Current Version
| Region | Hungary |
| Issue | Same-sex adoption |
| Status | Illegal |
| Start Date | Dec 15, 2020 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Although same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly, adoption by individuals is illegal regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. Stepchild adoption is only available for married (different-sex) couples. On September 12, 2026, Prime Minister Péter Magyar's administration announced reforms to dismantle the 2020 restrictions that effectively banned LGBTQ+ adoptions by requiring single applicants to obtain explicit approval from the Family Affairs Minister. By transferring evaluation authority back to professional child-protection agencies, the reform re-opens single-person adoptions for LGBTQ+ individuals without political vetting. Direct joint adoption for same-sex couples remains legally restricted. Note that as of October 2026, this reform has been officially announced but is not yet active/enacted into law. |
| Sources | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 https://www.timesofisrael.com/hungarys-government-to-scrap-orban-era-restriction-on-gay-adoption/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjk8clqkml |
Revision History (6)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | Sep 11, 2026 | (none) |
| Description | Although same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly, adoption by individuals is illegal regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. Stepchild adoption is only available for married (different-sex) couples. | Although same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly, adoption by individuals is illegal regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. Stepchild adoption is only available for married (different-sex) couples. On September 12, 2026, Prime Minister Péter Magyar's administration announced reforms to dismantle the 2020 restrictions that effectively banned LGBTQ+ adoptions by requiring single applicants to obtain explicit approval from the Family Affairs Minister. By transferring evaluation authority back to professional child-protection agencies, the reform re-opens single-person adoptions for LGBTQ+ individuals without political vetting. Direct joint adoption for same-sex couples remains legally restricted. Note that as of October 2026, this reform has been officially announced but is not yet active/enacted into law. |
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| Sources | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 https://www.timesofisrael.com/hungarys-government-to-scrap-orban-era-restriction-on-gay-adoption/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjk8clqkml |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | (none) | Sep 11, 2026 |
| Sources | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/12/15/hungary-adoption-lgbt-constitution/ | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 |
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edited by Pizzaslices412653. Adoption of any LGBT individual in Hungary is illegal since 2020
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Single only | Illegal |
| Sources | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/12/15/hungary-adoption-lgbt-constitution/ |
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edited by Canadianstudent03. The description and the status were different
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Illegal | Single only |
Reports (2)
- Newer law has been passed "Only heteronormative married couples can adopt."
- Status is not correct "The description contradicts the status"
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | (unknown) | Dec 15, 2020 |
| Sources | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Hungary#Adoption_and_family_planning | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54902048 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55324417 |
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Reports (1)
- Status is not correct "Even though same-sex couples together are still not able to adopt children, however, singles-only adoption is still allowed. The only difference this law made was how the babies are distributed inside the country. Previously, if there was not couple who wanted to adopt a children in a given county, then it was offered to the next single person registered in that county. In this new process, children are fist offered to couples inside the same county, then to couples in the entire country and only after that to singles. So, even if in practicality the chance of same sex couple being able to adopt a children decreased, it is not illegal."
created by DuffdeNecker
Helpful?
0 | Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Illegal |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Although same-sex couples cannot adopt jointly, adoption by individuals is illegal regardless of sexual orientation or partnership status. Stepchild adoption is only available for married (different-sex) couples. |
| Sources | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Hungary#Adoption_and_family_planning |