Travel documents are official photo identity documents where an individual is unable to get a passport. The Travel Document Unit is able to issue travel documents to qualifying applicants. Those eligible for travel documents include refugees, persons granted subsidiary protection, and others who are unable to obtain a passport but only in exceptional circumstances.
Travel documents are usually issued within four to six weeks and enable the holder to travel on the travel document in place of a passport.
A travel document is an official document which assists qualifying non Irish nationals who are resident in Ireland to travel. These documents are issued by the Travel Document Unit.
The following persons are eligible to apply for a travel document:
A non-EU national who has been granted full refugee status by the Minister for Justice and Equality is entitled to apply for a travel document to enable him/her to travel outside the State. The issuing of such a document (normally referred to as a Convention Document) is governed by the Refugee Act 1996 which incorporates the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees.
Programme Refugees who are placed on the Register of Programme Refugees maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs are also entitled to 1951 Convention travel documents.
Persons who have been granted Subsidiary Protection Status and appropriate family members. In very exceptional circumstances, the Minister may, at his/her absolute discretion, issue a temporary travel document to a person who has been granted leave to remain in the State and does not have a national passport. Applications are processed within approximately four to six weeks and the following documents should be provided with a completed application form:
A fee of €12 which is non-refundable even if the application is refunded or withdrawn; Two passport size photographs; Copy of the applicant’s current Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) registration card.