Travel documents for refugees
- Introduction
- Who can get a travel document?
- Travelling to Ireland with a ‘convention’ travel document
- How to apply for a travel document
- Further information
Introduction
A travel document allows people living in Ireland who cannot get a passport to travel outside Ireland. People who have been declared a refugee are entitled to a 1951 Convention Travel Document.
You may also be able to get a travel document if you have subsidiary protection status, and you cannot get a national passport from your country of nationality.
You should note that travel documents take 26 weeks or more to process.
You may also need a visa to enter other countries. You should check always with the embassy of the country where you to plan to travel before you go there.
Who can get a travel document?
You may be eligible for a travel document if you:
- Have been declared a refugee
- Have been granted Subsidiary Protection status
- Have been granted permission to live in Ireland following a request by the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (a programme refugee)
- You are the family member of any of the above
Family members
You may get a travel document if you are a family member of someone with refugee or subsidiary protection status. You must show that you have tried to get a passport or travel document from your country of nationality.
Your children need their own travel documents.
Refugees
If you were declared a refugee following an application for international protection, you can get a refugee travel document. It says “Convention of 28 July 1951” on the front cover. It is sometimes called a ‘1951 Convention Travel Document’. You can travel to most countries in the EU without a visa, and stay for up to 90 days using this travel document. You should check with the embassy of the country where you plan to travel.
Programme refugees cannot get a 1951 Convention Travel Document. Instead, you can apply for a regular travel document.
A travel document for refugee is valid for a maximum of 5 years.
People with subsidiary protection status
If you were granted subsidiary protection following an application for international protection, ISD may give you a travel document if you cannot get a passport from your country of nationality.
This travel document is valid for up to 5 years (or until your residency is due for renewal).
Travelling to Ireland with a ‘convention’ travel document
Since 19 July 2022, if you have a refugee travel document issued by a country outside Ireland, you must apply for a visa to enter Ireland.
How to apply for a travel document
You can apply for a travel document online for a fee of €55.
If you want to apply by post, you can request a paper form through the ISD Customer Service portal. You need to provide an ID to sign up for the portal, this can be a:
- Driver’s license
- Temporary Residence Card (blue card)
- IRP card.
Further information
You can find information about travel documents on the website of the Irish Immigration Service Delivery.