Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Visa Journal
If you are a refugee in Canada and want to travel outside Canada, you must first obtain the Refugee Travel Document. However, obtaining this document does not imply that you can visit any Country visa-free. In fact, there are only a few countries where you can travel visa-free with a Canadian Refugee Travel Document. Moreover, you must note that as a Canadian refugee, you are not permitted to travel to your country of citizenship.
What Is a Refugee Travel Document?
A refugee travel document is a sort of paperwork that is granted to those who have been recognized as refugees for the purpose of international travelling. As a rule, travel documents for refugees are issued by the country where they are seeking refuge. Canadian refugee travel document is like a passport for non-Canadians who are based in Canada as a refugee.
As a member of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva Convention), 145 nations provide a standard travel document that is normally blue in colour with two stripes at the upper left corner. The term “Travel Document” is normally written in English, French, and the language of the country from where the document originated, as well as the year of the convention on the document.
How to Apply for a Canadian Refugee Travel Document?
For those based in Canada and looking to obtain the refugee travel document within 30 business days the process is as follows
- Online application submission using IRCC Web form
- Under the “Type of application” pick the option of “Certificate of Identity/Refugee Travel Document“
- In the “your enquiry” section provide details of your travel( dates of travel as well as reason for travel)
- Fill in your personal details under Applicant Information section
- Fill in the consent section and submit the application.
For those based in Canada and looking to obtain the refugee travel document in 31 or more business days the process is as follows
- Download the application form for travel document
- Fill the application form
- Gather the required documents
- Find two references and one guarantor
- Pay the required fee for travel document
- Mail or courier your application to the following address as applicable
Address for Courier Service
Centralized Network – Certificate of Identity Section
Place du Centre, Commercial Level 2
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, QC J8X 4B7
Address for non-courier (Postal service)
OSC PPT-COI
PO Box 8783 STN T CSC
Ottawa, ON K1G 5G8
Convention Refugee:
If you are a Convention refugee, you should have received a letter from the Immigration of Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). Also, If your letter has been misplaced, please contact the IRB.
Protected Person:
A Confirmation of Permanent Residence document or a Canadian Permanent Resident Card is required if you are a protected person who has been selected for resettlement as a refugee in Canada. If you need to replace a Permanent Resident Card that has expired, been lost, or been stolen, you can apply for a new one.
In the case of a protected person who has received a positive Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) judgement, you should be provided with a VOS. In the event that your PRRA result was received before December 17, 2012, and you did not receive a VOS, or if your VOS was lost, you might be able to apply for another one through this link on the Canadian Government Website.
Visa Free Countries for Canadian Refugee Travel Document Holder
The list of countries that accept Canadian Refugee Travel Document holders is given below;
Armenia Iceland Poland
Belgium Ireland Portugal
Germany Netherlands United Kingdom
Cyprus Italy Romania
Czech Republic Liechtenstein Slovakia
Denmark Luxembourg Spain
Finland Malta Sweden
France Montenegro Switzerland
Hungary Norway
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