Travel document for stateless persons

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Front of the envelope (with biometric symbol)
Inside pages 2 and 3
German travel document in the form of a passport, exterior view
German travel document in the form of a passport, interior view. The entry "stateless" is under point 3.

The travel document for stateless persons is a passport substitute which is issued to a stateless person within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons of September 28, 1954 ( Statelessness Convention , Federal Law Gazette 1976 II pp. 473, 474 ). The legal basis for the issuance is Article 28 of the Convention on Stateless Persons.

Eligible group of stateless persons

According to the general opinion, only so-called de jure stateless persons fall under the statelessness convention, i.e. persons for whom it is certain that they are not members of any of the relevant states under the law. De-facto stateless persons, i.e. persons who do have a nationality , but who are illegally treated by their own state as if they were not its citizens, do not fall under the Convention on Stateless Persons . The statelessness convention does not apply to persons who give up or do not want to accept their nationality, but who are not released from their nationality by the state concerned.

Exhibition modalities and use

The issuing modalities for travel documents for stateless persons are regulated in more detail in the annex to the statelessness convention. According to this - similar to the travel document for refugees  - among other things:

  • The travel document must be drawn up in at least two languages ​​and in any case in English or French.
  • Children can be included in it.
  • The fees for the issue may not be higher than for regular passports that the issuing state issues to its own nationals.
  • Except in special cases, the travel document should be valid worldwide.
  • It is issued for a minimum of three months and a maximum of three years.
  • The issuing country of the previous ID card is responsible for reissuing and renewing it. However, if the holder has settled in another state and lives there legally, jurisdiction is transferred to the new host state (provided that it is a state party to the Convention on Stateless Persons). This will withdraw the old travel document for stateless persons and either send it back to the issuing country or stamp it as invalid.
  • Authorized diplomatic missions from an exhibiting country abroad can extend the travel documents for six months.
  • The contracting states of the Convention on Stateless Persons must generally recognize travel documents for stateless persons from other contracting states.
  • Visas can be affixed to the travel document for stateless persons .
  • If you have a visa from a destination country, countries of transit should issue transit visas if there is no reason for refusal.
  • No fees may be charged for the visa that exceed the minimum fee rates for visas issued to foreigners.
  • Each issuing country must generally withdraw the holder during the validity of the travel document for stateless persons; However, visas and other formalities may be required.
  • The travel document for stateless persons does not provide diplomatic and consular protection.

German law

  • Foreign travel documents for stateless persons that have been issued in accordance with the Statelessness Convention are accepted as a passport substitute in Germany ( Section 3 (3) No. 2 , Section 1 (4) of the Residence Ordinance (AufenthV)).
  • Holders of foreign travel documents for stateless persons are exempt from the requirement of a visa or residence permit for entry and short stays if the identity card is issued by an EU or an EEA country, Switzerland or a visa-free country , and the travel document contains an authorization to return is still valid for four months from the date of entry, and no gainful employment in the sense of residence law is to be carried out ( § 18 sentence 1 AufenthV).
  • German travel documents for refugees are passport substitute papers ( Section 4 Paragraph 1 No. 5 AufenthV). As a rule, they are withdrawn if the exhibition requirements are no longer met ( Section 4 (2 ) of the Residence Ordinance).
  • The models of the German travel documents for stateless persons are set out in Appendix D8 to the Residence Ordinance; see. also § 58 No. 8 AufenthV.
  • A fee of 30 euros is charged for the exhibition in accordance with Section 48 No. 1 of the Residence Ordinance, and a fee of 20 euros for an extension in accordance with Section 48 No. 2 of the Residence Ordinance .

See also

Web links

Commons : Travel documents for stateless persons  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files