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U.S. Travel Documents Requirements: Traveling to and from the USA

If you are planning a trip to or outside the U.S. , the first thing you need to make sure is that your travel documents are in order . A travel document is a form of identification issued by a government to ease the movement of individuals across international borders. Before you leave for the airport, you need to make sure that your travel document is valid , and that you have all the necessary extra documentation , including any required visas . There are different types of travel documents that are issued based on immigration status and purpose for the trip . U.S. law requires that every individual , regardless of citizenship, age or destination, needs to hold a valid travel document(s) to travel outside of the United States. Of course, the requirements for crossing international boundaries vary depending on the country of destination. It is paramount when traveling either domestically or internationally to make sure you have the necessary travel documents, required visas, for entering or departing the United States.

Main Travel Documents

It is important to keep in mind that the travel document requirements for traveling outside of the U.S. may not be the same required to enter another country. The main travel documents issued by the U.S. government are passports, U.S. permanent resident card (Green Card), R efugee or Stateless travel document , Re-Entry Permit , and emergency travel document issued by an embassy or consulate. But what are the differences between them?

The passport is perhaps the most common travel document there is. It is usually issued in a booklet format. It has a biometrics page with the holder’s information and also blank pages for entry and departure stamps and visas . It acts as a form of identification and proof of citizenship . Most countries require that a passport is valid for at least 6 months at the time of arrival.

The governmental entity responsible for issuing passports in the U.S. is the Department of State (DOS). U.S. passports act as proof of U.S. citizenship and allow their holder entry into a total of 156 countries visa-free.

Passport Cards

Both apassport and passport card are considered U.S. passports . They both serve as proof of your U.S. citizenship and identity. The passport card is a wallet-sized travel document that can only be used by U.S. citizens to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings or ports-of-entry by sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. This card is a smaller, more convenient, and less expensive alternative to the traditional passport, especially for those who frequently travel to these destinations. The passport card, like the passport book, is valid for 10 years for an adult, and five years for children age 16 and younger. If you already have a passport book, then you may apply for the passport card at a reduced price.

USA Travel Documents

Form i-94 and arrival/departure records.

Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record , is used to record traveler's’ arrival/departure information to the United States . However, CBP now gathers this information automatically from their electronic travel records. All those arriving in the U.S. via air or sea are no longer required to complete Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record . However, if they need the information from their Form I-94 admission record to prove their legal-visitor status, they can access their arrival/departure record information online. Because CBP only collects this information automatically for air and sea travelers, CBP will still issue a paper form I-94 at land border ports of entry.

To travel to and enter the United States, travelers need a visa . The type of visa you will need to apply for depends on the reason for your visit. You can apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Your approved visa will be placed on directly in your passport . A visa usually comes in either a stamp or loose piece of paper format and shows the purpose of your trip as well as its validity. You cannot enter the U.S. after your visa’s expiration date. At the port of entry, the DHS officer will enter the date when you are required to leave the U.S in your I-94 form. You have an obligation to leave the United States by this date since it is when your immigration status expires, or face not being allowed to re.-enter the U.S. even if you have a valid travel document.

In addition to the traditional visas, the USCIS also issues three types of travel documents for exceptional circumstances. These special travel documents allow their holders to re-enter the U.S. country without having to apply for a visa. To apply for these travel documents, individuals need to complete and file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document and choose which document they want to apply for:

• An advance parole document
• A refugee travel document
• A re-entry permit

All those who applied for asylum or were considered asylees on or after April 1, 1997, can lose their status should they return to the country for which they sought asylum.

Advance Parole

Individuals who are in the process of adjusting their status or applying for an immigrant visa (refugees and asylees) are required to apply for advance parole document. Failure to do so can lead to severe consequences upon returning and trying to enter the United States, as these individuals may be found inadmissible, their applications may be denied, or both. It is paramount for non-U.S. citizens to obtain the proper documentation before leaving the United States . However, there are three exceptions to the requirement for nonimmigrant visa holders to apply for advance parole: H1B, L and K3/4 holders as well as their dependents. Those who hold a K1/2 visa and who have married a U.S. citizen must apply for legal permanent resident (Green Card holder) status and advance parole before leaving the United States, by filing Form I-131.

Non-immigrant visa holders must obtain Advance Parole, before departure, to re-enter the United States if they have:

• Filed an application for adjustment of status but have not received a decision from the USCIS;
• Hold refugee or asylee status and intend to depart temporarily to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa in Canada; and/or
• An emergency or personal reason to travel temporarily abroad.

Refugee Travel Documents

The USCIS grants refugee travel documents to i ndividuals with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status. If you want to travel abroad, you will need a passport. A refugee travel document is the equivalent of a passport for asylees and refugees who need to travel outside the U.S. temporarily. Before traveling abroad , those who were granted asylum or refugee status must apply for a refugee travel document . Family members who are classified as derivative asylees or refugees must also apply and obtain a refugee travel document before traveling outside of the United States. Failing to get a refugee travel document before leaving the U.S. could have serious consequences like being denied re-entry into the U.S. or even being deported. It is also important to keep in mind that both asylees and refugees you should never travel to the country from which they claimed persecution.

Re-entry Permits

A reentry permit allows a permanent resident (Green Card holder) or conditional resident to apply for re-entry after having spent at least a year outside of the United States. Those who are granted a re-entry permit are not required to apply for a returning resident visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

If you are a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) , and you need to spend a year or more outside the United States, you are required to get a re-entry permit to maintain your status. While Green Card holders are allowed to travel, they cannot spend more than an allotted time outside the U.S. running the risk that immigration authorities may consider the act an intent to abandon U.S. residence status . A re-entry permit helps prove that you did not mean to give up your status . A re-entry permit is also useful for when you cannot, or do not wish to, get a passport from your home country. The permit (which looks like a passport) can be used in its place. Remember that you cannot extend the time on your re-entry permit. If it expires, and you want to renew it, you will need to return to the U.S. and apply for a new one.

Emergency Travel

In the case of emergency, and before leaving the United States , the USCIS might process an application for a travel document faster . If you are experiencing an extremely urgent situation, you may visit your local office to request an emergency travel document. You will be required to submit any additional documentation required, including proof of your emergency situation , e.g.; medical documents, death certificates, travel records, etc. It is important to understand that business trips, weddings, holiday parties and other planned events are usually not considered emergency situations. USCIS considers emergency situations to be, life-threatening conditions, a humanitarian situation like a natural catastrophe. Your requested assistance to attend a cultural or social program which would benefit the United States, etc.

So if you are a foreign national planning a trip outside of the U.S., please make sure you have all the appropriate travel documents in order or risk losing their rights and benefits given to you by the U.S. government. Failing to do so may result in being found inadmissible upon your return, or your applications may be denied, or both. That is why it is paramount that the proper documentation is obtained before leaving the United States .

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I-131, Application for Travel Document

ALERT: On Jan. 31, 2024, we published a  final rule in the Federal Register, that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective April 1, 2024.

Applications and petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees or we will not accept them.

What to Know About Sending Us Your Form

The new filing fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later. If you are filing an acceptable prior form edition on or after April 1, 2024, you must include the new filing fee.

Alert:  Beginning July 1, 2022, we will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, at our discretion if we find the beneficiary merits this authorization. We will no longer issue advance parole documents as evidence of our prior authorization for a TPS beneficiary to be permitted to reenter the United States if the beneficiary travels outside the United States.

Beginning July 1, 2022, we will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, at our discretion if we find the beneficiary merits this authorization. We will no longer issue advance parole documents as evidence of our prior authorization for a TPS beneficiary to be permitted to reenter the United States if the beneficiary travels outside the United States.

If you are a TPS beneficiary with an existing, unexpired advance parole document, you may continue to travel and seek reentry to the United States after a trip outside the United States through the period of validity printed on your advance parole document.

If you are a TPS beneficiary applying for a new travel authorization document, you should continue to use Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. If you have a pending Form I-131, you do not need to file a new application.

We will continue to issue advance parole documents to noncitizens with pending initial applications for TPS (Form I-821).

TPS beneficiaries and individuals with pending initial TPS applications should carefully read the Form I-131 Instructions which contain warnings about certain risks an individual may face if they are outside of the United States while USCIS is considering their TPS reregistration or initial application, such as missing important request for evidence or other notices or being denied TPS while outside the United States.

ALERT: Court decisions regarding DACA.

On Sept. 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a decision finding the DACA Final Rule unlawful and expanding the original July 16, 2021, injunction and order of vacatur to cover the Final Rule. However, the court maintained a partial stay of the order for “all DACA recipients who received their initial DACA status prior to July 16, 2021.” See the Memorandum and Order (PDF, 1.35 MB)  and Supplemental Order of Injunction (PDF, 72.53 KB) .

Accordingly, current grants of DACA and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) remain valid until they expire, unless individually terminated.  In accordance with this decision, USCIS will continue to accept and process DACA renewal requests and accompanying applications for employment authorization under the DACA regulations at 8 CFR 236.22 and 236.23, as it has since October 31, 2022. We will also continue to accept initial DACA requests, but in accordance with the District Court’s order, we will not process initial DACA requests.

Current valid grants of DACA and related EADs will continue to be recognized as valid under the Final Rule. This means that individuals with DACA and related EADs do not have to submit a request for DACA or employment authorization until the appropriate time to seek renewal.

Please see the  DACA Litigation Information Page  for important updates and information related to court rulings on the DACA policy.

Use this form to apply for a reentry permit, refugee travel document, TPS travel authorization document, advance parole document (including parole into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit), or advance permission to travel for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term residents.

For information on travel documents, including potential immigration-related consequences of traveling outside the United States, see our Travel Documents page. If you are in the United States and you have an urgent need to travel outside the United States, see our Expedite Requests page and  Emergency Travel  page.

If you file this form to request an Advance Parole Document authorizing you to seek parole in the United States when you return to the United States after temporary travel abroad, and you depart the United States before we issue your Advance Parole Document, we will consider your Form I-131 abandoned unless you were previously issued an Advance Parole Document that remains valid for the entire time you are outside the United States.

If you file this form to request an advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents document, and you leave the CNMI without having an advance permission to travel document, your status will automatically terminate.

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Form Details

Form I-131 (PDF, 451.87 KB)

Instructions for Form I-131 (PDF, 285.07 KB)

04/01/24 . Starting June 3, 2024, we will accept only the 04/01/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 06/06/23 E edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.

If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.

If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions . 

Please check our Filing Addresses for Form I-131  page for information on where to mail your application. Applications that are not submitted to the appropriate direct filing address may experience processing delays.

You can find the filing fee for Form I-131 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.  

The fee is effective for filings postmarked April 1, 2024, and later.

You can pay the fee with a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check, or pay by credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions . If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

When you send a payment, you agree to pay for a government service. Filing fees are final and non-refundable, regardless of any action we take on your application, petition, or request, or if you withdraw your request.  If you pay by credit card or debit card, you cannot later dispute the payment. Use our Fee Calculator to help determine your fee.

If you are submitting multiple forms, pay each filing fee separately. We are transitioning to electronically processing immigration benefit requests, which requires us to use multiple systems to process your package. We may reject your entire package if you submit a single, combined payment for multiple forms.

Payment if you file at a field office: You cannot pay fees with a money order or cashier’s check when filing at a field office. You can only pay with a personal check, debit card, credit card, or reloadable prepaid credit or debit card.

You do not need to pay an additional fee for Form I-131 if:

• You are filing Form I-131 Application Type B or D;
• You filed a Form I-485 with a fee on or after July 30, 2007, and before April 1, 2024; and
• Your Form I-485 is still pending.

For refugee travel document applications filed from outside of the United States, you must pay the applicable fee(s) to the cashier at the USCIS overseas office or U.S. embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your location. Please see the website of the appropriate  embassy or consulate  to confirm acceptable forms of payment. Include the fee receipt from the U.S. embassy or consulate when you file your application package.

Please do not mail cash, personal checks or traveler’s checks. If you do not include a fee receipt with your filing, we will reject your application.

Please do not submit this checklist with your Form I-131. The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not replace statutory, regulatory, and form instruction requirements. We recommend that you review these requirements before completing and submitting your form. Do not send original documents unless specifically requested in the form instructions or applicable regulations.

If you submit any documents (copies or original documents, if requested) in a foreign language, you must include a full English translation along with a certification from the translator verifying that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Read more information about the types of evidence that may be relevant to specific parole requests on our  Humanitarian Parole  page.

Complete all sections of the form. We will reject the form if these fields are missing:

• Family Name
• Physical Address
• Date of Birth
• 1.a. – 1.f.
• Family Name (If 1.f. selected)
• Physical Address (If 1.f. selected)

Filing Tips:  Review our  Tips for Filing Forms by Mail  page for information on how to ensure we will accept your form.

Don’t forget to sign your form. We will reject any unsigned form.

E-Notification: If you want to receive an e-mail and/or text message that we have accepted  your form at a USCIS lockbox, complete  Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance , and clip it to the first page of your form.

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• Travel Documents

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Travel documents for foreign citizens returning to the U.S.

If you are a citizen of another country and have been living in the U.S., you may need special documents if you leave the U.S. and then return.

Travel documents for permanent and conditional permanent residents

If you are outside the u.s. for less than one year.

If you are a permanent or conditional permanent resident who has been away from the U.S. for less than one year, you will only need to show your Green Card upon re-entry to the U.S.

If you are outside the U.S. for one year or longer

If you are a permanent or conditional permanent resident who has been outside the U.S. for one year or longer, apply for a re-entry permit before you travel. Use Form I-131 - Application for Travel Document .

• For permanent residents, the re-entry permit is valid for two years from the date of issue.
• For conditional permanent residents, the re-entry permit is valid for two years after the date of issue. Or it is valid up until the date you must apply for removal of the conditions on your status , whichever date comes first.

Travel documents for other foreign citizens living in the U.S.

If you are a foreign citizen re-entering the U.S., the documentation you need may depend on your immigration status:

• Advance parole - You may use advance parole to re-enter the U.S. without applying for a visa. It is commonly used for re-entry by people in the process of applying for permanent residence, applying for a status adjustment, or applying for asylum.
• Refugee travel document - You may be able to use this document to re-enter the U.S. if you have refugee or asylum status.

If you need help, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) .

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

travel document

Definition(s).

A document issued by a government or international treaty organisation which is acceptable proof of identity for the purpose of entering another country.

Derived by EMN from IOM Glossary on Migration, 2nd ed., 2011

Narrower Term(s)

Related term(s).

• fraudulent travel or identity document
• residence document

1. Passports and visas are the most widely used forms of travel documents. 2. Some States also accept certain identity cards or other documents, such as residence permits .

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About the process

Refugee travel document and certificate of identity services are now available

Find out how to apply for regular or urgent service.

If you already applied and now need a travel document urgently, contact us .

Tell us if your travel document application is now urgent

Fill out our web form :

• Under Type of application/enquiry, select Certificate of Identity/Refugee Travel Document
• include your travel date
• include the reason you need the travel document

Service standards

See  how long it may take us to process your application  under normal circumstances.

There are 2 types of travel documents non-Canadians can use when travelling:

• refugee travel document
• certificate of identity

The application form is the same for both types of travel documents.

They’re issued to

• Convention refugees
• protected persons
• stateless persons
• permanent residents of Canada in special circumstances

The issuing office decides how long your travel document is valid for.

You cannot use these travel documents to go to your country of citizenship.

You should contact the embassy of the country you plan to visit (opens in a new tab) to check if your travel document will be accepted.

• Next: Who can apply

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Travel documents

Know which documents you need and where to get them to make your travel quick and easy.

Identification documents

Canadian passports.

A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel identification document and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada 

Canadian Travel Number

Avoid delays at the airport because your name is the same as, or similar to, that of someone on the No Fly List ( Secure Air Travel Act list)

NEXUS                                                  

If you travel between Canada and the United States often, a NEXUS card will save you time at the border

Permanent resident card

Permanent residents of Canada need a permanent resident card to re-enter Canada

Pre-boarding identification requirements

Information on the identification documents you need to bring to the airport

Travel documents for non-Canadians

Travel documents for convention refugees, protected persons or stateless persons living in Canada

Permits and certificates

Find out whether you need a visa for your destination and get it well in advance of your trip

Certificate of Canadian citizenship

A Canadian citizenship certificate is not a valid travel document

CITES permits

Information on permits to transport, import or export a listed wildlife species or items made from listed wildlife species

International Driving Permit

Your Canadian driver's licence may not be valid in your destination country

Travelling outside Canada with your vehicle

You may need a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) to travel outside Canada with your vehicle.

International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis

Some countries may require you to show proof of vaccination  

Your pets need travel documents to enter another country

CANPASS - Private aircraft

CANPASS cards allow private aircraft to clear customs and immigration quickly and securely

More information

Consent letter for children travelling abroad.

A consent letter helps children travelling without both parents to enter foreign countries and re-enter Canada

Marriage outside Canada

Information on the legal issues involved in getting married abroad 

Notarial services

Information about getting notarial services while you are outside Canada

Travelling as a dual citizen

Information for Canadian dual citizens who are travelling to another country where they have citizenship

Travel insurance

Buy travel insurance before you travel outside Canada. Bring your insurance information with you. You may need to prove you have travel insurance to enter some countries

Mobile Passport Control app

Travellers can shorten the entry process to the U.S. by submitting their passport and customs declaration information through this app

What we are doing

Policies, acts and regulations.

• Canadian Passport Order
• Citizenship Act
• Identity Screening Regulations

Publications

• Bon voyage, but... Essential information for Canadian travellers
• Travelling with children

All related publications

• Apply online for a visa, study or work permit
• Steps to complete a passport application
• Nexus application
• CANPASS application
• CITES permit application forms

Find helpful information on health and safety, travel documents, baggage, airport security, country advice and more.

Information on a recommended consent letter for Canadian children travelling abroad.

You need a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada.

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Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.

• Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant . If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.  
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a  federally recognized , Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

In coordination with its DHS counterparts, TSA has identified acceptable alternate identification for use in special circumstances at the checkpoint.

A weapon permit is not an acceptable form of identification. A temporary driver's license is not an acceptable form of identification.

Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant . If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

Learn more about flying with a REAL ID .

 TSA currently accepts expired driver’s licenses or state-issued ID a year after expiration. DHS has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to May 7, 2025. Learn more about REAL ID on  TSA’s REAL ID  webpage.

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

Forgot Your ID?

In the event you arrive at the airport without valid identification, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. You will be subject to additional screening, to include a patdown and screening of carry-on property.

You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if your identity cannot be confirmed, you choose to not provide proper identification or you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process.

TSA recommends that you arrive at least two hours in advance of your flight time.

EU laissez passer

A travel document issued by the European Union

Secure travel document

The “laissez-passer” is a  secure e-travel document issued by the European Union for its representatives and staff members with an international outreach as well as their family members under certain conditions. It is recognised as a valid travel document by Member States. It can also be recognised by third countries, through the necessary agreements, for border crossing and within their territory.

Its form was upgraded in 2015 to achieve enhanced international and European security standards. The EU laissez-passer integrates the same security standards and technical specifications applicable to EU national travel documents. It is not only machine readable on the MRZ of the data page, but also carries a contactless chip, which bears the photo and 2 fingerprints of the holder as biometric features. It contributes to ensuring a proper level of protection against forgery, counterfeiting and falsification

Legal basis

Council Regulation (EU) No 1417/2013 of 17 December 2013 defines the form of the laissez-passer issued by the European Union and has extended the scope of applicants by adding new categories of so-called “Special applicants”. It repeals Regulation (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) No 1826/69 with effect from 25 November 2015. The Staff Regulations (Article 23 paragraph 3) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (Articles 11 and Article 81) foresee the list of eligible applicants. In addition, Annex II of Council Regulation (EU) No 1417/2013 defines the terms and conditions applicable to the new category of special applicants.

Information on the holder's function

The EU laissez-passer allows extra information in the “Function” section on page 4. This specifies the representative function of the holder when posted in a delegation or travelling abroad for service reasons. It is also used to specify if the laissez-passer was issued as a temporary laissez-passer or to a family member. This potential additional information is always in English and in the official EU language(s) of the holder or of the original holder it refers to (for special applicants not EU citizens). The list below indicates the current possible functions (English version) that can appear:

• Minister Counsellor
• First Counsellor
• First Secretary
• Second Secretary
• Third Secretary
• Assistant Attaché
• Defence Attaché
• Administrative and Technical Staff  
• Head of the European Commission Representation
• Euratom Inspector
• Auditor of the European Court of Auditors
• Close Protection Officer  
• Family member
• Temporary laissez-passer

Travel support

Immigration and border control

National authorities can verify the authenticity and the characteristics of the laissez-passer issued by the European Union by consulting the Public Register of Authentic travel and identity Documents Online – PRADO . It is also registered in the False and Authentic Documents Online system (FADO), available to EU Member States to aid the combatting of irregular migration and the use of fraudulent documents.

Airline companies and travel agencies should consult the IATA Timatic database to verify the acceptance of the laissez-passer issued by the European Union and the visa conditions requested by the country of destination of their passengers using it for their trips.

The European Union has signed several international agreements with third countries regarding the recognition of the laissez-passer and the visa requirements for its holder. Please consult the Official Journal of the European Union for agreements like the one on short stay visa waiver with the People’s Republic of China.

Central service

The European Commission is running a central service on behalf of all EU issuing institutions to enrol, personalise and deliver the EU laissez-passer. An applicant should contact its institution for further details on how to apply. The EU LP central service of the European Commission manages the full lifecycle of the issuance process, up to destruction of the document. It can be reached via the Duty Office of the Commission (see contact details below).

EUE Public Key Infrastructure

The Joint Research Center (JRC) located in Ispra (Italy) operates the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) sustaining the issuance process of the EU laissez-passer. It runs the infrastructure needed as certification authority for the authentic EUE digital certificates used to electronically sign the data stored on the chip of the document. It is also operating the infrastructure necessary for the certification authority that permits extended access control by a passport reader when inspecting the document at border control. Visit the EU Laissez-Passer Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) site for more information about EU LP PKI including contact details.

In case of emergency or for immediate support only, a holder of a laissez-passer issued by the European Union can always contact the Duty Office of the Commission (available 24h/24 and 7d/7) at:

• Tel: +32 2 29 22222

New look in 2022

After 6 years in circulation, which is also the maximum validity time of this document, a new design was created to keep ahead of counterfeiters. The overall themes selected are “Connectivity” and “Space and universe elements”, specially focusing on EU Galileo and Copernicus programmes. During the COVID period, the stakeholders from the EU Commission (DG HR Directorate Security, DG DEFIS, OIB) and from the Contractor for the production and personalisation of the EU laissez-passer (Austrian State Printing House) created the new layout inspired by satellites, their orbits, and data transmission flows for connecting the world. These themes were turned into security features, using special inks and different printing methods.

The new design is in circulation since July 2022 and specimen kits are available for government authorities, border officials, airlines, and travel management companies.

Additional information

EU is member of ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD)

Electronic passports, like the laissez-passer, add a layer of security to traditional non electronic passports by embedding an electronic chip in the passport booklet that stores the biographical information visible on page 2, as well as a digital security feature. This digital security feature is a country specific "digital signature." These digital signatures are unique to each issuing state/organisation and can be verified using their respective certificates.

For a digital signature to be an effective and efficient security feature, countries must exchange their respective certificates with each other.

As such, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) created a system to facilitate the sharing of information between States: the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD). The ICAO PKD is a centralized directory that offers an independent, organized, secure and cost-effective online source for up-to-date information.

The European Union became member of ICAO PKD on 7 November 2017. Authorized members of the ICAO PKD will find in this directory the official certificates and master lists for the Country Signing Certificate Authority (CSCA) “EUE” (three-letter code for European Union).

Some statistics

Since the introduction of the new EU laissez-passer in November 2015 , the Commission has issued its 5.000th laissez-passer in August 2016 and its 10.000th in September 2019.

10,000th laissez-passer owner Agata Malczewska (centre, DG TRADE), with Fernanda Serra from PMO (left) and Maresa Meissl from HR.DS.

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Central and Eastern Europe

Mediterranean region, the middle east.

Check out our top destinations .

Information & Services

Travel documents.

Please make sure that when you are booking a flight you provide the full name of the passenger accurately, exactly as it is written in the travel document the passenger will be using.

In case you made a mistake during booking, you can use the free online name change option on your flight summary page if:

• Wrong title (male/female)
• Shortened name (Thomas J. Smith vs. Thomas John Smith)
• Misspelling/typo/ up to 3 characters

For other name corrections please contact the Wizz Air Call Centre within 2 hours of the booking. After this deadline, a name change fee will have to be paid:

• [name-change location=WizzairCom] when changing the name on our site
• [name-change location=CallCentre] when changing through the Wizz Air Call Centre. A Call Centre Transaction Fee will be applied in addition to the Name Change Fee.

Changing your reservation

All customers on international flights must have a valid passport and, where required, a valid visa. Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.

Your passport needs to be in good condition and signed by yourself . Some countries require that passports are valid for a minimum period beyond your trip. These regulations may vary per country, make sure to check and comply with those before your travel.

For more specific visa and passport requirements, contact the Consulate or Embassy of the country you are planning to visit. Our Wizz Air Customer Service team are not able to give advice on specific visa or passport requirements. You are fully liable for the existence, propriety and validity of your travel documents, and to ensure you are eligible to travel and enter the destination country with your travel documents. Wizz Air is not liable for any damages costs resulted due to the non-fulfillment of the above requirements by you.

You are fully liable for any costs, damages caused to Wizz Air by the non-fulfillment of the above requirements.

Passengers may be refused entry if Wizz Air reasonably believes that passengers do not meet the entry requirements of the country of the Agreed Stopping Place or the Place of Destination or they do not have funds to cover stay.Passengers who can proved they are entering the country to take part in a package tour, youth camp or sporting event, entering for medical treatment, participating in an internationally agreed program, or who has had the costs of their stay paid must have confirmation of the above-mentioned booking.

To check what travel documents you'll need to cross the border into another EU country follow the links below:

E-Visas issued by the Russian Federation may not be accepted for travel if there is a mismatch between your passport and e-Visa information.

Before the flight, please make sure you check the following information on your e-Visa:

• Your passport number is correct
• Your full name is populated (including all your given names) and there are no misspellings
• Only Latin alphabet characters are used, special national characters (such as Ñ, É, Ü or Ç) are not accepted
• Your date of birth is correct

We advise you to check the “machine-readable line” of your passport that you will find at the bottom of the same page and make sure all details are identical to the data on your e-Visa, including your name and passport number. For example, if the names in the visual area of the passport are "Séo Türre" then you are required to use names from the machine-readable line "Seo Tuerre".

P<UTO TUERRE << SEO <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

L898902C<3UTO6908061F9406236ZE184226B<<<<<14

For further information, please visit https://evisa.kdmid.ru/

If you see a mismatch, please make sure to correct your e-Visa details before you travel.

Minors must hold their own passport or travel document when traveling in the EU.

In addition to their own valid passport or ID card, all children travelling:

• with adults who are not their legal guardian; or
• with only one parent

may need an extra (official) document signed by their parents, second parent or legal guardian(s) authorising them to travel.

For more information click here .

From January 15th, 2017 French nationals and residents under 18 years old can only travel alone (without a parent or legal guardian) if they are in possession of an authorization to travel form (“l'autorisation de sortie du territoire")

Non-biometric passports are no longer valid for traveling outside Albania (regardless of expiry date), and will only be accepted for traveling to Albania.

Travel documents issued more than 10 years prior to arrival are not accepted.

Passengers not holding onward/return tickets or other acceptable evidence of onward/return travel may be refused entry.

Passports must be valid at least 3 months after the date of return.

Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to the Schengen Zone without a visa for a period of 90 days within any 180-day period for purposes other than working .

INFORMATION FOR GEORGIAN CITIZENS

Using ePassport gates

When arriving in the UK you can save time by using the ePassport gates which are available at most UK airports. Your passport must have a machine readable zone (MRZ) to use the ePassport gates. For more information take a look at the Border Forcewebsite .

Registered Traveller Scheme

If you have a non EU passport you can still enjoy the benefits of using the ePassport gates by joining the registered traveler scheme.For more information about the scheme as well as a list of eligible countries take a look at the Border Forcewebsite .

Passengers may be refused entry if they do not have funds to cover stay.

INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO ISRAEL

Passengers holding temporary passport may be refused entry.

INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERS TRAVELING TO UAE

In compliance with the current regulations, authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) request a valid visa as part of mandatory travel documents to enter the country for certain nationalities.

Please be advised of the applicable Visa request for entering Abu Dhabi:

IATA - United Arab Emirates Personalised Passport, Visa & Health travel documentation advice

Wizz Air has partnered up with the company Sharaf Travel Services to offer our customers discounted rates. Please check out partner’s site to get through the Visa application process to UAE.

Frequently asked questions

You have to present all necessary, valid travel documents at the check-in or at the boarding gate. You also need to comply with all the entry and migration requirements of the country you are flying from, through or into. If you do not have the sufficient passport or visa or any required travel document and you are refused entry into a country, you may be liable for the consequential transportation surcharge and cost of provisions.

For the most accurate information about visa requirements, please contact the foreign offices, embassies or consulates of the countries you would like to visit. You will have to present the same document you provided during the online check-in.

If you don't have a confirmed reservation yet, we highly recommend booking your inbound and outbound flights under two separate reservations. In this case you will able to use different travel documents when checking in. In case you already have a confirmed reservation, please contact the Wizz Air Call Centre

The border authorities may decide to refuse entry to their country based on information not available to us. We will not refund you for any flight or service you are not able to use because of the refusal but you may be liable for the consequential transportation surcharge and cost of provisions.

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Countries that allow visa-free travel with Refugee Travel Documents

• Countries that require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• Countries that DO NOT require visas for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• European countries that you can travel visa free with a travel document
• European countries that require a visa to travel with a travel document
• List of countries that DO NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• List of countries that issue travel documents

How to Apply for a Visa

Please note that the information below changes regularly. For example, the UK leaving the EU may change the ability to travel visa-free to European countries. Therefore, you should always check the visa requirements of your country of destination before you travel.

This question comes up when you are considering travelling to one of the European or Schengen Countries or another country. Once you have obtained refugee status, you may wonder where you can travel without the need for a visa.

If you are a holder of a Refugee Travel Document issued by the United Kingdom under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , you can travel visa-free to a lot of countries. Different countries have their own travel restrictions and require you to have a visa even for short term visits like tourism, even if you have a Refugee Travel Document.

When you are travelling, you will need to make sure that you carry your valid UK residence permit confirming your refugee status together with the Refugee Travel Document.

N OTE: This list is subject to changes at any time . We recommend double-checking information on the current visa requirements with the embassy of your country of destination before making any travel arrangements or you can start an application with IaM and we can check for you. IaM is not liable for any immigration or other difficulties you may encounter based on the information on this page.

For countries with official sources, there will be a hyperlink, which will be highlighted in orange and underlined. You can click on it to view more information.

Countries that require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina  
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• Jamaica * (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Kazakhstan  
• Norway * (1951 Convention travel documents issued by Malta, Ireland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland have visa-free access to Norway )
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia 
• Thailand*  (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Turkey   (unless for official visit)
• United Kingdom

Countries that do not require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• Liechtenstein 
• Netherlands* (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Tunisia * (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Vatican city

European countries that require a visa to travel with a travel document:

European countries that you can travel visa free with a travel document:.

• Liechtenstein
• Monaco* (To be confirmed after Brexit)
• Netherlands* (Depending on your nationality)

List of countries that DO NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• UAE – Dubai
• Qatar – Doha

List of countries that issue travel documents:

• Netherlands *
• Republic of Ireland
• United States of America

All the above countries issue refugee travel documents in one form or another. They allow you to leave the country that issued them and return with the same documents. Some countries allow you to travel to other countries without the need for a visa. Whereas, you may need to obtain a visa for other countries. These arrangements are usually due to agreements between countries.

Please note that in some instances, you may lose your refugee status if you travel to the country from which you sought refuge. You will need to check with the country that issued your travel documents.

Getting a Travel Visa

A travel visa is an official document, usually stamped or affixed into the bearer’s passport, that grants the right to legally enter, remain within, or leave a foreign country. A  Schengen visa , for example, allows you to travel to any of the  Schengen countries  as well as other  non-Schengen countries  that allow travellers to enter their countries with a Schengen visa.

Travellers without a valid travel visa will be refused entry into a country. And, if the individual enters the country through illegal means and is later discovered, may be punished and deported.

Each country has their own processes for applying for a visa. Generally, you will need to fill in an application form and submit any requirements that the consulate or embassy asks for, and some even require you to appear for an interview .

There are many factors that could add to your visa being approved or rejected by the consulate, and many find the process of applying for a visa stressful for this reason. You can choose to do this on your own, or get a service like IaM to help you either make the application or check the application that you filled out yourself.

If you want to make your own visa application to any of the Schengen countries , check out our blog posts for our detailed guides:

Follow our YouTube Channel ▶️ & Facebook page 📱

For the latest visas & uk immigration updates..

Do you have a refugee travel document and plan on travelling? Comment below.

IaM  can help with your visa application to the United States, the UK & other countries

If you need help with a  US visa , a  UK Visa , or  visa to Europe , including help with appointment booking obligations,  IaM  can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at  IaM .

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51 Responses

Great article Very informative Just one suggestion in title if you can add UK

Hello, Can I still travel to these countries visa free with a refugee travel document after brexit? Thanks

We are in the process of updating this post. Check with the embassy first to know where you want to go.

The French embassy has been ignoring my email enquiries and their visa centre as well. I am stuck and do not know if I can still travel to France visa free with my refugee blue travel documents with Brexit. Has anyone travelled during this year 2021? did you need to apply for a Schengen visa or did you travel visa free? That would help a lot if someone could share their experience. Many thanks

i tried to go to france but they send me back

Yes, on our list it says France requires visa.

Greece need a visa as the embassy confirmed

Hi all, I am currently stck in Georgia that entered the UK red list and in need for a buffer place to spend the ten days before flying back to the UK. I would appreciate any suggestions for a visa free destination.

Hi. You can check the UK amber list ( https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-uks-amber-travel-list/ ) or green list ( https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-new-countries-on-the-green-list/ ).

What type of visa do I need to visit a Switzerland for about 2 weeks to visit a friend. And can I travel to Switzerland from Sudan . I live in the uk and I have a refugee travel document. I’m traveling to Sudan in few days then if possible will travel to Switzerland.

You will need a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland to visit a friend. You can check the list above if you are required to apply for this visa.

Hi , I have a Uganda travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28 If I travel Europe I need visa or not

Read the blog post above.

Can I still travel to Malta with a refugee travel document from the UK without a visa? I have contacted the relevant embassies but have not had any replies yet.

Hi. We have updated our list. You can check which countries you can travel to visa-free.

Hi CHesca , thanks alot for this information so i have read that Malta does not require visa for Blue refuggee TravelDocument . just some one stuck in Istanbul and have to go to malta to do the 10 days there . thanks

You’re welcome. Glad to help.

Hi , I have a Japanese travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28 If I travel Europe I need visa or not

Check the list above or contact the embassy for more info.

Hi , thank you for this helpful article but can you please confirm about Turkey and Tunisia as I can see them in countries DO NOT require visas for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention. do you have any link to show this new update I checked Turkish official website and I think they still ask Refugee travel document holders to apply for visa. please let me know!

many thanks

You can check with the embassy to be sure if you will need a visa or not.

I,m a refugee in Namibia. I have acceptance status and my traveling document. I would like to visit Canada or Austria. Please how will I get the Visa.

Hi. You can start your application with us here: For Austria: https://immigrationandmigration.com/schengen-visas/ For Canada: https://immigrationandmigration.com/canada-visas/

Hi, I been in Portugal in June 21, could I still travel to Portugal with my travel document from UK? Thank you very much.

Check the article above.

Hi I live in the UK having travel documents. Can I travel to paris without visa please let me know Thanks

You can check the list above for France.

Hi Juan, can I check if your comment means you travelled to Portugal in June 2021 visa free? I have a flight to Portugal tomorrow and I was under the impression that I could travel without a visa with the same travel document mentioned in the article. Thanks

I would also be interested in this question in regards Portugal.

Has anyone with refugee travel document indeed travelled to USA WITHOUT a visa or do we actually need a visa to get in?

According to our list, USA requires a visa.

My first inquiry: HI, my UK Refugee Travel Documents will expire in 14/11/2021 (that is bit less than 3 months from now). Can I still use it to travel to Europe (Greece or Lithuania)?

My second inquiry: about a week ago I contacted Lithuania (by email) asking if I could visit Lithuania using my Refugee Travel Document (above) visa-free. They confirmed that I COULD! However, in the list above Lithuania is under the “Countries that REQUIRE visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention”. Can you explain how this works please?

You need to make sure that your travel document is valid if you plan to travel. As we have put up in the notice, these restrictions can change at any time so we recommend you check with the embassy.

I hold a UN Convention Refugee Travel Document issued in the UK, and I am preparing to visit a country that does not require visa from me. I wonder if I need to present my Biographic Residency Permit Card (BRP) at the custom alonsige the travel document?

Yes you will need that to enter the UK.

I have refugee uganda refugee i need to visit canda how will i go there please help me.

Hello, I have a blue passport (1951) issued by Belgium, I live with in Brussels, I would like to go to south Africa, I would like to know if I need or apply for a visa to go there some days of vacation?.. Thanks

You can check our list above and/or check with the embassy to be sure.

Just been to the Portugal Consulate, Refugees now need a Visa to travel to Portugal.

Hi Baba, is this with the 1951 travel document??

Is this with travel document and valid biometric card?

Hi I have Uk travel document (black) I want travel Eastern Europe do I need visa or just buy ticket and travel also if not which country accept it ?

Check the list above.

Do I Require visa with UK travel Document and biometric card for Portugal? I am Albanian citizen, but I reside in the UK.

Hi Eduart, Albanian citizens do not need a Schengen visa to travel to Portugal or any Schengen countries.

You forgot to mention Canada in your list of countries that issue travel documents. Here’s the details about how to get a Canadian travel document: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-non-canadians.html

Hi, Anyone been able to travel to Italy recently? I tried to go from Birmingham to Milan with Ryanair and they denied me boarding even though I printed embassy website and consulate email confirming that visa is not required. Ryanair’s handling agent at Birmingham Airport, Swissport use IATA TravelCentre to check for visas

Hi I am a Zimbabwean national who holds a UK refugee travel document and I just wanted to check if South Africa definitely does not require a visa as the last time a friend travelled there about ten years ago they did require one. At that time it did state that we needed one on their website but this is no longer stated so am guessing this has changed. Checked with the embassy but referred me to vfs global.

Regarding my earlier enquiry just got an email from VFS global South Africa desk and the agent stated that a visa would need to be applied for prior to travel if I hold a UK refugee travel document as a Zimbabwean national.

Hi , I have a uk travel document the Convention of 28 july 1951 and i wanted to check if i need a visa to travel to belguim. Thanks

Belgium is listed above in one of the countries that you need a visa. Check out how to apply for a Belgium visa .

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Non-citizen travel documents

Can i get a passport if i’m not a citizen.

• Who gets a Convention Travel Document (CTD)?
• Who gets a Certificate of Identity (COI)?

Can I get a CTD or COI overseas?

Can i get a ctd or coi if i’m unlawful, how do i choose between a ctd and a coi, how long are ctds and cois valid for, how do i apply for a ctd or coi, how do i get interpreting assistance, what documents do i need.

Australian passports are only for Australian citizens. However, we issue other travel documents to certain non-citizens:

• stateless people
• non-citizens who for other reasons can’t get travel documents from their country of nationality.

The types of travel documents we issue to non-citizens are:

• Convention Travel Documents (CTDs)
• Certificates of Identity (COIs).

These travel documents don't confer Australian citizenship or Australian consular protection. They're not evidence of any right to re‑enter or remain in Australia. They exist simply to facilitate overseas travel for people who would otherwise have no travel document.

You’ll need to meet the visa and travel document requirements of the countries to which you intend to travel. COIs are accepted in fewer overseas countries than CTDs.

Who gets a Convention Travel Document?

You may be eligible for a Convention Travel Document, also known as a Titre de Voyage, if:

• you’re in Australia, and
• you’re not an Australian citizen, and
• the Department of Home Affairs has recognised you as a refugee under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Who gets a Certificate of Identity?

You may be eligible for a Certificate of Identity if you’re:

• not an Australian citizen, and
• about to leave Australia, and either
• stateless, or
• unable to obtain a valid travel document from your country of nationality.

Outside Australia, it’s difficult to replace a Convention Travel Document or Certificate of Identity if it's lost, stolen, expired or damaged.

You can’t apply for these documents if you’re outside Australia and you’ve never held either of them before.

You don’t have to.

When we receive your application, we’ll assess your situation and work out which document you’re eligible to receive.

Convention Travel Documents are usually valid for one or two years.

Certificates of Identity are usually valid for two years. If you return to your home country and are eligible for a travel document from that country, your Certificate of Identity becomes invalid immediately.

The only way to get an application form is to call us on 131 232. Select option zero (0) to be connected with an operator.

When you’ve filled in the form and have all the documents we require, you’ll need to call us again on 131 232 to make an appointment to lodge your application at a capital city passport office . You have to go to a passport office, not Australia Post.

If you’re overseas, contact your nearest Australian diplomatic or consular office to discuss whether you’re eligible to replace an existing CTD or COI.

When you lodge the application, we’ll ask you to sign a letter to confirm:

• that you understand the terms of issue of the document
• tell the Department of Home Affairs about your new travel document, and
• confirm with every country you intend visiting that you meet their entry requirements.

You’ll need to tell the Department of Home Affairs about your new document so that:

• it can update your visa with your new travel document
• it can inform you about the travel conditions of your visa and whether you’ll be able to re-enter Australia
• it can approve your travel, if your visa conditions require you to seek permission .

If you breach your visa conditions, your visa could be cancelled.

If you need interpreting assistance to speak to us about your application, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450. TIS will arrange an interpreter in the language you speak and transfer your call to us at no cost to you.

When you apply for a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or Certificate of Identity (COI), you’ll need to bring us:

• identity documents, and
• any previous CTD or COI we’ve issued to you, and
• a record of your current visa status.

The record of your visa status can include:

• a Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA) issued at the time you first travelled to Australia
• a Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) printout
• a Department of Home Affairs visa grant letter.

If you’re not a refugee, you’ll need to show us that you have overseas travel plans, for instance a draft itinerary or a travel booking quote. However, you should wait until you have your COI or CTD before you make firm travel arrangements or commit any funds for travel.

Unless you’re a refugee living lawfully in Australia, or you’re stateless, you need to show to us that you can’t get a travel document from the country of your nationality.

If you claim to be stateless in accordance with the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, we’ll confirm your claim with the Department of Home Affairs. An Australian immigration document that shows ‘stateless’ as your nationality is not enough to prove that you’re stateless. If you’re applying for a CTD or COI for a child, you’ll also need to meet our requirements for parental consent . There are special instructions if the child is a ward of the Immigration Minister .

More information from the Department of Home Affairs:

• Request permission to travel

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• Travel documents issued by UK government offices: caseworker guidance
• HM Passport Office

Travel documents issued by UK government authorities (accessible)

Updated 24 November 2022

© Crown copyright 2022

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/travel-documents-issued-by-uk-government-offices/travel-documents-issued-by-uk-government-authorities-accessible

Version 7.0

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with emergency passports and travel documents

About: Travel documents issued by UK government offices

This guidance tells HM Passport Office staff how to deal with emergency passports and travel documents issued by UK officials that we receive as part of a passport application.

If you have any questions about the guidance and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the guidance has factual errors then email Guidance & Quality, Operating Standards.

If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can Guidance & Quality, Operating Standards.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the guidance was published:

version 7.0

published for Home Office staff on 2 November 2022

Changes from last version of this guidance

This guidance has been updated to explain how to return Home Office travel documents when dealing with an application on DAP.

Home Office travel documents

This page is about Home Office travel documents issued by staff in the United Kingdom Visa & Immigration Service (UKVI).

The United Kingdom Visas & Immigration Service (UKVI) issues Home Office travel documents to commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals who are unable to get a passport from their own countries.

A Home Office travel document:

• does not give British nationality to the holder
• is not an identity document
• is used for foreign travel

Dealing with a Home Office travel document

If HM Passport Office issues a customer a British passport, and the customer has sent us a Home Office travel document, we must cancel any Home Office travel document they are named on and return it to the Home Office. This includes when:

• more than 1 person is named on the travel document (for example, when children are named on their parents’ travel documents) so UKVI can update their records
• the travel document has been cancelled but not yet returned to the Home Office

If a Home Office travel document is sent to us as part of supporting evidence, (for example if a parent sends us their travel document to support their child’s application), and we do not issue a British passport to anyone included in the document, then you, the examiner must return the travel document to the customer un-cancelled. You must use secure delivery to return the Home Office travel document to the customer.

UN Travel Documents and travel documents issued by other foreign authorities are not UKVI issued travel documents. You must return any foreign travel document un-cancelled to the customer, using the postal method they have selected.

AMS: how to cancel a Home Office travel document

If you need to cancel a Home Office travel document and return it to UKVI, you must:

1. Put a case note on the customer’s application confirming you have cancelled and returned the Home Office travel document to UKVI (you must include the travel document number).

2. Write to the customer, telling them you have returned the travel document to the Home Office (system letter code 04).

3. Authorise the issue of a British passport.

4. Cut the top right-hand corners from the front and back covers of the travel document.

5. Put the Home Office travel document in an unsealed secure delivery envelope with the following address, written clearly on the front:

TDS (HMPO-BC) United Kingdom Visas & Immigration Post/Fee Section Travel Documents 10th Floor Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

6. Take the secure delivery envelope to your local Post room (or ask the team support clerk to take it).

DAP: how to cancel a Home Office travel document

If you need to cancel a Home Office travel document and return it to UKVI, you must check if the Home Office travel document is being handled by a Document Management Service (DMS) or Document Handling Unit (DHU) site.

If the document is being handled by a DMS site, you must transfer the application to AMS.

If the document is being handled by a DHU site, you must:

1. Put a case note on the customer’s application confirming you have cancelled and returned the Home Office travel document to UKVI (you must include the personal details and travel document number).

2. Write to the customer, telling them you have returned the travel document to the Home Office (using letter code 004).

3. Update Application Receive Domain (ARD) to show the travel document must be cancelled and returned to:

TDS – HMPO-BC, UKVI Post/Fees Section, Travel Documents 10th Floor, Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY

When the application processing is complete, the Document Handling Unit (DHU) will then cancel the Home Office travel document and send it back to UKVI.

How the Post room must deal with a Home Office travel document

To send a Home Office travel document to UKVI, Post room staff will then:

1. Create a consignment on Final Mile for Internal Secure Transfer to UKVI.

2. Send an e-mail to UKVI showing the: - Final Mile consignment reference number - date the Home Office travel document was sent to UKVI - travel document number (this is shown in the same place as a UK passport number on a UK passport)

3. Seal the envelope with the travel document inside and send it to UKVI using Internal Secure Transfer.

Emergency Travel Documents

This page tells examiners about Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), what they look like and when and how they are issued.

We have issued Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), since 2009. ETDs:

• have ‘Emergency Passport’ written on the front cover

have 8 pages, including a personal details page with a digital photo of the customer

have a machine readable zone but no biometric chip

• are A6 in size
• have a blue cover
• can be valid for single, multiple or return journeys, including up to 5 specified countries the customer may travel through, to arrive at their final destination (we will note the validity and travel details on the observations page)
• have security features that are difficult to change

Immigration officers will take ETD from customers at the UK border and return them to HM Passport Office.

Who issues ETDs

ETDs are issued:

• overseas by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) consular assistance staff using the British Identity Document Generation Equipment (BRIDGE) system
• by HM Passport Office, in the UK, if our standard passport issuing system stops working

HM Passport Office staff cannot confirm if the FCDO will be able to issue an ETD. If a customer asks you how to get an ETD, you must direct them to GOV.UK or to the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

Dealing with an ETD

You must not accept HM Passport Office or FCDO issued ETDs, as confirmation of a customer’s nationality, entitlement or identity.

You can continue with a renewal or replacement of a customer’s old passport, if both of the following apply:

the customer has previously held a fully valid British passport

you can check the customer’s details in our records (see Lost, stolen recovered guidance)

The customer will need to provide full documentation to confirm their claim to British nationality, if:

they are applying for a first time passport

you cannot trace their previous British passport on the system

The customer may also need an identity interview (see Interviews: overview of the interview process).

Cancelling an ETD

ETDs are valid for single, multiple or return journeys. If the ETD is valid for a single journey or the customer receives their new passport in time for their return journey, you must:

1. Case note the details of the ETD on the live application.

2. Follow the guidance in Recording the travel document on Main Index before continuing with the application.

3. Cancel and destroy the ETD.

If the ETD is valid for a return journey and the customer will not receive their new passport in time to travel, you must:

2. Tell the customer we are putting their application on hold until they return the ETD or confirm it has been surrendered.

3. Return the ETD to the customer.

4. Process the application in line with current guidance, depending on where the customer lives and if they need to pay additional fees.

You must post the ETD to the Peterborough Search Team if it’s not part of a live passport application.

Temporary Passports

This page tells HM Passport Office staff about Temporary Passports issued by The Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued Temporary Passports until the end of 2010, when they were replaced by the Emergency Travel Document (ETD). Temporary Passports (TPs) were valid for 1 year.

How to recognise a Temporary Passport

You can recognise TPs issued by The FCDO by:

• the words ‘Temporary Passport’ written on the front cover
• a numbering sequence between 730000001 and 730999999
• being valid only for a limited period, usually enough to cover the customer’s journey time and up to a maximum of 1 year

See examples in the Knowledge base.

Dealing with a Temporary Passport

You (the examiner) can accept a TP as evidence of identity and nationality, if the customer submits it as part of a passport application. TP’s were issued in line with FCDO guidance and are considered the same as a fully valid passport.

You must deal with the replacement of a lost or stolen TP using the Lost, stolen recovered guidance.

We will not normally ask for additional documents, if the customer’s personal details remain the same and can be clearly identified from our passport records (see Confirming identity). If the customer lives overseas, you must tell them to send in additional documents, in line with international customer guidance on GOV.UK .

You, the Operational Team Leader (OTL) or Enhanced Application Checking (EAC) enabled examiner must only request the previous application file for a TP if you have fraud or safeguarding concerns.

Cancelling a Temporary Passport

You must cancel TPs, in line with the cancelling British passports guidance. If the customer asks, you must return the TP, and:

1. Case note the details of the TP on the live application.

If the customer does not have a live passport application in progress, you must post the TP to the Peterborough Search team .

Emergency Passports

This page tells HM Passport Office staff about Emergency Passports (EPs) who issues them and what they look like.

Emergency Passports (EPs) are travel documents issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) consular staff overseas and are valid for 1 journey, including travel through multiple countries.

As with Emergency Travel Documents, FCDO issues EPs under strict guidance and only when:

the FCDO issuing system is not available

there is a mass evacuation and using the system would be impractical

What an EP looks like

EPs are manually produced on a single A4 page and:

• may be handwritten or typed
• may include a photo of the customer
• may include an embossed FCDO stamp over the photo
• will always be signed and stamped by FCDO consular staff

Examples of EPs are available in the Knowledge base.

Dealing with an EP

HM Passport Office will not accept EPs as confirmation of nationality, entitlement or identity.

If a passport application is supported by an Emergency Passport, you (the examiner) must use the Emergency Travel Documents guidance .

How to cancel an EP

Immigration officers will take a customer’s UK Emergency Passport when they enter the UK. The Border Force will then send the EP to the Peterborough Search team (PST) so they can cancel it.

You must not return EPs to the customer under any circumstance. If the customer sends one as part of their passport application, the examiner must:

1. Case note the passport application, confirming the details of the EP (for example, name, date of issue, reason for issue)

You must post the EP to the PST, if it’s not part of a live passport application.

British overseas territory temporary travel documents

This page tells HM Passport Office staff about temporary travel documents, issued in the British overseas territories.

HM Passport Office processes applications and prints passports for customers who live in British overseas territories (BOT).

BOT passport offices only issues temporary passports to British overseas territory citizens eligible to receive them.

What a BOT Temporary Passport looks like

BOT Temporary Passports (TPs) will:

have a green cover

have ‘Temporary Passport’ written on the front cover

have the name of the territory (for example, Anguilla) on the front cover and page 1 of the passport

have a salutation (greeting) on the inside of the front cover in the name of the current lieutenant-governor or governor, instead of the reigning monarch

are 125mm x 88mm in size

can be valid for up to 12 months for single, multiple or return journeys, including up to 5 specified countries the customer may travel through to arrive at their final destination (the BOT Passport Office will note the validity and travel details on the observations page)

have individual security laminates protecting pages 2 and 3

contain watermarks which are identical to the current Emergency Travel Document

show the relevant BOT ‘Issuing Authority’ on the personal details page

Dealing with a BOT Temporary Passport

You must not accept TPs issued by the BOT’s Passport Office as confirmation of a customer’s nationality, entitlement or identity.

The customer may also need an identity interview (see NIMS).

Cancelling a BOT Temporary Passport

BOT TPs are valid for single, multiple or return journeys. If the TP is valid for a single journey or the customer receives their new passport in time for their return journey, you must:

3. Cancel and destroy the TP.

If the BOT TP is valid for a return journey and the customer will not receive their new passport in time to travel, you must:

2. Tell the customer we are putting their application on hold until they return the TP or confirm it has been surrendered.

3. Return the TP to the customer.

You must post the BOT TP to the Peterborough Search Team if it’s not part of a live passport application.

Temporary travel documents issued by BOT Immigration Departments

BOT Immigration Departments can issue travel permits and Certificates of Identity to customers living in the territories. These documents help the customer to travel but we cannot accept them for nationality or identity purposes.

Recording the travel document on Main Index

This page tells HM Passport Office staff how you must record Emergency Travel Documents (ETD), Temporary Passports (TP) and Emergency Passports (EP), on Main Index (MI) and how you must destroy them.

If you receive an Emergency Passport (EP), Emergency Travel Document (ETD) or a Temporary Passport (TP), you, the examiner, must make a note on the customer’s passport record.

You, or a Peterborough Search team (PST) member, must:

1. Find the customer’s passport on MI valid immediately before we issued the EP, ETD or TP.

2. Make a passport note on MI of the:

document type

document number

reason why it was issued (if known)

date it was destroyed or if it was returned to the customer (see TP , British overseas territories (BOT) TP’s and ETD )

3. Cancel and destroy the document (if it’s not returned to the customer).

If you cannot find the customer’s old passport on MI, you must make a passport note on the customer’s new passport.

If you cannot find a record on MI and no live application is in progress, PST must cancel and destroy the document, there is no need to further record the document.

Posting documents to the Peterborough Search team

This page explains how and when HM Passport Office staff must send Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), Temporary Passports (TPs) and Emergency Passports (EPs) to the Peterborough Search team (PST).

The examiner must send Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), Temporary Passports (TPs) and Emergency Passports (EPs) to the Peterborough Search team (PST), if they are not part of a live passport application.

You, the examiner, must:

1. Fill in the document’s details on a PST referral form, with a brief explanation of how we received it.

2. Put the document and the PST referral form in an internal (grid) envelop and address it to:

HM Passport Office Peterborough Search Team Aragon Court Northminster Road Peterborough PE1 1QG

The PST will process the document and update HM Passport Office records.

Instructions for the Peterborough Search team

This page explains the actions taken by the Peterborough Search team (PST) to record and process Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), Emergency Passports (EPs) and Temporary Passports (TPs).

The Peterborough Search team (PST) will receive Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs), Emergency Passports (EPs) and Temporary Passports (TPs) from:

• examiners in HM Passport Office
• UK immigration border staff
• other government departments

The PST must make a passport note about the travel document on the customer’s Main Index (MI) record.

PST ETDs guidance

If the PST gets an ETD that is valid for a return journey:

1. They must check passport records to confirm if we have issued a new passport to the customer.

2. They must check the system for a live passport application.

3. If there is a live application, they must contact the examiner to check if the customer needs an ETD for their return journey.

The PST must cancel the ETD , if:

it’s not needed for the customer’s return journey

we have issued the customer a British passport

there is no live passport application

PST TP guidance

If the PST receives a TP , they must check passport records to confirm if we:

issued the customer a new passport

must return the TP to the customer or cancel and destroy it

The PST must update MI records and cancel the TP.

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