Hungary

UNHCR in Hungary operates under the coordination of the Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE). The RCSEE is based in Budapest and supports operations in the region through a range of field presences and operational modalities.

UNHCR has been present in Hungary since 1989, working alongside government institutions, municipalities, civil society, and UN agencies to strengthen national protection and inclusion systems.

Hungary is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, and applies the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of people have found safety in Hungary under this framework.

UNHCR supports authorities in upholding fair asylum procedures, including through renewed refugee status determination training for asylum officials after a decade-long pause, and through strategic litigation before the European Court of Human Rights, reinforcing safeguards against detention, border pushbacks, and collective expulsions.

Through its partners, UNHCR provides refugees with specialized mental health and psychosocial support delivered by a flexible pool of experts, and promotes socio-economic inclusion through job fairs, employer engagement, and tailored guidance for businesses on hiring refugees. Alongside these efforts, UNHCR continues to support Hungary’s statelessness determination procedure, strengthen child protection, and prevent violence against women and children.