5. Refugee travel documents
©UNHCR/Elodie Carette
Access to refugee travel documents is a key enabler for complementary pathways. Refugee travel documents not only contribute to protection from refoulement but can also serve as a proof of identity required to access services in third countries.
Overview
Many refugees do not have access to a national passport, are unable to renew their passports or cannot use them without being exposed to risk of refoulement.
Refugee travel documents are identity and travel documents issued to refugees by States for the purposes of international travel. Similarly to national passports, they enable refugees to travel and take up opportunities such as working, studying and reuniting with family in a third country.
Key advocacy points around refugee travel documents
UNHCR advocates that travel documents for refugees:
Are machine readable and compliant to ICAO standards
Are renewable at the diplomatic representations of issuing countries abroad
Carry an extended validity period of five years or more
Allow for the right to return to the issuing country
Provide protection from return to the holders’ country of origin (non-refoulement)
Are issued with fees not exceeding the lowest scale of charges for national passports
Types of refugee travel documents
The 1951 Convention Travel Document (CTD) is the most known type of refugee travel document issued in accordance with Article 28 of the 1951 Refugee Convention or Article 6 of the OAU Convention to refugees by the State where they are legally staying.
States party to the 1951 Convention and the OAU Convention are under an obligation to issue a travel document to a refugee lawfully staying in the country and to mutually recognize travel documents issued by other State parties. They are also encouraged to issue travel documents to other refugees in their territory with particular consideration for refugees who are unable to obtain travel documents from their country of lawful residence.
Alternative means of documentation that would provide for similar safeguards may also be considered by States not party to the 1951 Convention or the OAU Convention, or where delays and other barriers to asylum procedures render fully ICAO-compliant travel documents less available. These may include foreigner passports with special provisions; regional travel documents valid for cross-border movements within economic communities; one-way laissez passers issued by destination States; boarding foils; and others.
2023 Global Refugee Forum Multistakeholder Pledge on refugee travel documents
In the context of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, several actors, including States, international organizations and others, submitted pledges in support of the multistakeholder pledge on refugee travel documents. The objective of the multistakeholder pledge was to mobilize States to issue and accept machine readable travel documents for refugees.
Resources
ExCom Conclusions relevant to refugee travel documents
UNHCR webpage and information for refugees
Other relevant resources
Previous
Next