Refugee travel document

File:1951 Convention Travel Document.JPG

1951 Convention Travel Document

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 she or he normally resides allowing him or her 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.

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.

Refugee travel documents are passport-like booklets. Their cover bears the words "Travel Document" in English and French (and often in the language of the issuing state), as well as the date of the convention: 28 July 1951. The documents were originally grey, though some countries now issue them in other colours, with two diagonal lines in the upper left corner of the front cover. Bearers enjoy certain visa-free travel privileges extended by signatories to the convention.

See also

• Travel Document
• 1954 Convention Travel Document, for stateless persons
• Certificate of identity, for stateless persons
• Nansen passport, the predecessor of the Refugee travel document

Refugee travel documents from individual countries:

• Canadian Certificate of Identity
• New Zealand Refugee Travel Document
• Estonian travel document for refugees

External links

• Travel documents Passport Canada
• 1951 Convention travel document Images from Passportland.com
• AA Route Planner
• AA Route Planner