
- Main services: information provision, information sessions for arrivals from Ukraine, community programs
- Address: 1052 Budapest, Bárczy István utca 1-3.
- Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10:00-18:00
- Phone: +36 30 589 2696
- Budapest Helps information point (operated by the Budapest Municipality and IOM)
- Main services: information provision
- Location: 1066 Budapest, Nyugati tér, underground
Hungarian Helsinki Committee – for legal assistance on staying in Hungary
Hungarian Helsinki Committee provides free legal assistance to arrivals from Ukraine. They can help you understand your legal status and what you need to do if you wish to stay in Hungary. Information in Hungarian, English, Ukrainian, and Russian is available on their website (click on the titles and the language options will appear).
Contact details
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook / Messenger: https://www.facebook.com/helsinkibizottsag/
- Phone: +36 70 302 6219 (Russian language help available Mondays 12-16, Wednesdays 14-18, Fridays 10-14)
Menedék Association – for legal assistance on services and social work
Menedék Association provides social counselling, social work, and support for children. You may also contact them if you need help accessing services such as healthcare and education. Information about their work and services can be found on their website in Hungarian, English, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Contact details
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +36 20 450 7245
Cordelia Foundation – for mental health support and psychosocial counselling
Cordelia Foundation provides free psychosocial counselling for survivors of trauma and violence. Please see their website here.
Contact details
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +36 1 349 14 50
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CordeliaFoundation/
Next Step – for inclusion services
Next step provides integration and inclusion focused services, including labor market counselling, development of job-related skills, help with Hungarian language to foreigners living in Hungary. For more information, please see their website.
Contact details
- Email: [email protected]
- Office phone: +36 70 611 9104
- Hotline: +36 70 323 7552
This is not a complete list of available support, and while it is not guaranteed that support can always be provided, the organizations will do their best to assist you.
