Australian Convention Travel Document

Australian Convention Travel Document
The front cover of an Australian biometric Convention Travel Document
TypeRefugee travel document
Issued by Australia
PurposeInternational travel document for refugees
Eligibilityrefugees reside in Australia
Expiration2 years (for holders of permanent protection visa)
2 years (for holders of temporary protection visa)
The bio-data page of an Australian CTD issued to a Chinese refugee.

An Australian Convention Travel Document (CTD) is a biometric refugee travel document issued for international travel purpose by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to individuals recognised as refugees residing in Australia under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.[1] The CTD enables the holder to leave Australia, to travel outside Australia (with limitations) and to re-enter Australia. However, as a CTD is not a regular national passport, some problems may be encountered by the holder from time to time, at time due to non-familiarity of airline staff.[2][3][4]

Eligibility

A holder of a permanent or temporary protection visa residing in Australia can apply for a CTD if he or she can demonstrate refugee status under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.[1]

Use

Most countries accept Australian CTDs for visa issuance purposes, with the following exceptions:

As of 13 January 2016, Indonesia did not accept all non-passport documents including CTD for visa application.[5]

It is also reported that Taiwan did not accept Chinese nationals holding Australian CTD to apply for Taiwanese visa.[6]

Visa-free access or Visa-on-arrival

Since Australian CTD is not a regular national passport, most countries and territories require visas prior to arrival.

The following countries and territories provide visa-free access or visa on arrival:

Asia

Countries and territories Entry rights Notes
 Macau Visa on arrival 30 days maximum,[7] visa issued upon arrival for MOP100[8]

Europe

Countries and territories Entry rights Notes
 Germany Visa not required 90 days (require CTD valid for at least 4 months)[9][10]
 Hungary Visa not required 90 days[11][12][10]
 Slovakia Visa not required [10]
 Slovenia Visa not required [10]

Oceania

Countries and territories Entry rights Notes
 New Zealand Freedom of movement For holders of Australian permanent visas only (according to Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement)

See also

References

  1. ^ Questions over refugee holiday process after Syrian family blocked after leaving Australia
  2. ^ Thailand Should Return Football Player Refugee To Australia, Not Bahrain
  3. ^ "Ryanair apologizes for preventing refugee from boarding flight". Archived from the original on 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  4. ^ "Tourist Visa". KONSULAT JENDERAL REPUBLIK INDONESIA UNTUK NEW SOUTH WALES, QUEENSLAND, DAN SOUTH AUSTRALIA BERKEDUDUKAN DI SYDNEY. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  5. ^ "中國政治難民來台遭拒 致信小英盼解決". 自由時報 (in Chinese). 17 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Entry and Exit of Non-residents - Limit of Stay Granted upon Arrival". Public Security Police Force (Macao).
  7. ^ "Passports and Visas". Macao Government Tourism Office.
  8. ^ "Short-term (Schengen) visas - for up to 90 days". German Missions in Australia. Archived from the original on 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  9. ^ a b c d "8. Réfugiés et apatrides". Service public fédéral Intérieur (in French).
  10. ^ "Countries that do not need a visa". Consular Services (Hungary).
  11. ^ "Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001". EUR-Lex. 15 March 2001.