https://voroskereszt.hu/en/tracing/

Tracing service


Hungarian Red Cross Tracing Service Information

The Hungarian Red Cross Tracing Service works to help restore and maintain family relations that have been broken as a result of humanitarian crisis, natural or man-made disaster or other situations of emergency, as well as to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing family members and support the families of the missing.

According to Act XL of 1993 on the Hungarian Red Cross, one of the fundamental services of the organization is to operate a Tracing Service for missing persons. The Hungarian Red Cross operates the Tracing Service across the country, with its headquarters in Budapest. We work in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Cases in which we can help:

  • In cases concerning the tracing of family members or clarifying their fate, if they went missing as a result of an armed conflict (past or ongoing conflict).
  • In cases concerning tracing of family members who were separated, or went missing as a result of migration. 
  • In cases concerning tracing of family members who were separated, or went missing as a result of natural or man-made disasters.
  • In the event of an unexpected interruption of contact with a family member living permanently abroad.

Cases in which we are not able to help:

  • We cannot help if the person you are looking for (or, if a minor, their guardian) has broken off contact deliberately (e.g. due to a family dispute).
  • We cannot help if there is no strong emotional bond between you and the family member you are looking for. (Until recently, you did not correspond either by post or electronically, you did not talk on the phone, etc.)
  • We cannot help you with legal matters (e.g. settlement of inheritance, alimony, etc.)
  • We cannot help if your relationship with your relative has been broken as a result of adoption or guardianship.
  • We cannot help you find a family member who is temporarily staying abroad for tourism or work. (Except in the case of an armed conflict or disaster.)
  • We cannot help you if you live in Hungary and are looking for someone in Hungary. (Except in the case of an armed conflict or disaster.)
  • We cannot help you with genealogy research or family history research.
  • We cannot help you if you’re looking for a friend or an acquaintance.

If you have a case the Hungarian Red Cross Tracing Service cannot help you with, we recommend the following:

In case of a legal dispute, contact a lawyer. (In Hungary, in the course of probate proceedings, it is the responsibility of the public notary to locate and notify the heirs.) 

In cases involving the tracing of a family member lost due to adoption:

– first and foremost, you may contact the Guardianship Authority (legal basis: https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=99700149.kor [1]  (see section on: General rules of proceedings concerning access to information about origin, Section 53).

– If you know the birth details and are searching for the person in Hungary, you may contact the responsible government office (District Office or Citizen Service Center). A detailed description of the procedure is available at https://kormany.hu/nyilvantartasok/ugyleirasok/adatszolgaltatas-a-szemelyiadat-es-lakcimnyilvantartasbol [2] 

– If you know the birth details or the name of the adoptive parent(s), it may be a good idea to conduct a global search on the Internet

– You may also consider DNA-based research (e. g. you might want to visit: https://myheritage.hu [3]  and https://ancestry.com [4] )

Searching for a family member who is temporarily abroad due to tourism or employment, and is believed to be in distress, may be a matter for the police. The Consular Service of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs may also be able to assist.

If you live in Hungary and wish to establish contact with a relative or acquaintance who lives in Hungary, you may primarily contact the responsible government office (District Office or Citizen Service Center). A detailed description of the procedure is available at: https://kormany.hu/nyilvantartasok/ugyleirasok/adatszolgaltatas-a-szemelyiadat-es-lakcimnyilvantartasbol [2] 

If you live in Hungary and you are searching for a family member who is believed to be homeless in Hungary, you may contact the institutions providing services to the homeless directly.

In cases of genealogical or ancestry research, it is advisable to contact the locally competent archives; there are also companies and organizations available online (e.g. https://macse.hu [5] ) that may be able to assist; you might also search social media platforms for groups that might be able to help; alternatively, you might want to consult the following public portals: https://www.hungaricana.hu/hu/ [6]  or https://www.arcanum.com/hu/ [7] 

When searching for biological relatives unknown to you, it may be worth exploring the genetic research services offered by https://www.myheritage.hu/ [8]  or https://www.ancestry.com/ [9] .

Thank you for seeking help elsewhere in cases that do not fall within the scope of the Tracing Service’s acceptance criteria.

If based on the above you believe the Tracing Service can help you, or if in doubt, please contact us:

E-mail: tracing@redcross.hu [10]

Phone: +36 1 374 1300

Postal Address: Magyar Vöröskereszt Keresőszolgálata, 1051 Budapest, Arany János u. 31., Hungary

You can also visit us in person. To do so, please book an appointment in advance. 

You can read our privacy policy by clicking below:

Information on the process of personal data [11]

Our services are free of charge. To support our work, please click here [12] to donate to the HRC Tracing Service! 

Thank you for supporting us!