Traveling With Refugee Documents: Which Countries Accept Them?

A refugee travel document (also known as a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport) is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside. This allows them to travel outside that state and return. Refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality, so they need travel documents to engage in international travel. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory. However, even with a Convention Travel Document, refugees still need to follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country, just like national passport holders. For example, a refugee travel document issued by another country is not treated as a valid passport for the purposes of obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit Canada.

The 145 countries that are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees

A refugee travel document, also known as a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport, is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside. This allows them to travel outside that state and return.

For example, a refugee travel document issued by another country is not treated as a valid passport for entry to Canada, and bearers may need to apply for a visa before travelling there. Similarly, Egyptian travel documents issued for Palestinian refugees are not accepted for travel to New Zealand unless they include an entry visa for Egypt.

On the other hand, countries such as Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Netherlands do not require a visa for entry with a refugee travel document.

Refugees must still follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country

A refugee travel document is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside, allowing them to travel outside that state and to return. Refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality (from which they have sought asylum) and therefore need travel documents to engage in international travel. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory.

However, refugees must still follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country. For example, a refugee travel document issued by the Government of Canada cannot be used for travel to the bearer's country of citizenship, and a refugee travel document issued by another country is not treated as a valid passport for the purposes of obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization to visit Canada. Egyptian travel documents issued for Palestinian refugees are considered unacceptable travel documents for travel and entry to New Zealand, unless they include an entry visa allowing the holder to enter Egypt.

Even if you have a Convention Travel Document (CTD), you still need to follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country, just like national passports. Some countries may also require a specific number of blank pages or a specific validity period remaining in your CTD for acceptance. Additionally, refugees and stateless people may face different requirements than national passport holders when applying for visas.

Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands do not require a visa in a Refugee Travel Document.

Canada does not accept refugee travel documents for travel to the bearer's country of citizenship

A refugee travel document is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside, allowing them to travel outside that state and to return there. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory.

However, Canada does not accept refugee travel documents for travel to the bearer's country of citizenship. A refugee travel document issued by another country is not treated as a valid passport for the purposes of obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation to visit Canada. Therefore, bearers of refugee travel documents may need to apply for a visa before travelling to Canada.

Similarly, Egyptian travel documents issued for Palestinian refugees are considered unacceptable travel documents for travel and entry to New Zealand, unless they include an entry visa allowing the holder to enter Egypt.

It is important to note that even if you have a Convention Travel Document (CTD), you still need to follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country, just like national passports. Before booking travel, check the applicable legislation in your destination and transit countries to confirm if you need to apply for a visa and to ensure that they accept the use of your CTD. Some countries may also require a specific number of blank pages or a specific validity period remaining in your CTD for acceptance.

Egyptian travel documents issued for Palestinian refugees are not accepted in New Zealand

A refugee travel document (also called a 1951 Convention travel document or Geneva passport) is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside. This allows them to travel outside that state and to return there. Refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality (from which they have sought asylum) and therefore need travel documents to engage in international travel. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory.

A Convention Travel Document (or CTD) should be available to refugees or stateless persons when they lawfully reside in a country that has signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and/or 1954 Statelessness Convention. To adhere to international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a CTD must now be machine-readable. Manual (or handwritten) CTDs are being phased out.

Even if you have a Convention Travel Document, you still need to follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country, just like national passports. Before booking your travel, check the applicable legislation in your destination and transit countries to confirm if you need to apply for a visa and to ensure that they accept the use of your CTD. Some countries may also require a specific number of blank pages or a specific validity period remaining in your CTD for acceptance. Additionally, refugees and stateless people may face different requirements than national passport holders when applying for visas, though this may not be well documented.

Canada is another country that requires bearers of refugee travel documents to apply for a visa before travelling there.

Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Netherlands do not require a visa for a refugee travel document

A refugee travel document is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside, allowing them to travel outside that state and to return there. Refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality (from which they have sought asylum) and therefore need travel documents so that they might engage in international travel. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory.

However, even if you have a Convention Travel Document, you still need to follow the visa and travel document requirements of each country, just like national passports. Before booking your travel, check the applicable legislation in your destination and transit countries to confirm if you need to apply for a visa and to ensure that they accept the use of your CTD. Some countries may also require a specific number of blank pages or a specific validity period remaining in your CTD for acceptance.

Bearers of refugee travel documents are not citizens of the issuing country and may need to apply for a visa before travelling to Canada. Egyptian travel documents issued for Palestinian refugees are considered unacceptable travel documents for travel and entry to New Zealand, unless they include an entry visa allowing the holder to enter Egypt.

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