Number of staff and nature of the first instance authority

Author

Hungarian Helsinki Committee Visit Website

Source: NDGAP, 13 February 2023.

The Asylum and Immigration Office ceased to exist on 1 July 2019 as the NDGAP was established taking over the responsibility for asylum and aliens policing matters.^[1] The Directorate continues to be under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and having its own budget, but now operating as a law enforcement body under the Police Act.^[2] The head of Directorate is the General Director who is appointed by the Minister.^[3] On 31 December 2023, there were 14 case officers handling asylum cases.^[4] In 2024, there were 16 case officers handling asylum cases.^[5]

The NDGAP is in charge of the asylum procedure through its Directorate of Refugee Affairs (asylum authority). The NDGAP is also in charge of operating the transit zones (out of operation since 21 May 2020),^[6] open reception centres and closed asylum detention facilities for asylum seekers.

According to the Justice and Law Enforcement Minister Decree no. 52/2007 (XII. 11.) on the institutional structure of asylum,^[7] the authority provides regular training to its staff. Furthermore, the authority also makes sure that the personnel responsible for asylum cases obtains special knowledge on vulnerable asylum seekers, persons granted refugee status, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection.^[8] According to the NDGAP, in 2020, 2021, 2022 2023 and 2024 there were two modules of the EASO Training Curriculum available in Hungarian at the authority, titled as ‘Personal interview of vulnerable persons’ and ‘Personal interview of children’.^[9] Neither is mandatory. Reception of Vulnerable Persons Block A: identification of vulnerability and provision of initial support (Part A)’ and another staff member attended the training ‘Reception of vulnerable persons: needs assessment and design of interventions (Part B)’, both organised by EASO. Furthermore, one employee of the Asylum Department attended an online conference organised by EASO on the topic of ‘Exclusion’. In November 2021, two asylum case officers attended the training ‘’ held in Warsaw by the EASO.^[10] Furthermore, according to the NDGAP, currently there is no EASO training module that should be completed by all asylum case officers and social workers. The Documentation Centre is responsible for organising trainings to the personnel of the authority regarding countries of origin and third countries.

In 2023, 2 staff members of the Asylum Unit attended the EUAA training courses “Junior Information Provision/Junior Flow Expert”, 12-16 June 2023 and “Junior Asylum Registration Expert”, 27-31 March 2023. In addition, 2 other members of the Asylum Unit participated in the CEPOL training courses “Behaviour analysis in the context of migrant smuggling” from 24-28 April 2023 and “Police Cooperation in Addressing a High Influx of Displaced Populations and Migrants” from 23-27 October 2023^[11] In 2024, the asylum sector participated in the international activities of the EUAA and the individual working groups. In this context, the staff members participated in several international conferences, broadening their professional horizons and gaining experience. The entire staff of the NDGAP and additional designated staff of the regional directorates participated in the “Asylum Professional Day” training event organized by the NDGAP on two occasions during the year for a duration of 1 day each. No person from the NDGAP staff participated in the official training based on the EUAA training material.[12]

The Order of the NDGAP no. 1/2019. (X. 17.) on the Structure and Operation of the National Directorate of Alien Policing does not specify a unit that deals specifically with the cases of vulnerable asylum seekers.

According to the NDGAP, quality control is continuous and in addition, decisions are sometimes evaluated in the context of quality assurance projects.^[13]

^{[1] Sections 1, 2 and 4 of the Government Decree no. 126/2019 (V.30.) on the appointment of the aliens policing body and its powers.}

^{[2] Act XXXIV of 1994 on the Police.}

^{[3] Section 5 points g) and gd) of the Police Act.}

^{[4] This information was provided by the NDGAP, 19 February 2024.}

^{[5] This information was provided by the NDGAP, 20 February 2025.}

^{[6] The transit zones do not host asylum seekers anymore, but they are still officially not closed, the NDGAP staff works there.}

^{[7] Section 1(3) of the Decree 52/2007.}

^{[8] Section 1(4) of the Decree 52/2007.}

^{[9] Information provided by NDGAP on 2 March 2021, 7 February 2022, 19 February 2024 and 20 February 2025.}

^{[10] Information provided by NDGAP on 7 February 2022.}

^{[11] Information provided by NDGAP on 19 February 2024.}

^{[12] Information provided by NDGAP on 20 February 2025.}

^{[13] Information provided by NDGAP on 19 February 2024.}