Eligibility Quiz
Are you currently a family member of a recognized refugee or subsidiary protection beneficiary already living in Hungary?
Requirements
To qualify for protection, you must demonstrate that you cannot return to your country of origin due to specific risks. Hungary applies a strict "Safe Third Country" rule, meaning if you traveled through a country deemed safe (such as Serbia) to reach Hungary, your application may be rejected automatically.
1. Refugee Status (Menekült)
This is the highest level of protection. You must prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on:
- Race or Nationality
- Religion
- Political Opinion
- Membership in a particular social group (e.g., sexual orientation or specific professional groups).
2. Subsidiary Protection (Oltalmazott)
If you do not meet the strict criteria for refugee status but cannot safely return home, you may qualify for this status if you face a real risk of:
- The death penalty or execution.
- Torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
- Serious and individual threat to your life due to indiscriminate violence in a situation of international or internal armed conflict.
The "Embassy Procedure" Barrier
Unless you meet specific exceptions, you cannot apply for asylum from within Hungary. You must first visit the Hungarian Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia or Kyiv, Ukraine to submit a "Statement of Intent." The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) will then decide whether to issue you a single-entry permit to enter Hungary and formally start your asylum case.
Exceptions (Who can apply directly in Hungary):
- Family members of recognized refugees or subsidiary protection beneficiaries already in Hungary.
- Current beneficiaries of subsidiary protection seeking to renew or upgrade their status.
- Individuals arriving from Ukraine who qualify for Temporary Protection (a separate, streamlined status for those fleeing the Russian invasion).
Conditions & Warnings
Most applicants must first submit a 'Statement of Intent' at the Hungarian embassy in Belgrade or Kyiv before they can enter Hungary to apply.
Hungary frequently designates Serbia as a 'safe third country,' which is common ground for rejecting applications from those who traveled through it.
The CJEU has ruled the current 'embassy procedure' violates EU law, but Hungary continues to enforce it as of 2026.
State-funded integration support, including housing and language classes, has been largely withdrawn since 2016.
Qualifications
No language requirement for the application; however, state-funded language classes are no longer provided for integration.
Fees
The asylum procedure is free of charge.