Legal status and visa requirements for those who were forced to leave Ukraine
People fleeing Ukraine are eligible to apply for temporary protection in the Member States of the European Union (which also applies to Hungary) in accordance with Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection (in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons.
- Ukrainian nationals residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and their family members;
- Stateless persons, and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine, under national or international protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and their family members.
This protection shall last for one year. Subject to the decision of the European Union, it may be extended to a maximum of 3 years.
As a general rule, Ukrainian people are allowed to enter with a valid biometric passport.
Ukrainian citizens entering the country with a biometric passport may stay in Hungary, without a visa, for a maximum period of 90 days (within any 180-day rolling period) per Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament.
However, entry of Ukrainian people fleeing the war is also allowed in the absence of a biometric passport, or the absence of travel documents, after an individual assessment of any documents identifying the person (e.g. Ukrainian ID card).
At the same time, Hungarian border guards can demand a biometric foreign passport if Ukrainians enter Hungary from other than Ukraine.
No vaccination certificate is needed to enter Hungary.
Address: 1117 Budapest, Budafoki út 60.
Phone: +36 1 463 9100
Learn more about staying in Hungary:
>> National Directorate General for Alien Police
>> Migration and Home Affairs
>> Hungarian Helsinki Committee
- Website
- Address: 1074 Budapest, Dohány utca 20. II/9, Phone: +36 1 321 4323
>> Helpers Hungary
- Website
- Address: 1027 Budapest, Kapás u. 11-15
>> TASZ
- Website
- Address: 1136 Budapest, Tátra utca 15/B., Phone:
+36 1 209 0046
Contact 1812 throughout Hungary to ask for assistance with interpreting
Access to healthcare services
Legal prerequisites for the Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine to get health care including treatment in Hungary (these prerequisites apply for Ukrainians who have a refugee or asylum seeker or temporary protection status)
The information on healthcare in Hungary is accessible at the border crossing points. Consultations are also available at the following websites
Ukrainians can access to health healthcare services in Hungary as Hungarian citizens do, which is stated in the Ministry of Human Resources instructions (Hungarian only):
This applies as well to Ukrainians who have a refugee or asylum seeker or temporary protection status. The third-country citizens are also under the same rule.
Applications for the temporary protection (sheltered status, in Hungarian: “menedékes”) may be submitted personally at any of the collection points (of which there are 5, open 0-24, located in towns near the Ukrainian border: Vásárosnamény, Tarpa, Aranyosapáti, Fehérgyarmat, Mándok) or at any customer service office of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. The procedure for obtaining temporary protection takes up to 30-45 days.
Where can the Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine go for the following healthcare services?
Registration for Ukrainians is not required to get healthcare services. They receive care in the territorial healthcare institutions. There is no specific hospital appointed for refugees or asylum seekers in Hungary. The only document they need for attending the healthcare institution is a passport.
Information on the acute treatment, chronic/long-term treatment, visiting family doctors, and other services is available via the website consultations: tasz.hu
Services for People Living with HIV
HIV-testing
Free of charge testing for Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine is guaranteed by the Ministry of Human Resource instructions. Minors are also eligible with their parent’s permission.
The specialists of the National Public Health Centre (NPHC) can consult on the options of getting the free of charge test
Address: 1097 Budapest, Albert Flórián út 2-6.
Phone: +361 476 1100 / 2471
Check free on charge HIV-testing spots:
Antiretroviral treatment (ART)
To get ART, Ukrainians should contact Szent László Central Hospital of South Pest (CHSP)
National Institute of Haematology and Infections
Department of Special Infections
Address: 1097 Budapest, Albert Flórián út 5-7.
Phone: +36 1 455 8100
Note! Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine, who are on antiretroviral treatment (ART) can bring their own medication into the country and no doctor’s prescription is needed.
Minors can also receive ART.
HIV Treatment Centres
Central Hospital of South Pest (CHSP) National Institute of Haematology and Infections Department of Special Infections Address: 1097 Budapest, Albert Flórián út 5-7. Building No. 14. Phone: +36 1 455 8152, +36 1 455 8192 www.dpckorhaz.hu
Semmelweis University Training Hospital, Miskolc Address: 3529 Miskolc, Csabai kapu 9-11. Phone: +36 46 555 645 bazmkorhaz.hu
University Clinic of Internal Medicine, Pécs Address: 7623 Pécs, Rákóczi út 2. Phone: +36 72 533 107, +36 72 533 152 kk.pte.hu
University Clinic Centre, Debrecen Address: 4031 Debrecen Bartók Béla út 2-26 Phone: +36 52 511 859 klinikaikozpont.unideb.hu
Please also find the HIV infection diagnostic and therapy protocol at the link
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
PrEP is not free of charge in Hungary, and the full price must be paid for the service.
PrEP is allowed starting from the age of 18 years and it is a 1-year long program by default. To get more information, Ukrainians staying in Hungary have to contact HIV treatment centres:
HIV Treatment Centres
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
PEP is prescribed for the prevention of HIV infection following sexual, occupational, and other non-occupational exposures in the community, if the risk is confirmed.
The antiretrovirals are taken every day for 28 days. There is no minimum age for receiving PEP, however, individual consultation is needed in the HIV centres listed above.
Services for People Living with Hepatitis B/C
Hepatitis B/C testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, and Hepatitis B/C treatment availability
Hepatitis testing, vaccination, and treatment are provided in 33 centres in the country. Services are covered by the national health insurance; therefore are accessible free of charge for Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Those who need treatment or any other services should contact the family physician (GP office) first. The GP will then refer them to specialized care provided at outpatient/inpatient facilities (hospital).
Another option for consultation is via the link (available in Ukrainian).
The guidelines also cover the instructions for hepatitis related liver cirrhosis or Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC).
If a Ukrainian who was forced to leave Ukraine cannot provide a medical history of hepatitis B vaccination or hepatitis B or C treatment, serology (antibody) test is first conducted, then a PCR test if the former is positive. According to the guidelines above, further consultations and actions would be needed.
What monitoring options are available for the Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine who tested positive for acute hepatitis B or C but are not undergoing treatment because of contraindications or low viral load? What follow-up options are available for those who have achieved Sustained Virological Response (SVR) < 6 months?
- In the case of low viral load for HBV, follow up for 6 months and control is in the 6th month.
- In the case of low viral load for HCV, follow up for 3 months or treatment for active disease.
- In the case of SVR, liver disease severity is monitored.
Support systems (harm reduction/safer use, social support, or psychosocial support) are available for the Ukrainians undergoing therapy for hepatitis C or related liver diseases
The Ukrainians may contact the hepatitis treatment centres stated above for more information on and access to support systems (support is available for patients).
- More information is also available in the documents via the link
- Protocol for social day care services for drug users
- Access to basic social care services for drug users
Tuberculosis services
No mandatory TB screening is in place in Hungary.
If the person has TB symptoms
They can find the regional TB outpatient clinics via the search engine and also the National Korányi Institute for Pulmonology (NKIP)
Phone: +36 1 391 3200
Email: bakosagi@koranyi.hu
Click to download the Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment protocol
Children from Ukraine with TB symptoms should visit a paediatric family doctor, who will refer them to the paediatric pulmonology unit of a hospital.
Find the nearest paediatrician here or call +36 1 476 1100 or 1812 (NNK Health Line contacts)
If TB was already diagnosed in Ukraine and the person needs to continue treatment:
Adults can continue treatment at a regional TB outpatient clinics, while children at the regional paediatric pulmonology unit of a hospital. This also applies to Ukrainians who started the TB treatment for multidrug-resistant TB in Ukraine, and those who want to continue with DOT
Video directly observed therapy (VDOT) is not available in Hungary.
Non-medical support
People coming from Ukraine are entitled to healthcare services, including diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, in Hungary. However, there is no special non-medical support for patients with tuberculosis. The Ukrainians may consult the following website for information on social services and other non-medical benefits in cash and in-kind (in addition to general information on other rights and access to healthcare services).
If a person has a Ukrainian prescription for TB treatment medication…
They should go to a TB outpatient clinic for admittance to TB care and to get a new prescription.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination for children
The children should be taken to a paediatric family doctor.
Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) services
Medication rules
Based on the Hungarian regulation (43/2005 (X.15.) Decree of the Minister of Health ), when a person under medical treatment with a controlled substance enters the territory of Hungary, valid documentation must be presented according to the following:
- If the quantity of the narcotic drug does not exceed the quantity required for 3 days of treatment, an international certificate issued by the patient’s GP is enough.
- The quantity of narcotic drugs required for 3 to a maximum of 90 days of treatment can only be carried into Hungary with possession of an official certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin.
- Psychotropic substances required for 30 to a maximum of 90 days of treatment can only be carried into Hungary with possession of an official certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin. If the quantity of the psychotropic substance does not exceed the quantity required for 30 days of treatment, an international certificate issued by the patient’s GP is enough.
- Ukrainians can bring their doctor’s prescription, but treatment can also be provided without medical documents.
- OAT is free of charge for those having a biometric passport and not staying longer than 90 days and for those who received a temporary protection status for the treatment of chronic illnesses. However, the cost of some medications might have to be covered by the patient.
- OAT is provided by an addiction psychiatrist in an outpatient clinic only for people over 18 years, under submission of identification documents, the proof of temporary protection (if applicable), and possibly medical documents.
National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition Department of Narcotic Drugs Control Directorate for Inspection Address: 1135 Budapest, Szabolcs utca 33. Phone: +36 1 8869 300 Email: narcotic@ogyei.gov.hu
Reitox Hungarian National Focal Point Email: anna.peterfi@emmi.gov.hu
How to get the OAT dosage
Please contact OAT centres and counselling organisations to know more.
National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Nyírő Gyula Hospital Address: 1135 Budapest, Lehel utca 59-61. Phone: +36 1 451 2600 Email: drogambulancia@nyiro-opai.hu
What OAT drugs are available in the country?
Useful links to follow on OAT:
Sources
General requirements and access to healthcare
-
02. Council Directive 2001/55/EC
Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof. Available at eur-lex.europa.eu
-
03. Regulation (EU) 2018/1806
Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement. Available at eur-lex.europa.eu
-
09. Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.)
Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.) of the Minister of Human Resources of Hungary.
www.hgye.hu/pdf
HIV
-
02. Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.)
Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.) of the Minister of Human Resources of Hungary.
www.hgye.hu/pdf
-
09. Antiretroviral treatment, use of vaccines and primary and secondary prophylaxis of opportunistic diseases in HIV-infected adults
Szlávik J., Lakatos B., Bánhegyi D., Jekre C., Kulcsár A. Antiretroviral treatment, use of vaccines and primary and secondary prophylaxis of opportunistic diseases in HIV-infected adults (Antiretrovirális kezelés, védőoltások alkalmazása és az opportunista betegségek primer és szekunder profilaxisa HIV-fertőzött felnőtteknél). Joint St. Stephen and St. Ladislaus Hospital, Budapest. Available at kimittud.hu
Hepatitis B/C
-
02. Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.)
Instruction No. 9/2022 (III. 11.) of the Minister of Human Resources of Hungary.
www.hgye.hu/pdf
-
04. Protocol for diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus
National Health Insurance Fund: Protocol for diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus. National Health Insurance Fund, 1 May 2013.
www.neak.gov.hu/pdf
-
05. Protocol for diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus
National Health Insurance Fund: Protocol for diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus. National Health Insurance Fund, 26 June 2013.
www.neak.gov.hu/pdf
TB
-
03. Protocol No 2019.EüK.2 on the protocol for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of tuberculosis
Ministry of Human Resources: Protocol No 2019.EüK.2 on the protocol for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of tuberculosis. Ministry of Human Resources, 24 January 2019. Available at net.jogtar.hu
OAT
-
02. 43/2005. (X. 15.) EüM decree on the procedure for prescription, distribution, use, registration and storage of medicinal products subject to increased control at health care providers.
43/2005. (X. 15.) EüM decree on the procedure for prescription, distribution, use, registration and storage of medicinal products subject to increased control at health care providers. Available at www.hbcs.hu/pdf
-
07. Protocol of the Ministry of Health for treatment with methadone
National Institute for Addictology: Protocol of the Ministry of Health for treatment with methadone.
drogfokuszpont.hu/pdf