The rules for subsidised accommodation will change from 21 August 2024
Due to a newly introduced legislation by the Hungarian Government, you will be only eligible for subsidised accommodation if you are coming from or having a residence in a “war-affected area”. These areas are determined by the Hungarian Government and are listed below.
If your place of origin or residence is not included within these areas, you will no longer be eligible for subsidized accommodation starting from 21 August 2024.
If you believe that due to a special individual circumstances (such as being older than 65, having medical needs, or living with disability), you are in need of continued support, you need to apply for an exemption with local defence committee by 10 July 2024.
UNHCR Hungary is monitoring closely the effects of this change and updates this page regularly with relevant information.
For more information, feedback, or complaints, call the UNHCR Refugee Helpline on +36 80 984 583 between Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00, in Ukrainian, Russian, Hungarian or English, or send an email to [email protected].
Subsidised longer-term accommodation
From 21 August 2024, there are new rules for providing state subsidies for the accommodation of refugees from Ukraine. The new rules apply to all refugees eligible for Temporary Protection, dual-citizens and Hungarian nationals who were living in Ukraine before the war and fled to Hungary on or after 24 February 2022.
As a new requirement, in all cases, you will be entitled to subsidized accommodation only if you have come from a territory in Ukraine listed as a “war-affected area” by the Hungarian Government.
The list of Ukrainian territories considered to be “war-affected” are published by the Government on their website and updated every month:
- Dnipropetrovsk Region
- Donetsk Region
- Zaporizhzhia Region
- Kyiv Region and Kyiv City
- Mykolaiv Region
- Odesa Region
- Sumy Region
- Kharkiv Region
- Kherson Region
- Chernihiv Region
- Luhansk Region
- Zhytomyr Region
- Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
To determine your eligibility, you will be asked to provide documents (such as Ukrainian ID card or a residence registration certificate) which show where your residence in Ukraine is located when you apply for subsidized accommodation.
If you are already staying in a subsidized accommodation, and you are from a place not included on the list of “war-affected areas,” you will remain eligible until 20 August 2024. In case the location of your residence was not determined correctly, you can remedy this by showing documents (see above) that verify the actual location.
You can also apply for an exemption with the local defence committee if you believe that you are in need of continued support due to your special individual circumstances (such as medical needs). The deadline for this is 10 July 2024. We share here a sample application (HUN) and translation (UKR), which, according to our information, is regularized by the defense committees. The Hungarian version can be sent to them for further consideration. In case you need assistance with submitting this request, we recommend seeking help from your shelter operator.
Eligibility for subsidised accommodation under the new legislation
After your arrival in Hungary
If you are eligible for Temporary Protection, you are entitled to subsidized accommodation for one month after your arrival in Hungary, even if you do not register for Temporary Protection. In this case, your accommodation will be provided by the municipalities or the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, and it will include free-of-charge meals. You will not have to bear any of the accommodation costs.
After one month, you will only remain entitled to subsidized accommodation if you register for Temporary Protection within this period.
Under Temporary Protection status or as a Hungarian national
When your Temporary Protection status is recognised, you are entitled for one more month of subsidized accommodation, provided that you registered for Temporary Protection within one month of entering Hungary. Please note that registering within one month is not a requirement if you fall under any of the vulnerability categories listed below.
If you have Hungarian nationality (including Hungarian-Ukrainian dual nationals) and a permanent residence in Ukraine, and arrived in Hungary on or after 24 February 2022, you are eligible for subsidized accommodation for one month after your entry.
After one month (both as a Temporary Protection holder and a Hungarian national), you will only remain entitled to subsidized accommodation if you fall under any of the following vulnerability categories (coming from a “war-affected” area is still a requirement):
- You are under the age of 18.
- You are a caregiver of child under the age of 18 and you live in the same household. Note this only applies to a single caregiver per child.
- You are pregnant.
- You have a disability.
- You are over the age of 65.
If you do not fall under the categories above, your shelter operator will not receive government subsidies to host you beyond 21 August 2024, therefore you might be asked to move out.
Please note that there are no alternative options provided by the Government to accommodate you in this case (such as state provided collective shelters). However, if you are employed in Hungary, you may be able to receive support through your employer (please see below).
While being employed
If you are a Temporary Protection holder who does not fall under any of the categories above, you will need to take up employment to continue having access to subsidized accommodation within one month from the time of your recognition. Your employment must take place in Hungary and must be for at least 20 hours per week. In this case, your accommodation will be arranged by your employer. This will not include free-of-charge meals, and the conditions of being accommodated by your employer may vary.
Please note that this form of support is also available to Hungarian nationals (including Hungarian-Ukrainian dual nationals) who entered Hungary on or after 24 February 2022 and have permanent residence in Ukraine under the same conditions.
Requesting subsidised accommodation
If you are eligible for subsidised accommodation based on the above criteria, you can request accommodation in Budapest, at the Government Office at Nyugati railway stations. The authorities will find you an available place to stay, but you will have to travel to the accommodation on your own.
| Government Office | Address | Opening Hours |
| Nyugati railway station | 1062, Budapest, Teréz körút 55. | Monday: 08:00-18:00 Tuesday: 08:00-16:00 Wednesday: 11:00-19:00 Thursday: 08:00-16:00 Friday: 08:00-14:00 |
UNHCR is currently seeking information on the details and consequences of the recent changes in legislation. You can ask your questions and share your feedback via the Refugee Hotline, who can also call you back, when we have new information which may be interesting for you.
For more information, feedback, or complaints, call the UNHCR Refugee Helpline on +36 80 984 583 between Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00, in Ukrainian, Russian, Hungarian or English, or send an email to [email protected].
Emergency housing
Help Points around the border
If you are arriving from Ukraine to Hungary, there are organisations who can help you at the border with food, legal assistance, finding transportation, accommodation, relief items, and others. When you cross the border, you can ask for directions to the closest Help Point. If you arrive on foot, you can request to be taken there by bus. You can also directly contact these organisations:
| Organisation | Location | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta | 4933 Beregsurány, II. Rákóczi Ferenc utca 1. | [email protected] | +36 70 653 1324 |
| Hungarian Reformed Church Aid | 4625 Záhony, Ady Endre út 30. | [email protected] | +36 80 296 844 |
Information and emergency housing in Budapest
The Government Office, known as “Kormányablak,” located at Nyugati railway station can provide you with information and emergency housing referrals. This includes one-night reception accommodations, assistance in locating long-term housing, information about temporary protection, details about regular subsistence allowances and employment opportunities in Hungary, and further services available for refugees.
| Government Office | Address | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Nyugati railway station | 1062, Budapest, Teréz körút 55. | Monday: 08:00-18:00 Tuesday: 08:00-16:00 Wednesday: 11:00-19:00 Thursday: 08:00-16:00 Friday: 08:00-14:00 |
As a refugee new arrival from Ukraine to Budapest, you can stay at the one-night Reception Center of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. You need to reach the reception centre on your own, but you can use public transportation for free in Budapest with Ukrainian documents.
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| One-night Reception Centre | 1117 Budapest, Galvani Utca 44/A | 🇺🇦 +36 70 659 8508 🇭🇺 +36 30 583 0571 |
You can also reach out to the following non-governmental organisations for short-term emergency housing, but it’s not guaranteed that they will be able to accommodate you.
| Organisation | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Migration Aid in Győr | – | [email protected] |
| Hungarian Interchurch Aid Support Center | +36 70 504 3154 | – |
| Caritas Hungary – Hungarian Catholic Church | +36 1 372 0910 | [email protected] |
| Oltalom Foundation | +36 1 210 5400 , extension 201 | [email protected] |
Private and long-term accommodation
Where to search for private accommodation
Although no online platform can be considered 100% safe, designated accommodation search sites are safer compared to Facebook groups and other social media platforms.
The most common websites used in Hungary are ingatlan.com alberlet.hu, ingatlannet.hu, and otthonterkep.hu. Please note that UNHCR is not related to any of these sites; the offers displayed are not verified by UNHCR; and UNHCR cannot help you in finding private accommodation.
Writing a rental contract and moving in
Always insist on having a written rental contract. Verbal agreements may not be legally binding, and they can leave you vulnerable to eviction without notice. Ensure the written contract covers all terms and conditions, rights and obligations, payment details, rental duration, maintenance responsibilities, utility metre position and ownership, lock change responsibilities, and subleasing conditions.
Before signing any rental contract, request a “land registry extract” to verify the property’s ownership and legal encumbrances. Also, verify the landlord’s identity and ensure that the rental fee is a gross amount that includes all taxes and contributions. If you pay the rental fee in cash, insist on receiving a receipt, otherwise, you won’t be able to prove your payment.
You should also discuss the deposit amount and conditions with the landlord. Most landlords request a deposit equal to one to three months’ rent, but the amount should be included into your rental contract as well.
Think carefully before signing a fixed-term rental contract for many years. These contracts can be challenging to terminate without serious consequences. You may risk losing your deposit and be liable for rent and utility costs until the contract’s end.
Finally, take pictures of the property when you move in to document its condition. This will help in resolving any damage claims or deposit issues when you move out.
Registering your address
It is important to register your new address (known as “szálláshely”) with the authorities to ensure that you can receive official documents and access necessary services (such as healthcare or financial support) at your new location.
You can complete the registration process by visiting any of the NDGAP client offices and filling out an address registration form. Please note that the address registration should be carried out in person, by your legal representative, or by an authorised person.
It is recommended to request an address certificate (known as ”szálláshelyet igazoló hatósági bizonyítvány”) for your new address when completing the registration process. This document certifies that your address has been successfully changed and can be presented to the authorities or service providers as official verification of your new address.
Organisations that can help you
| Organisation | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| IOM | +36 80 98 45 44 | [email protected] |
| Hungarian Red Cross | +36 1 374 1374 | [email protected] |
| Next Step Association | +36 70 323 75 52 | [email protected] |
| Lutheran Diakónia | +361 483 22 60 | [email protected] |
| Menedék Association | +36 20 450 72 45 | [email protected] |
Be careful with private accommodations
When looking for accommodation in Hungary as a displaced person, it’s important to keep your personal safety as the highest priority. Unfortunately, there are homeowners who are trying to exploit refugees in exchange for a place to stay. Read the following pages about identifying harmful offers.
