de facto travel document

Future Citizen Scholar

Mar 28, 2019

What are de facto travel documents?

De facto travel documents are documents which are adequate to cross borders lawfully as well as to reside in a country, but which have no legal status as a travel document. This is often the case in free movement areas. In order to prove their citizenship, citizens of countries which are part of a free movement area must show some form of identification. In this case a driving license is often used as a de facto travel document. Here are some concrete examples:

The Nordic Passport Union is the first regional passport union. The Protocol regarding the elimination of passports for travel between Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway of 1952 gave rise to a common labor market and free movement for Nordic countries’ citizens. This was further achieved in 1954 with the Protocol about the exemption of nationals of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden from the obligation to have a passport or residence permit while residing in a Nordic country other than their own. Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden can enter a Nordic Union country without a passport or other travel documentation and do not need any residency permit if they want to stay. Currently, the Nordic Passport Union is disrupted by temporary border controls introduced in 2015 due to the “migrant crisis”. These controls are scheduled to end by May 2019 . Identity checks have been put in place in Norway in ports with ferry connections to Denmark and Sweden and in Sweden in ferry harbors and at the land border with Denmark. However, a Nordic driver’s license is still accepted instead on a passport.

Similarly, citizens from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) which includes Saint Lucia but also Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines can travel to another OECS country and stay there using only a driver’s license, a voter registration card or a social security card. In addition, a CARICOM passport has been created and is being issued to all Member States of the Caribbean Community as a travel document valid for travels in the whole Community but also internationally.

In 1982, within the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) a Protocol of Free Movement of people and rights to residence and establishment was signed. Article 2 of the Protocol allows all citizens from the ECOWAS countries to enter and stay in another ECOWAS country which has led to significant mobility within the region. According to the Protocol, citizens from the sub region do not need an entry visa but must submit a request for a residency permit if they decide to remain in the country. Indeed, the Protocol does not provide for a right to permanent residence , which is regulated by national law. Additional Protocol A/SP.1/7/86 on the second phase (right of residence) of the Protocol of Free Movement has not been ratified by all ECOWAS Member States which have also not all adopted the ECOWAS travel certificate, the ECOWAS passport nor have they harmonized the immigration and emigration form for the ECOWAS Member States. The ECOWAS travel certificate is a travel document issued to ECOWAS citizens valid to travel only within the region and it can replace a national passport. The ECOWAS travel certificate can also be used as an identity document. Similarly, the ECOWAS passport is a recognized travel document for inter-regional travels.

Author: Dr Fanny Tittel-Mosser

Migration and Refugees
Citizenship

What Travel Documents Do You Need?

The different types of travel documents.

A travel document refers to any document of identification that a government issues you when you are traveling across international boundaries. This document is a form of assurance to another government that you intend to go back to your issuing country. There are different types of travel documents including visas, passports, and drivers’ licenses. Passports are the most common ones because they also give visa-free access to certain countries

Documents for Air Travel

If you intend to move from one country to another by air, you need to have certain files before you can travel. They may include; a passport, permanent resident cards, military ID, re-entry permits, and refugee travel documents.

Travel by Sea

For sea travel, you may need documents such as an ID card, a birth certificate, and a driver’s license. Non-citizens may need Alien Registration Cards, visas, or Permanent Resident Card.

Traveling Within the Country

If you wish to travel from one place to another by driving, you need a valid driver’s license. Additionally, passengers may need to show national or state ID which shows their official name, gender, and date of birth. Passengers may also use passports as a form of identification.

UN Travel Documents

Officials and members of the United Nations (UN) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) can get into most countries using laissez-passers. The laissez-passer is acceptable in most countries in the world, but some countries do not accept it as a document of entry .

Refugees and Aliens

Refugee travel documents are booklets that look like passports. Refugees use them to get into other countries. Stateless persons can use 1954 Convention travel documents. Aliens may also get passports and identification certificates from national governments.

De Facto Travel Documents

Some files allow you to travel across borders but do not qualify as legal travel documents. They are de facto travel documents. British and Irish citizens do not need any of these when traveling between certain places including the British Crown Dependencies, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Citizens from other parts of the world need documentation to create an assumption that they have this nationality. They use de facto ones.

If you plan to travel to another country, you need to plan. Find out about the files you will need and apply. If you need a visa, you should apply about eight weeks earlier since the applications may take four to six weeks. They may take longer during busy travel seasons. Additionally, you may pay for expedited services if you are in a hurry. Check on the expiry date to ensure that your passport is still valid.

Protecting Your Travel Documents

Once you have all your files, you need to keep them safe. Your safety may be compromised if they fall into the wrong hands. Do not give them to anyone unless it is for official purposes. Also, ensure that you get it back. If you have a lot of files, hand them over one by one to ensure that you do not lose them.

Consider buying a wallet for your files. Additionally, you can find some nice ones on Amazon.com. Keep copies of the documents in your wallet and produce the original ones when you have to. Another clever trick is to buy a dummy wallet. It is the wallet that you hand over if you are mugged. This way, you do not lose your files.

If you lose your travel documents, contact your banks immediately. Ask them to cancel the cards. Report to your embassy offices and ask for duplicate tickets from your airline. You can get replace your files fast especially if you have copies .

Now that you’re set with your documents, it’s time to book a place to stay in your chosen destination. Here are some tips to get you started.

De Facto Visa Holders: Can They Travel?

Last updated Apr 01, 2024
Difficulty Beginner

Category Travel

De facto visa holders, also known as unmarried partners, often face unique challenges when it comes to travel. While many visa holders have the freedom to go where they please, de facto visa holders may find themselves restricted by their immigration status. In this article, we will explore the limitations and possibilities for de facto visa holders who wish to travel, shedding light on a topic that often goes unnoticed. Whether you are a de facto visa holder yourself or simply curious about the realities of their situation, this article will provide valuable insights into the complexities of their travel prospects.

What You'll Learn

Can individuals with a de facto visa travel internationally, is a de facto visa recognized for travel to all countries, are there any restrictions or limitations on travel for those with a de facto visa, what documents or proof may be required for de facto visa holders to travel, are there any specific regulations or guidelines that de facto visa holders must follow while travelling.

Individuals with a de facto visa, which is a type of visa that allows for a partner or spouse of an Australian citizen or permanent resident to live and work in Australia, may have certain restrictions when it comes to international travel.

The ability to travel internationally while on a de facto visa depends on various factors such as the specific conditions of the visa and the individual's travel history. It is essential to consult with the Department of Home Affairs or seek advice from a migration agent to fully understand the travel limitations and requirements.

In most cases, individuals on a de facto visa can travel internationally while their visa is still valid. However, it is crucial to be aware of potential risks and complications that may arise during travel. Here are some key points to consider:

Valid Passport: Before traveling internationally, ensure that your passport is valid and will remain valid for the duration of your trip. It is essential to check the passport requirements of the destination country as well.
Visa Conditions: Review the conditions of your de facto visa carefully. Some visas may have travel restrictions, such as a requirement to notify the Department of Home Affairs of any international travel plans. Failure to comply with these conditions may impact your visa status.
Re-entry Rights: De facto visa holders should also be aware of their re-entry rights. Depending on the visa subclass, individuals may need to obtain a bridging visa or a resident return visa in order to re-enter Australia after traveling internationally.
Health and Travel Insurance: It is strongly recommended to have comprehensive health and travel insurance when traveling abroad. Ensure that the insurance covers any potential medical expenses and travel disruptions.
Returning on Time: De facto visa holders should be mindful of their visa's expiry date and plan their trip accordingly. It is essential to return to Australia before the visa expires to avoid any complications with re-entry or visa extensions.
Seeking Professional Advice: It is advisable to consult with a migration agent or seek advice from the Department of Home Affairs before making any international travel plans. They will provide accurate and up-to-date information about your specific visa conditions and travel requirements.

Although individuals with a de facto visa can generally travel internationally, it is crucial to be aware of any specific restrictions or conditions that may apply. Ignoring these requirements can have severe consequences, including the cancellation of the visa. Following the guidelines provided and seeking professional advice will help ensure a smooth and worry-free travel experience.

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A de facto visa, also known as a partner visa, is a type of visa that allows a person to enter and stay in a country based on their de facto relationship with a citizen or permanent resident of that country. While this type of visa is recognized by many countries, it is not universally accepted by all nations.

The recognition of a de facto visa varies from country to country and is determined by the immigration laws and regulations of each individual country. In general, countries that recognize and accept de facto visas understand that not all couples choose to marry or have legal documentation of their relationship. These countries recognize that a committed and genuine relationship exists between two people, even without formalities such as marriage.

Some countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, have specific provisions in their immigration laws that allow for the recognition of de facto relationships. These countries have established criteria that couples must meet to be eligible for a de facto visa. These criteria often include factors such as the duration of the relationship, cohabitation requirements, and evidence of a genuine and committed relationship.

On the other hand, there are countries that do not officially recognize de facto relationships for immigration purposes. These countries may have stricter requirements for entry and residency, often only accepting marriage certificates or registered partnerships as proof of a relationship. In these cases, individuals in a de facto relationship may need to explore alternative visa options, such as work visas or student visas, to enter and stay in the country.

It is important for individuals considering traveling or immigrating to a country on a de facto visa to research the specific immigration laws and requirements of that country. Each country has its own set of rules and regulations, and it is essential to understand these before making any decisions or plans.

To illustrate the varying recognition of de facto visas, consider the following examples:

Australia: Australia recognizes de facto relationships for immigration purposes. Couples must provide evidence of their relationship, such as joint financial commitments, shared household responsibilities, and a history of cohabitation. If the relationship is deemed genuine and committed, the couple may be granted a de facto visa.
United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) does not officially recognize de facto relationships for immigration purposes. Only married couples and immediate family members can sponsor individuals for residency visas in the UAE. Therefore, individuals in a de facto relationship may need to explore alternative visa options, such as work visas or student visas, to enter and stay in the country.

In conclusion, the recognition of a de facto visa varies from country to country. While some nations have specific provisions in their immigration laws that allow for the recognition of de facto relationships, others do not recognize this type of relationship for immigration purposes. It is essential for individuals to research the immigration laws and requirements of their desired destination country before making any travel or immigration plans.

Ensuring Smooth Travel Plans Even with an Expired Visa Looming in 5 Months

A de facto visa, also known as a partner visa, is granted to individuals who are in a committed relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident. This visa allows the non-Australian partner to live and work in Australia. However, there are certain restrictions and limitations on travel for those with a de facto visa.

One of the main limitations is the requirement to remain in Australia for a certain period of time in order to maintain the de facto visa. The non-Australian partner must live in Australia for at least two years before they can be eligible for permanent residency. This means that any travel outside of Australia during this two-year period may affect their eligibility for permanent residency.

Another limitation is the need to obtain a re-entry visa if the non-Australian partner wishes to travel outside of Australia during the two-year period. This is because the de facto visa is only valid for travel to and from Australia for a specified period of time. If the non-Australian partner wishes to leave and re-enter Australia during this period, they must obtain a re-entry visa to ensure their visa remains valid.

It's important to note that any travel outside of Australia during the two-year period may be scrutinized by the Department of Home Affairs when applying for permanent residency. The Department may question the reasons for the travel and may require additional documentation or evidence to support the non-Australian partner's ongoing commitment to the relationship.

In addition to these limitations, there may also be restrictions on travel imposed by the non-Australian partner's home country. Some countries require individuals to obtain a visa or travel permit before visiting, even if they hold a de facto visa for Australia. It is important for the non-Australian partner to research and understand any travel requirements or restrictions imposed by their home country before making travel plans.

To ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience, it is recommended that those with a de facto visa plan their travel carefully and communicate any travel plans with the Department of Home Affairs. This will help minimize any potential issues or complications with their visa status.

In conclusion, there are restrictions and limitations on travel for those with a de facto visa. These include the requirement to remain in Australia for at least two years to maintain eligibility for permanent residency, the need to obtain a re-entry visa for travel outside of Australia, and potential travel requirements or restrictions imposed by the non-Australian partner's home country. It is important for individuals with a de facto visa to understand and comply with these restrictions to ensure a smooth and successful visa application process.

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As a de facto visa holder, you may be required to provide certain documents or proof when you plan to travel. These documents and proof are necessary for various purposes, such as verifying your relationship status and ensuring your eligibility to enter and stay in a particular country. Here are some of the documents and proof that may be required for de facto visa holders to travel:

Proof of Relationship: One of the key documents that you may be asked to provide is proof of your de facto relationship. This can include documents such as joint bank statements, utility bills, lease agreements, or any other official documents showing that you and your partner are living together and sharing a genuine, committed relationship. You may also need to provide photographs or affidavits from family and friends who can vouch for the authenticity of your relationship.
Travel Documents: Just like any other traveler, you will need to have a valid passport to travel. Make sure your passport is up to date and has enough validity to cover your intended travel period. You may also need to check if the country you are traveling to requires a visa for de facto partners. In such cases, you will have to apply for the specific visa type and provide the necessary supporting documents as per their requirements.
Medical and Health Documents: Depending on the country you are traveling to, you may be required to provide medical or health-related documents. This can include a medical certificate stating that you are fit to travel, proof of vaccination or immunization, or any other relevant health-related documents required by the immigration authorities of the destination country.
Financial Documents: You may be asked to provide financial documents to demonstrate your ability to support yourself during your travel and stay in the destination country. This can include bank statements, proof of employment or income, or any other documents showing that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses.
Travel Insurance: While not mandatory, it is highly recommended for de facto visa holders to have travel insurance. Travel insurance can provide coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost or stolen belongings, and other unforeseen circumstances during your travel. It's important to carefully read the terms and conditions of the insurance policy and ensure that it covers your specific needs and requirements.

Before you travel, it is advisable to check with the immigration authorities or embassy of the destination country to understand their specific requirements for de facto visa holders. Each country may have its own set of rules and documentation requirements, so it's important to be well-prepared and organized to ensure a smooth travel experience.

Is Travel Visa Pro Legit? Uncover the Truth Here

De facto visa holders, also known as partnership or relationship visa holders, are individuals who are in a committed and genuine relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. While these visa holders enjoy certain rights and privileges, there are also regulations and guidelines that they must adhere to when traveling both within and outside of Australia.

When it comes to leaving and returning to Australia, de facto visa holders must ensure that their visa remains valid at all times. This means that they should not stay outside of Australia for extended periods that could affect the continuity of their visa. It is generally recommended that visa holders do not remain outside of Australia for more than 12 months, as this may lead to visa cancellation.

Before leaving Australia, de facto visa holders should also inform the Department of Home Affairs of their intended departure. This can be done through the department’s online portal or by contacting their nearest immigration office. Failure to notify the department may result in complications when re-entering Australia.

When traveling back to Australia, de facto visa holders should carry their valid visa grant notification or a printout of their visa details. This will help facilitate the immigration process upon arrival. It is also advisable to carry a letter from their Australian partner, affirming their ongoing relationship and support.

In terms of travel during the validity of their visa, de facto visa holders have the freedom to travel within Australia without any specific restrictions. They can explore different states and territories, visit family and friends, and enjoy the scenic attractions of the country. However, it is important to note that if any changes occur in the de facto relationship, such as separation or divorce, the visa holder should notify the Department of Home Affairs.

When it comes to international travel, de facto visa holders must be aware of the specific visa requirements of the country they wish to visit. Each country has its own immigration policies and visa regulations, and it is the responsibility of the visa holder to comply with these requirements. It is recommended to check the visa requirements and apply for any necessary visas well in advance of travel dates to avoid any last-minute complications.

Additionally, de facto visa holders should be aware of the risks involved in international travel, including the possibility of visa refusal or denial of entry by another country. It is advisable to have a contingency plan in case of unexpected issues, such as carrying extra funds, having valid travel insurance, and being prepared for possible delays or changes in travel arrangements.

To illustrate these guidelines, let’s consider the case of Sarah, a de facto visa holder who plans to visit New Zealand for a week. Before her departure, Sarah notifies the Department of Home Affairs of her travel plans, ensuring that her visa remains valid. She carries her visa grant notification and a letter from her Australian partner with her. Sarah also checks the visa requirements for New Zealand, applies for a visitor visa, and receives it in advance. During her trip, Sarah enjoys her time in New Zealand and returns to Australia without any issues.

In conclusion, de facto visa holders must ensure that their visa remains valid and comply with certain regulations and guidelines when traveling. This includes notifying the Department of Home Affairs of their departure and carrying relevant documents when re-entering Australia. Visa holders should also be aware of the visa requirements of other countries when traveling internationally and take necessary precautions to avoid any issues. By following these guidelines, de facto visa holders can have a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

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Frequently asked questions.

Yes, a de facto visa holder is allowed to travel outside of Australia. However, they must ensure that their visa remains valid throughout their travels and that they have the necessary documentation to re-enter the country.

A de facto visa holder can generally stay outside of Australia for up to 12 months. However, they must ensure that they have a valid visa upon re-entering the country.

Yes, a de facto visa holder can leave and re-enter Australia multiple times as long as their visa remains valid. However, they should be aware of the visa conditions, such as the maximum period of stay allowed outside of Australia, to avoid any issues with their visa status.

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leiden securityandglobalaffairs blog

Ramesh Ganohariti

PhD Candidate

Human security and citizenship in de facto states

travel document

Definition(s).

A document issued by a government or international treaty organisation which is acceptable proof of identity for the purpose of entering another country.

Derived by EMN from IOM Glossary on Migration, 2nd ed., 2011

Narrower Term(s)

Related term(s).

fraudulent travel or identity document
residence document

1. Passports and visas are the most widely used forms of travel documents. 2. Some States also accept certain identity cards or other documents, such as residence permits .

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Australian De Facto Visa Tips To Prove Your Relationship

The Australian De Facto Visa is a popular visa for those overseas candidates who are in a de facto relationship with an Australian Citizen or permanent resident.

To qualify for an Australian de facto visa, you need to provide evidence that you are in a ‘real’ relationship and not simply using the de facto status as a means to gaining an Australian Visa.

One of the ways in which the Australian Migration department validates the legitimacy of a relationship is by having a one-year relationship requirement as a condition of application.

Table of Contents

What is the one-year relationship requirement?

The one year de facto relationship requirement is a criterion that must be met by applicants for the following visas who claim to be in a de facto relationship:

a permanent visa
a business skills (Provisional) (Class UR) visa
a business skills (Provisional) (Class EB) visa
a student (Temporary) (Class TU) visa
a partner (Provisional) (Class UF) visa
a partner (Temporary) (Class UK) visa
a general skilled migration visa.

To satisfy this requirement, the couple must demonstrate that they have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before the visa application is made. For migration purposes, a person is in a de facto relationship with another person if they:

are not married to each other
have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
are in a genuine and continuing relationship
live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
are not related by family.

Living together

Living together is regarded as a common element in most on-going relationships. It is recognised that, for various reasons, couples may sometimes have to live apart. Provided the separation is temporary and the couple had, at some point since the commencement of the relationship lived together, their relationship might still satisfy the requirements of a de facto relationship.

For this reason, the one-year relationship criterion does not require the couple to have physically lived together for the entire 12 months, but rather to have been in a de facto relationship for that period.

Partners who are currently not living together may be required to provide additional evidence that they are not living separately and apart on a permanent basis in order to satisfy the requirements of a de facto relationship.

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What evidence is considered?

When submitting evidence of a de facto relationship, applicants must be able to demonstrate that their relationship has existed for at least one year before the application is made. Evidence may include but is not limited to:

The history of the relationship through a signed statement regarding:

how, when and where the couple first met
how the relationship developed
the couple’s domestic arrangements, that is, how they support each other financially, physically and emotionally and when this level of commitment began
any periods of separation, when and why the separation occurred, for how long and how the couple maintained their relationship during the period of separation
the couple’s future plans.

Financial aspects of the relationship, such as:

joint ownership of the house or joint names on a lease
correspondence addressed to the couple at the same address
details of financial commitments including bank statements, and any joint liabilities.

The nature of the household, such as:

any joint responsibility for the care and support of any children
the couple’s living arrangements including sharing responsibilities within the home.

Social context, such as:

evidence that the couple is generally accepted and recognised as a couple socially such as joint invitations
evidence of common friends
assessments by the couple’s friends and family of the relationship
joint travel or joint participation in sporting, social or cultural activities.

The couple’s commitment to each other, such as:

the duration of the relationship including knowledge of each other
intention to have a long term relationship, for example, through terms of their wills
correspondence and telephone accounts to show that the couple maintained contact during any periods of separation.

Australian De Facto Visa – Evidence Tips

Now let’s dig into some examples of the types of evidence you can prepare in support of your Australian De Facto Visa Application. Collating your evidence for an Australian de facto visa is not an easy task, however, to help you get started, we have included a collection of tips to assist you on your way.

Financial Evidence Tips for your de facto Visa application:

Don’t have a joint lease? Bills? Did you travel together for a year or live with your parents? Did one of you support the other? Relax.

Very meticulously go through bank statements, for at least the past 12 months you have been together. Whether you paid bills, rented a campervan, paid for a flight to see your partner, bought them a Christmas present, paid for insurance, groceries, rent and so on, even if you don’t have the actual bill/piece of paper that says you did, it will be on your statement.

Highlight each relevant purchase/payment and put a one or two-word description next to it. If you are in this situation, then definitely write a declaration that explains it all. You can also provide some bills (say one or both of your names aren’t on it) and include them in this section—your CO could match the billing date to when the payments were made in the bank statement.

Bills and even grocery stores also have “codes” that can be matched. ATM withdrawals will also have a location near them which can be matched to things you say in statements (eg: my BF and I travelled to NSW together… oh look there is an ATM withdrawal from NSW at the same date they went…get where I am going with this?)

You will be surprised as to how much stuff is on your bank statements—one idea to do while you are highlighting is, for example, if you find a purchase of a present your partner gave you try to find the card or the letter that came with it… copy it and provide it with your application.

Bank statements can also serve to show you have been living together even if your names weren’t on the lease—if your billing addresses are where you both lived, make a note of that in the stat dec for this section to bring the CO’s attention to it.

Other examples:

– Receipt for a computer you might have bought together – Documents showing joint bank account and online banking accounts – Bank statements showing transfers between accounts – Receipts from Australia Post, money spent on sending letters and packages to partners family – Receipt for registering domestic relationship – Receipt for English classes – Receipt for working holiday visa

Nature of the household tips:

Nature of the household is evidence that you and your partner share responsibilities within your household. This includes things like living arrangements, housework, joint ownership of your house, joint responsibility for bills, and correspondence addressed to both you and your partner at the same address.

The Nature of the household section is probably the most straightforward when it comes to your de facto partner application.

Write a statement as to who did what in the house, who paid for what (see partner migration booklet linked at the bottom of this article), get bills together (if you have them, if not refer back to the financial tips), and correspondence addressed to both of you if you have it.

Consider including letters and cards given to you by your partner or your partner’s family.

Social Context Tips:

You can get cards together, ticket stubs etc. You may have already shown joint travel in your financial section if you used bank statements.

Can your friends and family prove anything you have said along the way? Get them to write that in their stat decs (eg: if you lived with your mother, get her to mention that you did) along with stuff to prove your relationship is real.
Pictures: don’t include too many (they don’t like it apparently) but do include ones showing you with each other’s families, out with friends, and travelling together if possible. Have you known each other for ages? Include one of you two where you look visibly different than you do now.
You can write a short explanation/stat dec here too in order to explain what you are showing your CO
If it’s a lot of small pieces, stick it in a plastic bag so they won’t all fly around. Label he bag.
Statutory declaration from best friend
Statutory declarations from family: mother, father, sister
Joint activities together in Australia: e.g. ACMI Disney exhibition, Phillip Island Penguin Parade, Otway Fly Treetop Walk, Eureka Tower, Melbourne Zoo

Couples commitment tips:

Need to include itemised phone bills?

Put a key at the top to what each number is (eg: Daves work number, Jackie’s house number). Remember, these CAN be hard to get and you might have to pay for them depending on your company and how far back you need to go.

Need to show your intent that the relationship will last—if you are planning on getting a house together, you can include a quote from a bank for a mortgage.

Exemptions from the Australian Defacto Visa one year relationship requirement

The one-year relationship requirement does not apply if the applicant can establish that:

there are compelling and compassionate circumstances for the grant of the visa, for example, there is a child of the relationship
the relationship is registered under a law of a state or territory prescribed in the Acts Interpretation (Registered Relationships) Regulations 2008 as a kind of relationship prescribed in those regulations
their partner is, or was the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa and before the humanitarian visa was granted, was in a de facto relationship with the applicant that was declared to the Department at the time
their partner is an applicant for a permanent humanitarian visa.

Australian Defacto Visa – Commonly asked questions

I have been in a de facto relationship for 11 months. do i still have to wait for another month before i can apply.

No. You can apply for a visa even if you have been in a de facto relationship for less than one year. However, your application is likely to be refused unless:

there are compelling and compassionate circumstances for the grant of the visa, for example, there is a child of the relationship or the laws in your home country prevent you living with your partner
your relationship is registered under a law of a state or territory prescribed in the Acts Interpretation (Registered Relationships) Regulations 2008 as a kind of relationship prescribed in those regulations
your partner is, or was the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa and, before the humanitarian visa was granted, was in a de facto relationship with you that was declared to the Department at the time
your partner is an applicant for a permanent humanitarian visa.

My partner and I met when we were travelling around the world and realise now that we want to remain together. Does our time travelling together count towards the one-year requirement?

If your relationship has been on a more casual basis you are unlikely to be able to establish that you are in a de facto relationship. This may be the case if, for example, during your travel, you shared accommodation but you each paid your own expenses, were not committed to a mutually exclusive relationship and made no long-term plans for your future until recently.

To be considered a de facto couple for migration purposes, you must not be related by family and be able to demonstrate that:

you have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
your relationship is genuine and continuing
you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

The factors that might be taken into account by the Department in assessing whether you are in a de facto relationship include the history of the relationship, social and financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household and your commitment to each other. The one year de facto relationship will only commence from the time you can demonstrate you are in an established de facto relationship.

We have been in a de facto relationship for longer than one year but, as my job in Australia does not allow me to travel to my partner’s country, we have only lived together for eight months. Will I be eligible to sponsor my partner on a partner visa to Australia?

Despite not living together for one year, your partner may still be eligible for a partner visa . It is expected that couples will have physically lived together at some time since they committed to the relationship. However, it is recognised that couples may be physically apart for periods of time, for example, due to work or travel commitments, yet remain in a genuine and continuing relationship and are committed to a shared life to the exclusion of all others.

In assessing whether you are in a de facto relationship, the Department may take into account a number of factors other than periods of physical cohabitation such as the history of the relationship, social and financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household and your commitment to each other.

I have been in a de facto relationship with my partner for less than one year. My partner has a child from a previous relationship who will be migrating to Australia with my partner. Will my partner be exempt from the one year de facto relationship requirement?

Your partner might be exempt from the one-year requirement if she/he can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances or one of the other exemptions outlined in this fact sheet.

Compelling and compassionate circumstances may exist if you and your partner are both parents of the child (for example, through birth or adoption) and the child is dependent on you.

My partner and I met over the internet and we established a close relationship before we had physically met. Can the time since we began our relationship before meeting be considered as part of the relationship requirement period?

No. In order to be in a de facto relationship, you must be able to demonstrate that you have met and have lived together, even if you later lived apart temporarily. The one-year relationship requirement will only commence once you have established a de facto relationship.

I want to apply for a partner visa. My partner came to Australia on a permanent visa as a refugee under the humanitarian programme. Are we still required to meet the one-year relationship requirement?

No, provided you can show that you were in a de facto relationship with your partner at the time she/he was granted the permanent humanitarian visa and this was declared to the Department at the time.

Where can I register my de facto relationship?

Currently, only the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria have laws in place allowing a relationship to be registered in accordance with the Acts Interpretation Act (Registered Relationship) Regulations.

You should contact the relevant authorities in your state or territory for information about how to register your relationship.

I have been living away from my partner to fulfil a work contract and therefore cannot satisfy the one-year relationship requirement. Does this qualify as a compelling and compassionate circumstance?

There is no clear definition of compelling and compassionate circumstances as it requires an assessment of the individual circumstances of the case.

Compelling and compassionate circumstances may include, but are not limited to, applicants who have a dependent child of the relationship or where the laws of the applicant’s country of residence in the one year prior to making the visa application prohibit de facto relationships.

Do you have your own De Facto Visa Tips?

If you have your own tips, please consider contributing by adding your comments in the comment form below.

Information Sources:

Aussie Immigration Factsheet: https://www.border.gov.au/ Partner Migration Booklet: https://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/1127.pdf

As the founder of Getting Down Under, Mark demystifies moving to Australia. Since 2006, he shares resources and support for those needing assistance. Post your questions in the comments. Always consider our disclaimer and seek professional advice if in doubt.

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How to Prove a De Facto Relationship to Receive an Australian Partner Visa

Table of Contents

De facto relationship for partner visa

A partner visa is one option for couples who wish to live in Australia with their partners temporarily or permanently.

This visa isn’t just for married couples, those who are not formally married but are in a relationship with an Australian resident or citizen are also eligible to apply for a partner visa. This kind of relationship is called a de facto relationship . It is defined as a relationship between two people of the same or opposite sex who live together but are not legally married or related.

If you wish to apply for a permanent partner visa, certain requirements need to be met to ensure a successful application. Firstly, you need to prove that you have cohabitated with your partner for at least 12 months. You must then prove that your relationship is genuine.

Proving a de facto relationship can be challenging. Many genuine unmarried couples are unsuccessful in their applications because they do not understand the requirements to prove they are in a de facto relationship.

At Migration Door, our agents are here to ensure you are fully aware of the best ways to evidence your de facto relationship and receive a successful application.

Can I be exempted from the 12-month requirement?

It may be possible to prove you are in a de facto relationship without living together for 12 months. Reasons for this include:

The relationship is legally registered under an Australian State or Territory government.

Australian Relationship Register gives legal recognition to a de facto relationship. Once your relationship is registered in the Australian birth, deaths and marriages agency, you won’t need to meet 12-month cohabitation requirement. Through relationship registration, it is possible to lodge with a shorter period of cohabitation. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT allow de facto relationship registration. However, processing times and residence requirements differ in different states. So, couples need to know about the various criteria that apply to different Australian states and territories. Couples using this option must meet the following requirements:

· Both parties must be 18 years old or over

· They must not be in a registered relationship

· They must not be related by family

You are not permitted by law to live with your partner in your home country.

Often, a same-sex relationship is not acceptable in the applicant’s country of residence. If this is the case, the one-year relationship requirement may be waived.

How can a de facto relationship be proved?

To prove you’re in a de facto relationship, you need to meet the four main pillars of evidence. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA), assesses the following four aspects of your relationship and decides whether your relationship with your de facto partner is genuine and continuing.

· Financial aspects

· Social aspects

· Commitment aspects

· Nature of the household

Financial aspects

To collect required evidence, the department will track your spending and expenses as a couple to make sure you and your partner are sharing financial responsibilities. Some examples of the financial evidence include:

· Joint ownership of significant assets.

· Joint liabilities, for example, a mortgage, joint lease or utility bills.

· Joint financial resources (e.g. a joint bank account).

· Shared household expenses: (e.g. day-to-day household expenses/daily spending).

· A liability is where you and your partner are legally responsible for something.

Social aspects

To prove your de facto relationship, you must be able to provide the department with evidence that other people are aware of your genuine relationship. The evidence can include:

· Joint invitations or evidence you travel and go out together.

· Proof you have mutual friends.

· Proof you have told the government or public bodies about your de facto relationship.

· Evidence of joint activities together.

Commitment aspects

You must prove that you and your partner have a long-term vision for your future together. The evidence could include:

· The duration of your relationship.

· The length of time that you have lived together.

· Your knowledge of each other’s circumstances, e.g. about your background and family – this can be explained in your written statements and an interview with migration if requested.

· Evidence that you have stayed in touch whilst apart.

· Proof you have combined your personal matters.

Nature of the household

You must provide evidence of ‘cohabitation’ with your partner. The most widely used way to prove you are living with your partner is to provide evidence that you share the same dwelling unit. The required documents include:

· Joint mortgage or lease documents.

· Joint ownership of your property.

· Postal correspondence addressed to one or both of you at a similar location.

Applying for a visa of any kind can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry if you are still unsure about your eligibility for a partner visa, Migration Door Australia are here to help. We will ensure you have correct and sufficient evidence to satisfy the requirements. If you would like assistance, please book a consultation with one of our friendly Registered Migration Agents.

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Proving a De Facto Relationship

What is a de facto relationship, how long do i need to be in a relationship, are there exemptions to the 12 month cohabitation requirement.

Where you have registered your relationship with an Australian State or Territory government; or
There is a dependent child of the relationship; or
You are not permitted by law in your home country to live with your partner

How Do I Prove that I am Living With My Partner?

Property lease or Property ownership (e.g. title deed, rates notice, mortgage documents)
Shared bank accounts or transferring of funds
Postal correspondence addressed to either or both of you at the same address

Can I Use Time Spent Travelling with my Partner as Cohabitation?

What if we have spent time apart, is showing that we share the same address sufficient.

Social Aspects: that you are recognised by friends and relatives as a couple;
Financial Aspects: that you have pooled your financial resources to some extent; and
Commitment Aspects: that you see your relationship as long term, and have made plans for the future

What if I am Still Married to Someone Else?

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You'll find several kinds of fields in your grant application forms - check boxes, dates, data entry fields, and attachments. This page provides guidance on attachments: documents that are prepared outside the grant application using whatever editing software you desire (e.g., Microsoft Word), converted to PDF format, and then added or uploaded to your application. We require PDF format to preserve document formatting and a consistent reading experience for reviewers and staff.

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Refer to NOT-OD-20-174: Reminder: NIH Policy on Use of Hypertext in NIH Grant Applications .
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Spell out acronyms the first time they are used in each application section or attachment. Note the appropriate abbreviation in parentheses. The abbreviation may be used in the section or attachment thereafter. Find a list of Abbreviations used in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

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A single-column page format easily adapts to various screen sizes and is highly encouraged.
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Travel document

A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international entity pursuant to international agreements to enable individuals to clear border control measures. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the bearer may return to the issuing country, and are often issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas as well as entry and exit stamps into them.

Specifications

Immigration stamps, international certificate of vaccination, indigenous nations, indigenous passports, certificate of indigenous status, enhanced tribal identity cards, kikapoo i-872 native american card, american samoans, laissez-passers, identity cards, travel documents for permanent residents, seafarers' identity documents, special travel documents, certificate of identity.

Chinese Travel Document

Israeli Travel Document in lieu of a National Passport

Travel documents for animals, pet travel scheme, horse passports, internal travel documents, international travel without travel documents, de facto travel documents, other means of identification, bibliography, external links.

The most common travel document is a passport , which usually gives the bearer more privileges like visa-free access to certain countries. [1] While passports issued by governments are the most common variety of travel document, many states and international organisations issue other varieties of travel documents that allow the holder to travel internationally to countries that recognise the documents. For example, stateless persons are not normally issued a national passport, but may be able to obtain a refugee travel document or the earlier " Nansen passport " which enables them to travel to countries which recognise the document, and sometimes to return to the issuing country.

Border control policies typically require travellers to present valid travel documents in order to ascertain their identity, nationality or permanent residence status, and eligibility to enter a given jurisdiction. The most common form of travel document is the passport, a booklet-form identity document issued by national authorities or the governments of certain subnational territories [lower-alpha 1] containing an individual's personal information as well as space for the authorities of other jurisdictions to affix stamps, visas, or other permits authorising the bearer to enter, reside, or travel within their territory. Certain jurisdictions permit individuals to clear border controls using identity cards, which typically contain similar personal information.

Different countries impose varying travel document regulations and requirements as part of their border control policies and these may vary based on the traveller's mode of transport. For instance, whilst America does not subject passengers departing by land or most boats to any border control, it does require that passengers departing by air hold a valid passport (or certain specific passport-replacing documents). Consequently, even though travellers departing America by air might not be required to have a passport to enter a certain country, they will be required to have a valid passport booklet to board their flight in order to satisfy American immigration authorities at departure. [2] Similarly, although several countries outside the European Economic Area accept national identity cards issued by its member states for entry, Sweden and Finland do not permit their citizens to depart for countries outside the EEA using solely their identity cards. [3] [4]

Many countries normally allow entry to holders of passports of other countries, sometimes requiring a visa also to be obtained, but this is not an automatic right. Many other additional conditions may apply, such as not being likely to become a public charge for financial or other reasons, and the holder not having been convicted of a crime . [5] Where a country does not recognise another, or is in dispute with it, it may prohibit the use of their passport for travel to that other country, or may prohibit entry to holders of that other country's passports, and sometimes to others who have, for example, visited the other country. Some individuals are subject to sanctions which deny them entry into particular countries.

Travel documents may be requested in other circumstances to confirm identification such as checking into a hotel or when changing money to a local currency. Passports and other travel documents have an expiry date, after which it is no longer recognised, but it is recommended that a passport is valid for at least six months as many airlines deny boarding to passengers whose passport has a shorter expiry date, even if the destination country may not have such a requirement.

Travel documents are typically issued in one of two formats:

Booklets: the most common format for travel documents containing one or two pages with the individual information and endorsements from the issuing government as well as a number of additional pages for passport stamps or visas to be affixed
Identity cards : a card-sized document containing an individual's identifying information

The ICAO (ICAO) issues standards for both booklet and identity card-format travel documents which are treated as recommendations to national governments. The size of booklet-form travel documents normally complies with the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3 standard, which specifies a size of 125 by 88 millimetres (4.9 in × 3.5 in) . This size is the B7 format. Cards are issued to the ID-1 (credit card sized) standard. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

A standard booklet format travel document includes the cover, which contains the name of the issuing country, a national symbol, a description of the document (e.g., laissez-passer, passport, diplomatic passport), and a biometric symbol, if applicable. Inside, there is a title page, also naming the country. A data page follows, containing information about the bearer and the issuing authority. There are blank pages for visas, and to stamp for entries and exit. Passports have numerical or alphanumerical designators (" serial number ") assigned by the issuing authority.
Machine-readable standards for travel documents have been issued by the ICAO, [11] with an area set aside where most of the information written as text is also printed in a manner suitable for optical character recognition .
Biometric booklets and cards (or e-passports) have an embedded contactless chip in order to conform to ICAO standards. These chips contain data about the passport bearer, a photographic portrait in digital format, and data about the passport itself. Many countries now issue biometric passports, in order to speed up clearance through immigration and the prevention of identity fraud. These reasons are disputed by privacy advocates. [12] [13]

For immigration control, officials of many countries affix entry and exit stamps to booklet format travel documents. Depending on the country, a stamp can serve different purposes. For example, in the United Kingdom , an immigration stamp in a passport includes the formal leave to enter granted to a person subject to entry control. In other countries, a stamp activates or acknowledges the continuing leave conferred in the passport bearer's entry clearance . Under the Schengen system , a foreign travel document is stamped with a date stamp which does not indicate any duration of stay, indicating that the person is deemed to have permission to remain either for three months or for the period shown on his visa if specified otherwise. Member states of the European Union are not permitted to place a stamp in the passport of a person who is not subject to immigration control. Stamping is prohibited because it is an imposition of a control that the person is not subject to. Some travellers "collect" immigration stamps in their travel documents, and will choose to enter or exit countries via different means (for example, land, sea or air) in order to have different categories of stamps. Some countries, such as Liechtenstein , [14] that do not stamp passports may provide a passport stamp on request for such "memory" purposes. Monaco (at its tourist office) and Andorra (at its border) do this as well. These are official stamps issued by government offices.

In general, a passport is a travel document that also serves as proof of nationality from the issuing country. Although generally accepted by the majority of countries in the world, some issuing countries expressly exclude the validity of passports from nations that are not recognised by their governments. [15]

Governments around the world issue a variety of passports for different purposes. The most common variety are ordinary passports issued to individual citizens and other nationals. In the past, certain countries issued collective passports [lower-alpha 2] or family passport. Family passports were typically issued to one passport holder, who may travel alone or with other family members included in the passport. A family member not listed as the passport holder could not use the passport for travel without the passport holder. These passports are essentially obsolete as most countries; including all the EU states, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom; require each traveller to have their own passport. [17] Today, passports are typically issued to individual travellers rather than groups. Aside from ordinary passports issued to citizens by national governments, there are a variety of other types of passports by governments in specific circumstances.

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the Carte Jaune, is an official vaccination report created by the WHO . [18] As a travel document, it is a kind of medical passport that is recognised internationally and may be required for entry to certain countries where there are increased health risks for travellers (see section on biosecurity ). [18]

Various schemes for health passports or vaccination certificates have been proposed for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 . The IATA Travel Pass application for smart phones, introduced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in early 2021, is a mobile app designed to standardise the health verification process confirming whether aeroplane passengers have been vaccinated against, or tested negative for, COVID-19 prior to travel. The application is intended to eventually replace the Carte Jaune and to facilitate the verification of vaccination for Yellow Fever and other diseases prescribed by border control policies in various countries. Trials of the application are carried out by a number of airlines including Singapore Airlines , Emirates , Qatar Airways , Etihad and Air New Zealand . [19] [20]

Due to the prevalence of counterfeit certificates in some places, several countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Nigeria, have been developing digital certificates to be used in conjunction with and to authenticate an ICVP. [21] [22] As of July 2019, Nigeria requires its citizens to have its digital "e-Yellow Card" for travel outside the country. The card has a QR code that can be scanned to verify its validity. This requirement does not affect travellers from other countries with valid ICVPs, but those arriving in Nigeria who have not been vaccinated for yellow fever may receive the vaccine and the e-Yellow Card upon arrival. [23] [24] [25]

Various indigenous nations in the Americas, as well as the Aboriginal Provisional Government in Australia, issue passports to their citizens as an assertion of sovereignty symbolically rejecting the legitimacy of settler authorities . Notable examples include the Haudenosaunee passport issued by the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee confederacy , the Aboriginal passport in Australia, and various indigenous passports in Latin America such as the Kichwa passport in Ecuador. [26] Indigenous passports are typically not recognised as valid travel documents for border control purposes. In particular, the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team has been involved in high-profile disputes over their refusal to travel on Canadian or American passports to international lacrosse competitions , being prevented from attending the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship in the United Kingdom [27] but being permitted to attend the tournament in 2018 in Israel subject to guarantees from the Canadian and American governments that the players would be permitted to return home. [28] [29]

While indigenous passports are generally not recognised by border control authorities, the Certificate of Indigenous Status issued by the Canadian government to individuals on the Indian Register is accepted by American and Canadian border control authorities for travel by land or sea. [30] [31] In 2018, the Canadian government introduced a Secure Certificate of Indigenous Status that serves as a machine readable travel document to enable Indigenous individuals to cross the border more efficiently. [32] In order to address the desire of members of indigenous nations not to be labelled as Canadian citizens, the Secure Certificate of Indigenous Status does not state the individual's nationality. [33] The Canadian government issues Certificates of Indigenous Status to registered indigenous individuals regardless of whether or not they are Canadian citizens or hold Canadian permanent residence [30] but, although America permits Canadian citizens exercising Jay Treaty freedom of movement rights to enter using the document, [34] indigenous individuals holding American citizenship are instead required to use tribal identity cards [35] or other American-issued WHTI -compliant documents.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative , indigenous people holding American citizenship may clear land and sea border controls using machine readable enhanced tribal identity cards, which contain similar features to enhanced driving licences issued by certain states and provinces. [35] Unlike the Certificate of Indigenous Status, the document is only issued to American citizens. [35] The document is treated by Canadian and American border controls as equivalent to an enhanced driving licence [36] and may additionally be accepted by Mexican border control for entry up to 20–30 km from the border subject to prevailing permit requirements. [37] [38]

Mexican citizens enrolled in the Texas Band of Kickapoo Indians or Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma may enter United States by land or sea using the Form I-872 American Indian Card, which provides for freedom of movement across the border for the Kickapoo first nation regardless of citizenship. [34] [35] [lower-alpha 3]

While the indigenous peoples of Hawaii, the American mainland, and most American territories have been granted full American citizenship and the accompanying right to apply for a passport on the same basis as any other American, the native population of American Samoa have not. As specified in 8 U.S.C. § 1408 , a person whose only connection to the America is through birth in an outlying possession (which is defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1101 as American Samoa and Swains Island , which is administered as part of American Samoa), or through descent from a person so born, acquires American nationality but not citizenship. This was formerly the case in only four other current or former American territories . [40] The origin of this distinction in status is the United States Supreme Court ’s jurisprudence in the Insular Cases , in which the court held that the indigenous inhabitants of newly acquired territories did not automatically acquire full American citizenship. Consequently, American Samoans are issued passports containing endorsement code 9 which states: "THE BEARER IS A UNITED STATES NATIONAL AND NOT A UNITED STATES CITIZEN." on the annotations page. [41] Non-citizen American nationals may reside and work in the United States without restrictions, but must apply for citizenship under the same rules as resident aliens. Like resident aliens, they are not presently allowed by any American state to vote in federal or state elections , although, as with resident aliens, there is no constitutional prohibition against their doing so.

Historically, laissez-passers were commonly issued during wartime and at other periods, literally acting as a pass to allow travel to specific areas, or out of war zones or countries for various officials, diplomatic agents, other representatives or citizens of third countries. In these contexts, a laissez-passer would frequently include quite specific and limited freedom of movement . The form and issuing authority would be more or less standardized, depending on the circumstances. For example, during the early 1950s, the Iraqi government granted permission to its 120,000 Jewish citizens to leave ( Operation Ezra and Nehemiah ), conditional on their renouncing their citizenship and leaving behind all their properties and assets. The travel document that was issued was the laissez-passer , since an Iraqi passport was no longer possible. [43]

The most common laissez-passer is the United Nations laissez-passer (UNLP) issued by the United Nations under the provisions of Article VII of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations [44] in its offices in New York and Geneva, as well as by the ILO . [45] The UNLP is issued to UN and ILO staff as well as staff members of international organisations such as the WHO , the IAEA , the World Tourism Organization , the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation Preparatory Commission , the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the WTO , the International Monetary Fund , the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Bank . The document is written in English and French, two of the six working languages of the United Nations , those two being selected because French was in the recent past the language of diplomacy, but was replaced with English when the British Empire decolonized, creating a large network of English language diplomacy economies. [46] The UNLP is a valid travel document, which can be used like a national passport (in connection with travel on official missions only). However, UNLP holders often encounter immigration officials who are unfamiliar with the document and require them to show a national passport in addition. [47] As with national passports, some countries and regions accept it for entry without the need for a visa (e.g., Turkmenistan , [48] Kenya, the United Kingdom, Schengen Area , Lebanon, etc.), while other countries may require a visa before accepting it for entry (depending on the nationality of the UNLP holder).

Similarly, the European Union laissez-passer is issued to civil servants and members of the institutions of the European Union . It is proof of privileges and immunities the holders enjoy. The document is valid in all countries of the European Union as well as in over 100 other countries. In 2006, the European Commission issued or renewed 2,200 laissez-passer, and other agencies may issue the document as well. [49]

The Interpol Travel Document is a document similar to the United Nations and European Union laissez-passer and is issued to Interpol officers for travel to Interpol member countries. They are intended to reduce response times for personnel deployed to assist with transnational criminal investigations, major events or emergency situations by waiving normal visa requirements. [50] The travel documents consist of an e-Passport Booklet and an e-Identification Card identifying the holder as an Interpol officer, granting them special immigration status when travelling on official Interpol duties to participating member countries. [51]

Laissez-passer documents may also be issued to goods or other non-living objects to facilitate their transport across international borders. For instance, the Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses sets out rules whereby human corpses may be issued laissez-passer documents in order for a body to be buried or cremated in a country different from the one in which the person died.

Certain jurisdictions permit the use of identity cards to clear border controls. For instance, when travelling between India and Nepal or Bhutan, Indian citizens may utilise national voter ID cards, ration cards, or national identity cards . Indian citizens may also obtain identity slips at the Indian consulate in Phuentsholing if they intend to proceed beyond city limits as Phuentsholing, the financial capital of Bhutan, is de facto within India's visa and customs area. When travelling to India, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan can utilise similar documents. Children may use birth certificates as proof of identity. Similarly, many Mercosur countries reciprocally permit travel using identity cards.

Permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau SARs do not require passports when travelling in either region regardless of their citizenship status. Hong Kong residents can enjoy 1 year visa-free access to Macau and Macau residents can enjoy 180 days visa-free access to Hong Kong. But such non-permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau who possess a Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR to travel in either region with identity cards for up to 30 days.

In Western Europe, travel using identity cards are relatively common for citizens of the European Economic Area and adjacent territories. [lower-alpha 4] Within the Schengen Area, there are limited border controls in place and national identity cards may be used to clear them. Since August 2021, identity cards within the European Economic Area have been standardised under EU Regulation 2019/1157 . [52] The new standard is intended to replace and harmonise the various identity card models currently in use across the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). [lower-alpha 5]

Citizens of Lebanon and Jordan do not require passports when travelling in either country if they are carrying ID cards, while citizens of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf countries need only national ID cards (also referred to as civil ID cards) to cross the borders of council countries.

In North America, American citizens may travel to Canada or certain islands in the Caribbean using the passport card while children holding Canadian or American citizenship may travel between America and Canada using birth certificates under certain circumstances. An Enhanced Driving Licence is an identity card issued by provincial and state authorities in Canada and America that, in addition to serving as a valid driving licence, enables its bearer to clear land border controls between the two countries. It is not valid for air travel and does not permit its holder to clear border controls at airports. It also serves as a valid driving licence. Certain provinces and states may issue similar enhanced versions of regional identity cards issued to individuals who do not drive. Similarly, a Border Crossing Card (BCC) is an identity document issued by the American government to nationals of Mexico. As a standalone document, the BCC allows its holder to visit border areas [lower-alpha 6] when entering by land or sea directly from Mexico for up to 30 days [54] [55] and, when presented with a valid Mexican passport , functions as a B1/B2 visa for entry to any part of the United States by any means of transportation. [56] [34] Additionally, Mexico permits the use of identity cards issued by Mexican consulates overseas , [39] voter ID cards, and CURP cards by Mexican citizens entering the country, which has the effect of enabling individuals who use the BCC or an American Permanent Resident Card as a standalone travel document when travelling to re-enter Mexico without a passport.

Members of the East African Community (composed of Kenya , Tanzania , Uganda , Rwanda and Burundi ) may issue an East African passport . East African passports are recognised by only the five members, and are only used for travel between or among those countries. The requirements for eligibility are less rigorous than are the requirements for national passports used for other international travel. The member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not require passports for their citizens when moving within the community. National ID cards are sufficient. The member states are Benin , Burkina Faso , Cape Verde , Gambia , Ghana , Guinea , Guinea Bissau , Ivory Coast , Liberia , Mali , Niger , Nigeria , Senegal , Sierra Leone , and Togo .

Many Central American and South American nationals can travel within their respective regional economic zones, such as Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations , or on a bilateral basis (e.g., between Chile and Peru, between Brazil and Chile), without passports, presenting instead their national ID cards, or, for short stays, their voter-registration cards. In some cases this travel must be done overland rather than by air. Mercosur citizens can travel visa-free and only with their ID cards between the member and associated countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina). [57]

Some countries issue travel documents to permanent residents (i.e. foreign citizens permitted to reside there indefinitely) or other non-citizens, usually for re-entry but also occasionally valid for international travel.

The American Re-Entry Permit is an example of such a document. Valid for international travel, it is issued to lawful permanent residents temporarily expatriating overseas. Unlike the "Green Card" issued to all permanent residents, this document is not mandatory. The American "Green Card", on its own or in conjunction with a passport, is valid for international travel albeit not to the same extent as the re-entry permit. Both documents can be utilised to clear American border controls regardless of the bearer's nationality, thus resulting in America not requiring permanent residents to hold a passport from their home country in order to remain lawfully present or to lawfully enter. [lower-alpha 7]

Singapore issues national identity cards to permanent residents in the same manner as it does to citizens, but additionally requires any permanent resident travelling abroad to hold a valid electronic re-entry permit and a passport or other travel document from their home country. Similarly, Hong Kong and Macau issue permanent resident cards to all permanent residents including those without Chinese citizenship.

While Canada does not issue a mandatory national identity card to its citizens, it issues the Canada permanent resident card , which serves as a valid travel document for Canadian permanent residents to clear border controls in the country. Additionally, Canada requires any Canadian Permanent Residents entering the country by air to use their Permanent Resident Card or a special document authorising their return. [58] No such requirement is imposed on a permanent resident entering by land or sea. Canadian citizens are prohibited from using a foreign passport to enter the country. [59]

Japan issues a re-entry permit for individuals holding permanent resident status . This document is issued in one of two formats depending on the nationality status of the holder. For ordinary permanent residents holding a passport from their country of citizenship, it is issued as a stamp or sticker affixed to a page on its holder's passport. For members of the Chōsen-seki community and descendants of Taiwanese immigrants whose ancestors moved to Japan when Korea and Taiwan were Japanese colonies, who are classified as special permanent residents , a booklet-form Japan re-entry Permit is issued for international travel. While special permanent residents are treated by Japanese authorities as similar to Japanese citizens in most regards, including access to consular assistance, they are unable to participate in elections or exercise other rights reserved specifically for Japanese citizens. Nevertheless, they enjoy greater legal rights than ordinary permanent residents. For example, special permanent residents are not subject to immigration control under Article 5 of the Immigration Control Act 1951 . During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 , special permanent residents were allowed the right of return, while other permanent residents were denied permission to enter Japan. [60] [61]

A seafarers' identity document (also known as a seaman's identity document or merchant mariner credential) is a travel document issued to individuals authorised to serve as crew members aboard vessels engaged in international voyages. Like an ordinary passport, it contains its holder's personal information and is generally issued by the same authorities. Additionally, it contains information as to its bearer's qualifications to serve on a ship's crew. In certain jurisdictions, of seafarers' identity documents are entitled to simplified visa requirements when travelling on duty. For instance, mainland China maintains a simplified visa regime for holders of certain countries' seafarers' identity documents travelling on duty.

While the majority of international travellers clear border controls using passports or national identity cards, a wide variety of travel documents are utilised by individuals in irregular situations, ranging from de jure or de facto stateless individuals to individuals affected by international border disputes, the aftermath of the fall of states such as Yugoslavia or the USSR, or other legal complexities. Such travel documents are typically subject to greater scrutiny by border control authorities, with countries such as Singapore imposing strict controls on stateless individuals and refugees regardless of the issuing country of their travel documents.

A certificate of identity is a travel document issued by a country to non-citizens (also called aliens ) residing within their borders who are stateless persons or otherwise unable to obtain a passport from their state of nationality (generally refugees ). Some states also issue certificates of identity to their own citizens as a form of emergency passport or otherwise in lieu of a passport. The visa requirements of certificates of identity may be different from those of regular passports. There are three types of certificate of identity: 1954 Convention travel documents , 1951 Convention travel documents , and non-convention travel documents.

A 1954 Convention travel document is a certificate of identity issued to a (typically, but not always, stateless ) person in circumstances of any difficulties in gaining a travel document from their country of origin. [62]

Similarly, a 1951 Convention travel document (or refugee travel document) is a certificate of identity issued to a refugee by the state in which they normally reside in allowing them to travel outside that state and to return there. Refugees are unlikely to be able to obtain passports from their state of nationality (from which they have sought asylum) and therefore need travel documents so that they might engage in international travel. The 145 states which are parties to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees are obliged to issue travel documents to refugees lawfully resident in their territory. [63] Refugee travel documents are passport-like booklets. Their cover bears the words "Travel Document" in English and French (and often in the language of the issuing state), as well as the date of the convention: 28 July 1951. The documents were originally grey, though some countries now issue them in other colours, with two diagonal lines in the upper left corner of the front cover.

Non-Convention (or non-National) travel documents are certificates of identity issued by a country to non-citizen (also called alien ) residents who do not have access to passport facilities from their own countries, are not recognised as either Convention refugees, and are not officially stateless under the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (or the country they live in has not signed that convention). These are issued in many jurisdictions across the globe in which significant numbers of residents are stateless. For instance, Singapore permanent residents who are stateless are issued booklet-form Certificates of Identity in lieu of a passport while Indonesia issues the Paspor Orang Asing to its stateless permanent residents. The issue Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes and Macau Travel Permit , serve a similar function in China's special administrative regions and are issued to stateless permanent residents and to Chinese citizens temporarily residing in the region who hold neither permanent residence of Hong Kong or Macau nor residence status in the mainland and are thereby ineligible for any category of Chinese passport.

The Indian government issues non-convention certificates of identity to members of the large Tibetan exile community and to other stateless residents of India. Certificates of identity are routinely issued upon request of the Dalai Lama's Tibetan government in exile based in Dharamsala . This document is accepted by most countries border control policies in lieu of a passport, although it is not a machine readable document. Tibetans travelling to areas administered by the Republic of China or People's Republic of China may be required to use a ROC passport without right of abode or a Chinese Travel Document instead. When issued to a Tibetan residing in India, a certificate of identity is invariably endorsed as being valid for return to India and therefore exempts the holder from requiring a visa to clear Indian border controls upon re-entry.

Between 2000 [64] and 2008, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) issued the UNMIK Travel Document, a non-convention travel document, to residents of Kosovo [lower-alpha 8] who were not able to obtain a passport from Yugoslavia , for the purpose of foreign travel. [64] After the government of Kosovo started to issue their own passports , the UNMIK ceased issuing them. Existing UNMIC travel documents retained their validity until expiry (the last ones expired in 2010). In light of the disputed nationality status of residents of Kosovo, the UNMIK travel document did not contain information on nationality . The document was labelled UNMIK travel document/titre de voyage on the cover, contained 32 pages, and was valid for 2 years. It contained a machine readable strip. As the issuing authority was the UNMIK, the document had the official [66] three-letter code "UNK" where normally the country code is placed. It was the only other travel document issued by the United Nations besides the United Nations Laissez-Passer , which is mainly issued to employees of the UN and its specialised agencies. As the status of Kosovo was and remains controversial, the document was not widely accepted [67] and, although America did accept the UNMIK Travel Document, it did not place visa stickers in the document itself, but on a detached sheet. [68]

The Chinese Government requires certain Chinese citizens to use the Chinese Travel Document ( Chinese : 中国旅行证 ; pinyin : Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Lǚxíng Zhèng ) when entering the mainland. Circumstances in which the CTD is required include:

When it is "inconvenient", "unnecessary", or not permitted to issue a People's Republic of China passport to Chinese nationals. [69]
Chinese nationals residing in Mainland China who lost their passport while travelling abroad may apply for this document as an emergency passport for returning to China.
Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau intending to enter Mainland China directly from other countries without a Home Return Permit .
Taiwanese residents of the areas administered by the Republic of China [lower-alpha 9] intending to enter Mainland China or Hong Kong directly from other countries, who are Chinese nationals according to Chinese law. Travelling to Hong Kong, however, requires a separate application for a visa-like entry permit.
Chinese nationals born abroad who acquired Chinese nationality at birth in accordance with the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China through jus sanguinis . The Chinese Travel Document is issued as a Chinese identification and travel document.
Chinese nationals born in China who do not have a Hukou in China and who have exited China using an exit permit. This could include a person who holds a non-Chinese passport.

A Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport ( Hebrew : תעודת מעבר במקום דרכון לאומי Teudat Ma'avar bimkom Darkon Leumi ) [70] may be issued to an Israeli citizen in a number of circumstances. [lower-alpha 10]

They are normally valid for two years, and not for more than five years. The issuance of travel documents instead of passports became prevalent in the 1990s as the Israeli government reacted to a wave of Russian organised crime gangs who immigrated to Israel and began using Israeli passports for their activities. [74] Individuals holding such travel documents may face greater scrutiny by border control officers overseas as well as ineligibility for visa free entry to certain jurisdictions.

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is a system which allows animals to travel easily between member countries without undergoing quarantine . A pet passport is a document that officially records information related to a specific animal, as part of that procedure. The effect is to drastically speed up and simplify travel with and transport of animals between member countries, compared to previous procedures if the regulations are followed. [75] On 1 October 2001, the European Union introduced the PETS scheme, under which animals from any member country may freely travel to any other member country on approved carriers. PETS was originally introduced for the benefit of animals entering or returning to the United Kingdom from other European Union countries, since historically the United Kingdom had very strong controls to safeguard against rabies including a compulsory six-month quarantine period on imports of many animals. [76] Over time the scheme has rolled out to other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The pet passport itself comes in multiple forms, sometimes a pink A4 sheet, sometimes a small blue booklet. It contains the microchip or the tattoo number of the animal, the certification that it has had a rabies vaccination, and needs to be signed by an officially approved veterinarian. [75] A new style passport with laminated strips and additional security measures was introduced in the United Kingdom in December 2014. Old style passports remain valid. [77] [78] The passport is not to be confused with a much smaller folder (sometimes purple coloured), routinely issued by vets, [79] which records the complete vaccination history of the pet. [80]

Requirements for eligible animals:

Subcutaneous (below the skin) microchip implant that meets the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (SoP) specification.
Certified rabies vaccination and results from a blood serology test to confirm the presence of rabies antibodies. For pet travel in Europe, the rabies vaccine should be administered by a veterinarian with a minimum of 21 days before travel. Some countries may differ and always check with your local veterinarian for the procedures to follow. [81]
Proof of treatment for ticks , fleas and tapeworms
Veterinarian's letter or certificate confirming fitness to travel and/or no obvious signs of disease
Government certification that the veterinarian's export documentation and certificates are in order for travel

In some countries, the formal passport is needed. Others will accept documentation in any form so long as it provides clear evidence of the procedure being followed. Usually, the animal and its papers are checked thoroughly upon both departure and arrival. [82]

A pet passport alone can be used to enter some countries if it records all relevant information (e.g., the United Kingdom), but it will not suffice to enter many countries. For instance Guatemala , in common with almost every country operating such a scheme, demands that all imported pets have a rabies vaccination, but will not accept the pet passport as proof of said vaccination. They require the proof of the rabies vaccination in the animal's records. [83]

Tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1–5 days) before scheduled arrival time. [75]

Specific country regulations:

United Kingdom: The rules for bringing pets into the United Kingdom can be quite complex. The official United Kingdom Government website [84] covers this topic in detail. Dogs, cats & ferrets with Pet Passports from EU (& some other) countries can enter the United Kingdom via specified routes and ferry companies, including the Channel Tunnel by car. Before entering the United Kingdom, most pet dogs (including assistance dogs), but not cats or ferrets, must be treated for tapeworm. [85] The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1–5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the United Kingdom. (There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.) No treatment is required for dogs entering the United Kingdom from Finland, Ireland, Norway or Malta. [86] All animals (except guide dogs) travelling by air to the United Kingdom must travel in the hold as manifest cargo & can only use specific airports and airlines. (Similar rules apply to pets arriving by sea, other than by specific ferry services.) British law precludes all animals entering the United Kingdom by air either in the cabin or in the hold as 'excess' or 'checked' baggage. Most airlines do not offer cargo services to individual passengers directly and specialist agents are normally used. United Kingdom law does not prohibit the transport of dogs and cats in the cabin or as hold baggage when departing from the United Kingdom, but restrictions may be imposed by individual airlines or destination countries. See Other useful information below for further travel details. Swiss Airlines publishes a useful guide [87] which is typical of the services proposed by several European airlines.
Japan: Although a participant in the PETs scheme, to bring pets into Japan from member states there are several separate procedures that must be followed. These do not cover Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, and Guam, which have designated region ( rabies free) status. If you take a pet out of Japan, it may take between 6 months to a year for it to re-enter. Including prior contact with Japanese Quarantine several months before entry. [lower-alpha 11]

The PETS scheme is not yet standardised. This leads to much confusion. Every journey between any two countries should be researched separately to ensure that the animal will be accepted for travel upon arrival at the departure point. [89]

An animal may get a valid rabies vaccination and serology check, and then apply for a passport on the spot, at a later date.
An animal whose rabies vaccination is allowed to go out of date (typically 1–2 years) by even one day, without a booster , must start with a new vaccination and delay.
Because PETS is European wide, the regulations may differ for travel within, and outside, Europe. Pet owners should take care since the requirements for travel to a destination may be quite different from the requirements upon returning.
A suitable and carrier-approved travel crate may be required, which must have the correct food and water containers as set out by the relevant bodies.
Animals should not be sedated for air travel since altitude can affect medications. Most airlines will not accept tranquilised animals nowadays. Instead, they are kept in a dark, heated, pressurized hold, which encourages them to sleep for the duration of travel.
Larger animals may be restricted to airline routes which can accommodate their crates. Not all airlines will carry animals, and charges vary widely – check with each airline before travel.
Some routes will not fly animals if the temperature is adverse
Many airlines are unable to provide details of formal procedures, you may need to check with a vet or the consulate of the relevant countries to confirm details.
Since airline staff are often (at present) poorly trained or uncertain, and conflicting information may be provided, at present it is sensible to double check and document all information supplied.
In airlines, animals may travel as excess baggage or cargo . "Excess baggage" (in effect treating the crate and animal as another suitcase) ensures they travel on the same flight and is often much cheaper.
The United Kingdom restricts incoming flights to ship animals as cargo. A cheaper alternative around this aberration in the rules is to fly to some other European city, such as Paris or Amsterdam , and then travel to the United Kingdom by rail or ferry instead, which do not have this restriction. Passengers travelling with animals by rail or ferry to or from the United Kingdom must in many cases need to have access to a vehicle, as you cannot currently take animals directly on foot by Eurostar, and neither on most ferry routes. After arriving in Europe from a non-EU participating country, the certificate received from customs/quarantine is valid for Europe wide travel for up to 4 months, though it is best to contact DEFRA directly prior to travel.

A horse passport is documentation that allows horses to be accurately identified and more easily be transported internationally. In the United States, they are primarily intended for animals competing in International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) events. In the United Kingdom, it is now required for all equines to have a "passport" and an animal cannot be sold without one. [90]

The United Kingdom law, passed in 2003, allows owners to keep a horse from entering the food chain for slaughter by signing a declaration which allows the horse to be treated with medications that are inexpensive but not appropriate for animals that will be used as food. It also means the owners will have to find a means other than slaughter to dispose of an unwanted horse. [91] All equines, including horses, ponies, donkeys and other equids, must have a passport and owners can be fined up to £5,000 if the animal does not. [92]

In the United States, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) issues passports for FEI competition. To obtain a passport, the horse must be life-registered with the USEF, be owned by a U.S. Citizen, who must be a member of the USEF. The passport must be renewed every four years and updated if the animal changes ownership. [93]

In countries which maintain internal border controls , travel documents are required for travellers crossing internal borders.

Internal travel documents are commonly issued in minority and border regions of India and China. In India, special permits are required to travel across much of the country's north-east and requirements may vary within a given state. Special provisions are occasionally made for individuals from Bhutan or Nepal proceeding to or from their home country. Additionally, individuals arriving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from elsewhere in India receive passport stamps (see gallery at end of section), even though only foreigners are typically subject to permit requirements. Permits issued for minority regions in India include:

Restricted Area Permits and Protected Area Permits for foreigners in portions of north-eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Inner Line Permits for Indian citizens

Similarly, in the Tibet Autonomous Region ( Tibetan : བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས།; Chinese : 西藏自治区 ), two categories of permits are issued:

The Tibet Travel Permits ( Chinese : 外国人入藏函 foreigners' entrance letter ) required for all foreigners (as well as Chinese citizens from the Republic of China ) to enter the region
The Alien Travel Permit required for holders of the Tibet Travel Permit to travel outside major urban and tourist areas of the region
The Military Permit (or Border Permit) [94] is required for travel to Ngari ( Tibetan : མངའ་རིས་ས་ཁུལ་; Chinese : 阿里 ), Nyingchi ( Tibetan : ཉིང་ཁྲི་ས།; Chinese : 林芝 ), and Nagqu ( Tibetan : ནག་ཆུ།; Chinese : 那曲 )
Additionally, special permits are issued to nationals of India and Bhutan for religious pilgrimages to Hindu and Buddhist holy sites in the Tibet Autonomous Region. [94]

Internal air and rail travel within non-autonomous portions of India and mainland China also generally require travel documents to be checked by government officials as a form of interior border checkpoint. For such travel within India, Indian citizens may utilise their Voter ID , National Identity Card , passport, or other proof of Indian citizenship whilst Nepali nationals may present any similar proof of Napali citizenship. Meanwhile, for such travel within mainland China, Chinese nationals from the mainland are required to use their national identity cards.

Within China, extensive border controls are also maintained for those travelling between the mainland , special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau , and areas controlled by the Republic of China . [lower-alpha 9] Foreign nationals need to present their passports or other required types of travel documents when travelling between these areas. For Chinese nationals (including those with British National (Overseas) status), there are special documents [lower-alpha 12] for travel between these territories. Similar arrangements exist for travel between territories controlled by the Republic of China and territories controlled by the People's Republic of China . [lower-alpha 13] Internal border controls in China have also resulted in the creation of special permits allowing Chinese citizens to immigrate to or reside in other immigration areas within the country. The following documents are currently issued for this purpose:

For mainlanders emigrating to either of the two Special Administrative Regions, authorities in the mainland issue the One Way Travel Permit ( Chinese : 单程证 ; pinyin : Dānchéngzhèng ). As the policy is designed to curtail emigration from the mainland rather than immigration to either SAR, issuance is exclusively the responsibility of authorities in the mainland.
Since September 2018, authorities in the mainland have issued the Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents ( Chinese : 港澳台居民居住证 ; pinyin : Gǎng-Aò-Tái Jūmín Jūzhùzhèng ) authorising Chinese citizens from Hong Kong, Macau, and areas administered by the Republic of China to reside in the mainland. The permit is designed to resemble the national identity card issued to individuals with household registration in the mainland and enables holders to access public and private sector services that require a national identity card number.

In Malaysia, where an arrangement was agreed upon during the formation of the country, the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak were allowed to retain their respective immigration control systems. Therefore, a passport is required for foreign visitors when travelling from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia, as well as moving between Sabah and Sarawak. For social/business visits not more than 3 months, Peninsular Malaysians are required to produce a MyKad or, for children below 12 years a birth certificate , and obtain a special immigration printout form to be kept until departure. [95] However, one may present a Malaysian passport or a Restricted Travel Document and get an entry stamp on the travel document to avoid the hassle of keeping an extra sheet of paper. For other purposes, Peninsular Malaysians are required to have a long-term residence permit along with a passport or a Restricted Travel Document.

Prior to 2016, Norfolk Island , one of Australia's external, self-governing territories , maintained its own immigration controls. Until 2018, Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling to the territory were required to carry a passport, or an Australian Document of Identity , while people of other nationalities must also have a valid Australian visa and/or Permanent Resident of Norfolk Island visa . [96]

Additionally, some states issue internal passport as an identity document . An example is the internal passport of Russia or certain other post-Soviet countries dating back to imperial times. Some countries use internal passports for controlling migration within a country. In some countries, the international passport or passport for travel abroad is a second passport, in addition to the internal passport, required for a citizen to travel abroad within the country of residence. Separate passports for travel abroad existed or exist in the following countries:

Russia : see Internal passport of Russia
Ukraine : see Ukrainian identity card#Previous internal passport (1992-2016)
In the Soviet Union , there were several types of international passport: an ordinary one, a civil service passport, a diplomatic passport, and a sailor's passport. See Passport system in the Soviet Union .
Countries of the Eastern Bloc had a system of internal/international passports similar to that of the Soviet Union.

International travel is possible without travel documents in some circumstances. [97] Nonetheless, a document stating citizenship, such as a national identity card or an Enhanced Driving Licence , is usually required. [97]

The Kartarpur Corridor allows devotees from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur, 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) from the India–Pakistan border on the Pakistani side without a passport [98] or a visa. Residents of nine coastal villages in Papua New Guinea are permitted to enter the 'Protected Zone' of the Torres Strait (part of Queensland , Australia ) for traditional purposes. This exemption from passport control is part of a treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiated when PNG became independent from Australia in 1975. [99] Vessels from other parts of Papua New Guinea and other countries attempting to cross into Australia or Australian waters are stopped by Australian Customs or the Royal Australian Navy .

Travel documents are not needed by citizens of India and Nepal to travel to each other's country, but some identification is required for border crossings and citizens from either country are not necessarily required to be inspected at checkpoints, though foreign nationals are required to comply with each country's visa policy. Similarly, Travel with minimal travel documents is possible between the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man , Guernsey , Jersey , and Ireland, which together form the Common Travel Area .

The countries that are part of the Schengen Area , do not implement passport controls between each other, unless exceptional circumstances occur. It is, however, mandatory to carry a passport, compliant national identity card, alien's resident permit or some other photo ID.

The Nordic Passport Union allows Nordic citizens, i.e. citizens of Denmark (including the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden to visit any of these countries without being in possession of identity documents (Greenland and Svalbard are excluded). [100] This is an extension of the principle that Nordic citizens need no identity document in their own country. A means to prove identity when requested is recommended (e.g. using a driver's licence, which does not state citizenship), even in one's own country. Joining the Schengen Area in 2001 has not changed those rules.

For travel to the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon directly from Canada, Canadians and foreign nationals holding Canadian identification documents are exempted from travel document and visa requirements for stays of maximum duration of 3 months within a period of 6 months.

De facto travel documents are documents which in practice will be sufficient to cross borders legally, but with no legal status as a travel document. These are necessary in practice in areas in which travel documents are not expressly required for nationals of part Within the Border Controls in the Common Travel Area , travel between Ireland , the United Kingdom , the British Crown Dependencies , Isle of Man and Channel Islands , no travel documents are required by British or Irish citizens. As this requirement does not hold for others, these citizens have to establish the presumption of having this nationality, which requires in practice some form of identification. The documents used for this purpose (most notably: driving licence) are thus de facto travel documents. Some airlines still require passport from CTA citizens.

The Nordic Passport Union means that Nordic citizens (of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland) can stay in all those countries (on the paper) without any I.D., in the same way as in the home country. In reality an I.D. card is needed for travel and other situations, and any Nordic I.D. card is valid in the area for travel purposes (but not for residence, e.g. banking or authority contacts).

Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for an EU , EEA or Swiss citizen to possess a valid travel document (such as a national identity card or passport ) to enjoy the right of free movement in the EU, EEA and Switzerland . In theory, if an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen can prove their nationality by 'any other means' (e.g., by presenting an expired national identity card or passport, or a citizenship certificate), they must be permitted to enter and reside in the EU, EEA and Switzerland without a visa. An EU citizen who is unable to demonstrate their nationality satisfactorily must nonetheless be given 'every reasonable opportunity' to obtain the necessary documents or to have them delivered within a reasonable period of time. [101] [102] [103]

Identity document
Immigration law
Interpol Travel Document
PRADO – Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online – for European travel documents
Refugee travel document
Travel visa
U.S. Re-entry Permit

Related Research Articles

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual can work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only in immigration databases.

The Hong Kong Certificate of Identity ( CI ) was a formal travel document and passport, issued by the Hong Kong Government's Immigration Department until 30 June 1997. It is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document, as all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007, though most CI holders should be eligible to hold the HKSAR Passport.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since the handover in 1997, the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition, unlike Chinese passport which can be issued by Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Document of Identity for Visa Purposes is a biometric travel document issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to residents of Hong Kong who are unable to obtain a national passport. It is usually valid for seven years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Re-entry Permit</span>

Hong Kong Re-entry Permit are issued to Hong Kong residents by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for travel to mainland China and Macau Special Administrative Region.

The Permanent Resident card also known colloquially as the PR Card or the Maple Leaf card , is an identification document and a travel document for permanent residents of Canada. It is one of the methods by which Canadian permanent residents can prove their status and is, along with the permanent resident travel document (PRTD), one of the only documents that allow permanent residents to return to Canada by a commercial carrier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian passport</span> Passport of Malaysia issued to Malaysian citizens

The Malaysian passport is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. The main legislation governing the production of passports and travel documents, their possession by persons entering and leaving Malaysia, and related matters is the Passport Act 1966.

The Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan, Republic of China is the document for the bearer to enter into and/or depart from the Taiwan Area, namely Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Currently, there are several types of Exit & Entry Permit that reflect the bearer's residency status. The permit is issued by the National Immigration Agency of the Republic of China (Taiwan). For different purposes, the permit is also known as:

Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

The Lebanese passport is a passport issued to the citizens of the Republic of Lebanon to enable them to travel outside the Republic of Lebanon and entitles the bearer to the protection from the diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Lebanon if necessary. It is issued exclusively by the Lebanese Directorate General of General Security (DGGS), and can also be issued at various Lebanese diplomatic missions and/or consulates outside the Republic of Lebanon. It allows the bearer a freedom of living in the Republic of Lebanon without any immigration requirements, participate in the Lebanese political system, entry to and exit from the Republic of Lebanon through any port, travel to and from other countries in accordance with visa requirements, facilitates the process of securing consular assistance abroad from the diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Lebanon if necessary, and requests protection for the bearer while abroad.

The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents , also known as the Taiwan Compatriot Permit , is a type of travel document issued by the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to Republic of China nationals (ROC) who hold household registration in Taiwan. The document is issued by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). Since the identity documents issued by the government of the Republic of China are not recognized in the PRC, the permit serves as both the main travel document and identity document for Taiwanese people in the PRC territory and is used on all occasions in lieu of a Taiwan passport.

The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region allows citizens of specific countries/territories to travel to Macau for tourism or business purposes for periods ranging from 14 to 180 days without having to obtain a visa. For other entry purposes, such as establishing residence on a long-term basis, a different policy applies.

The visa policy of mainland China deals with the requirements which a foreign national wishing to enter the mainland of the People's Republic of China must meet to obtain a visa from one of the Chinese diplomatic missions, which is a permit to travel to, enter, and remain in the country. Visa exemptions are based on bilateral agreements and unilateral decisions. The residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan with Chinese nationality may stay in Mainland indefinitely as long as their travel documents are valid.

The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa, which depending on the traveller's nationality, may be required to travel to, enter, and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">APEC Business Travel Card</span> Travel document

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a travel document issued to business travellers who are citizens of APEC participating economies. Valid for five years, the card eliminates the need for its holder to possess a visa when visiting other APEC participating economies as long as pre-clearance has been obtained during the application process.

The visa policy of Jordan deals with the requirements which a foreign citizen wishing to enter Jordan must meet to be permitted to travel to, enter and remain in the country.

The British National (Overseas) passport , commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport , is a British passport for people with British National (Overseas) status. BN(O) status was created in 1987 after the enactment of Hong Kong Act 1985, whose holders are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Overseas Territories citizens until 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s.

e-Channel , also known as The Automated Passenger Clearance System , is an expedited border control system introduced by the Hong Kong Immigration Department in 2004, designed to speed up border immigration processes for residents of Hong Kong, Macau and frequent visitors to Hong Kong entering and exiting the territory whether it be by land, air or sea via the use of self-service kiosks employed at various border control points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automated border control system</span> Type of automated self-service barrier

Automated border control systems ( ABC ) or eGates are automated self-service barriers which use data stored in a chip in biometric passports along with a photo or fingerprint taken at the time of entering the eGates to verify the passport holder's identity. Travellers undergo biometric verification using facial or iris recognition, fingerprints, or a combination of modalities. After the identification process is complete and the passport holder's identity is verified, a physical barrier such as a gate or turnstile opens to permit passage. If the passport holder's identification is not verified or if the system malfunctions, then the gate or turnstile does not open and an immigration officer will meet the person. E-gates came about in the early 2000s as an automated method of reading the then-newly ICAO mandated e-passports.

Controls imposed on internal borders within a single state or territory include measures taken by governments to monitor and regulate the movement of people, animals, and goods across land, air, and maritime borders through border controls.

↑ "Page 7 of IATA document" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016 . Retrieved 2 August 2018 .
↑ Ökade möjligheter att resa inom EU med nationellt identitetskort (Swedish)
↑ "FINLEX – Ursprungliga författningar: Statsrådets förordning om styrkande av rätten… 660/2013" .
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↑ "Doc 9303: Machine Readable Travel Documents" (PDF) . Seventh Edition, 2015. 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 2015 . Retrieved 22 November 2015 . ICAO's work on machine readable travel documents began in 1968 with the establishment, by the Air Transport Committee of the Council, of a Panel on Passport Cards. This Panel was charged with developing recommendations for a standardized passport book or card that would be machine readable, in the interest of accelerating the clearance of passengers through passport controls. ... In 1998, the New Technologies Working Group of the TAG/MRTD began work to establish the most effective biometric identification system and associated means of data storage for use in MRTD applications, particularly in relation to document issuance and immigration considerations. The bulk of the work had been completed by the time the events of 11 September 2001 caused States to attach greater importance to the security of a travel document and the identification of its holder. The work was quickly finalized and endorsed by the TAG/MRTD and the Air Transport Committee. ... The Seventh Edition of Doc 9303 represents a restructuring of the ICAO specifications for Machine Readable Travel Documents. Without incorporating substantial modifications to the specifications, in this new edition Doc 9303 has been reformatted into a set of specifications for Size 1 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD1), Size 2 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD2), and Size 3 Machine Readable Travel Documents (TD3) ... {{ cite web }} : CS1 maint: location ( link )
↑ Doc 9303: Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 2: Specifications for the Security of the Design, Manufacture and Issuance of MRTDs (PDF) . Seventh Edition, 2015. 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 2015. ISBN 978-92-9249-791-0 . Retrieved 22 November 2015 . The Seventh Edition of Doc 9303 represents a restructuring of the ICAO specifications for Machine Readable Travel Documents. Without incorporating substantial modifications to the specifications, in this new edition Doc 9303 has been reformatted into a set of specifications for Size 1 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD1), Size 2 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD2), and Size 3 Machine Readable Travel Documents (TD3), as well as visas. This set of specifications consists of various separate documents in which general (applicable to all MRTDs) as well as MRTD form factor specific specifications are grouped ... Where the substrate used for the biographical data page (or inserted label) of a passport book or MRTD card is formed entirely of plastic or a variation of plastic, it is not usually possible to incorporate many of the security components described in 5.1.1 through 5.1.3 ... A.5.2.5 Special security measures for use with cards and biographical data pages made of plastic Where a travel document is constructed entirely of plastic, optically variable security features shall be employed which give a changing appearance with angle of viewing. Such devices may take the form of latent images, lenticular features, colour-shifting ink, or diffractive optically variable image features. {{ cite book }} : CS1 maint: location ( link )
↑ Doc 9303: Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 3: Specifications Common to all MRTDs (PDF) . Seventh Edition, 2015. 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 2015. ISBN 978-92-9249-792-7 . Retrieved 22 November 2015 . Part 3 defines specifications that are common to TD1, TD2 and TD3 size machine readable travel documents (MRTDs) including those necessary for global interoperability using visual inspection and machine readable (optical character recognition) means. Detailed specifications applicable to each form factor appear in Doc 9303, Parts 4 through 7. {{ cite book }} : CS1 maint: location ( link )
↑ Doc 9303: Machine Readable Travel Documents, Part 5: Specifications for TD1 Size Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (MROTDs) (PDF) . Seventh Edition, 2015. 999 Robert-Bourassa Boulevard, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3C 5H7: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 2015. ISBN 978-92-9249-794-1 . Retrieved 22 November 2015 . The nominal dimensions shall be those specified in ISO/IEC 7810 for the ID-1 type card: 53.98 mm x 85.6 mm (2.13 in x 3.37 in) ... The edges of the document after final preparation shall be within the area circumscribed by the concentric rectangles as illustrated in Figure 1. Inner rectangle: 53.25 mm x 84.85 mm (2.10 in x 3.34 in), Outer rectangle: 54.75 mm x 86.35 mm (2.16 in x 3.40 in). In no event shall the dimensions of the finished TD1 document exceed the dimensions of the outer rectangle, including any final preparation (e.g. laminate edges) ... Note k: The first character shall be A, C or I. Historically these three characters were chosen for their ease of recognition in the OCR-B character set. The second character shall be at the discretion of the issuing State or organization except that V shall not be used, and C shall not be used after A except in the Crew Member Certificate. {{ cite book }} : CS1 maint: location ( link )
↑ "U.S. Passport Service Guide – Passport Card Facts" . 2015 . Retrieved 22 November 2015 . A passport card serves the same purpose as a passport book. It attests to your United States citizenship and your identity. The passport card is a fully valid passport. However, it is similar in size to a credit card ... Production of the passport card began on July 14, 2008. Millions of cards have already been issued since that date.
↑ "Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD)" (PDF) . ICAO . Retrieved August 8, 2016 .
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↑ Under Article 28 of the Convention.
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↑ " "travelling-with-animals" " .
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1 2 PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS Archived 2017-08-03 at the Wayback Machine (Timatic, through olympicair.com)
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↑ Article 6.3.2 of the Practical Handbook for Border Guards ( C (2006) 5186 )
↑ Judgement of the European Court of Justice of 17 February 2005, Case C 215/03, Salah Oulane vs. Minister voor Vreemdelingenzaken en Integratie
↑ "UK Border Force Operations Manual: Processing British and EEA Passengers without a valid Passport or Travel Document" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-08.
↑ The local governments of most inhabited British Overseas Territories issue passports to British Overseas Territories citizens resident holding belonger status in the territory concerned, while the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau issue passports to Chinese citizens holding permanent residence in the region concerned.
↑ These were issued to defined groups for travel together to particular destinations, such as a group of school children on a school trip. [16]
↑ Since Mexico permits the use of identity cards issued by Mexican consulates overseas [39] and other documents demonstrating Mexican citizenship for its citizens entering the country, Mexican citizens holding membership in the Kickapoo first nation are effectively not required by either country to hold a passport or Border Crossing Card when travelling between the two countries by land or sea
Albania accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Singapore.
Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from citizens of the EU, EFTA, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Serbia.
North Macedonia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia.
Montenegro accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Monaco, North Macedonia, San Marino and Serbia.
Serbia accepts national ID cards or passports for entry from nationals of the EU, EFTA (except Liechtenstein), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Turkey allows citizens of Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, the partly recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine to enter with a valid national ID card.
Ukraine reciprocally accepts for travel national ID cards issued to citizens of Georgia and Turkey.
EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter the partly recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with a valid ID card.
EU and Turkish citizens are allowed to enter Georgia with a valid ID card.
Turkish citizens are allowed to enter Moldova with a valid ID card.
Turkish citizens are allowed to enter Ukraine and Azerbaijan with a valid ID card if arriving directly from Turkey.
↑ The legal acquis has been identified as EEA -relevant by the EU Commission, which makes it under scrutiny for incorporation into the EEA Agreement by Iceland , Liechtenstein and Norway . However, the legal basis rely on Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union , an article which is not reflected in the EEA Agreement. [53]
California and Texas : within 40 km of the border
Arizona within 121 km of the border
New Mexico within 89 km of the border or up to Interstate 10 , whichever is further north
↑ Since Mexico permits the use of identity cards issued by Mexican consulates overseas [39] and other documents demonstrating Mexican citizenship for its citizens entering the country, Mexicans holding permanent residence in America are effectively not required by either country to hold a Mexican passport when travelling between the two countries
↑ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia . [65] The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory . The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement . Kosovo is currently recognised as an independent state by 104 out of the 193 United Nations member states . In total, 114 UN member states have recognised Kosovo at some point, of which 10 later withdrew their recognition.
Taiwan ( Chinese : 台灣 )
Penghu ( Chinese : 澎湖 )
Kinmen ( Chinese : 金門 ; pinyin : Jīnmén )
Matsu Islands ( Chinese : 馬祖列島 ; pinyin : Mǎzǔ Lièdǎo )
Other nearby islands
A new immigrant to Israel acquires Israeli nationality immediately when issued with a certificate of immigration (תעודת עולה teudat oleh) upon arrival in the country, but this nationality may be waived with retroactive effect to the moment the certificate of immigration was issued if such an application is filed with the ministry of the interior within 90 days following the issuance of the certificate of immigration. During these 90 days, a new immigrant cannot apply for an Israeli passport or travel document unless they file a waiver of the right to waive the automatic acquisition of Israeli nationality. Prior to 2017, a new immigrant could not be issued with an Israeli passport until they had resided in Israel for a period of at least 270 days following the issuance of their certificate of immigration. In 2017, this restriction was lifted when the passport act was modified by the Knesset. [71] [72]
Israeli citizens with criminal record.
Israeli citizens who have lost or destroyed over three passports.
Israeli citizens who have lost their passport during an overseas trip.
Israeli citizens who are returning to Israel by decision of the Israeli government. [73]
The dog or cat must be microchipped.
The dog or cat must have stayed in the country for at least 180 days (6 months) since its birth or having left Japan.
The dog or cat must have had 2 rabies injections and a blood test 6 month before entering/re-entering Japan, proving the pet is free of rabies. This test must be carried out at a designated laboratory.
The dog or cat does not have or show signs of rabies or Leptospirosis (dogs only).
Have certificates issued by an official vet to prove that your dog/cat has been vaccinated, microchipped and wormed as necessary. These are vets designated by the prefecture as able to issue certificates and officially vaccinate your dog.
More than a week before travelling, notify Animal Quarantine Service at the port of departure, and apply for an export inspection for your dog/ cat. The inspection will be carried out by the Quarantine Office (Ken'eki-kyoku) before you check your pet in. [88]
↑ For example, Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Macau Identity Card and Home Return Permit ( simplified Chinese : 回乡证 ; traditional Chinese : 回鄉證 ; pinyin : Huíxiāngzhèng ) are required for Hong Kong or Macau Permanent Residents who are Chinese citizens to cross the border, whilst mainlanders require a Two-Way Permit ( Chinese : 双程证 ).
The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents ( simplified Chinese : 台胞证 ; traditional Chinese : 臺胞證 ; pinyin : Táibāozhèng ) issued by the PRC for entry to the mainland, which is also valid but not mandatory for entry to Hong Kong and Macau
The Taiwan Entry Permit ( Chinese : 入臺證 ; pinyin : Rùtáizhèngg ) issued to mainlanders by the ROC
The Kinmen-Matsu Permit ( traditional Chinese : 金馬證 ; simplified Chinese : 金马证 ; pinyin : JīnMǎ zhèng ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī : Kim-Má-chèng ) issued to residents of Kinmen and Matsu (ROC-administered territories in Fujian as well as Penghu for travel to and from the mainland.
Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 2364: The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) (England) (Amendment) Order 2004 . Office of Public Sector Information. 2004-09-17. ISBN 978-0-11-049813-3 .
Information regarding USCIS Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)
PRADO – Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online, Council of the European Union
EU website: Movement of Pets
Rules for importing pets to the United Kingdom
EU regulations on pet movement Q&A
RTÉ News report on Pet Passports (RealPlayer video stream)
EuroNews report on Pet Passports (RealPlayer video stream)
Las Vegas pet travel - Travel check list, import/export regulations, state/city information, and international travel information.
Ship-a-Pet-to-the-United Kingdom - A detailed article on shipping a pet to the United Kingdom from overseas (particularly from US).
USEF Passport FAQ
Caribbean Netherlands
Dominican Republic
United States ( Real IDs )

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De Facto Partner Visa Australia – Requirements & Evidence

Updated June 12, 2024

How to Prove a De Facto Relationship for Partner Visa Australia?

The Australian Partner Visa offers you a chance to live permanently in the country if you are married, in a de facto relationship or engaged with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. Your Australian partner visa subclass will depend on whether you are on-shore or off-shore and if you are in one of these relationship statuses. Often, people need clarification with a De Facto Partner Visa. The most common questions are: How do you prove your de facto relationship, and what documents are required to prove it? Here are some frequently asked questions for the Australian partner visa and tips to help get you started.

So, we are here to give you full details of the De Facto Partner Visa, including the meaning of the de facto relationship, the requirements, and the checklist. We understand this process can be complex and overwhelming, but remember, you’re not alone. There are professionals available to assist you at every step of the way.

What is the meaning of a de facto relationship?

Understanding the definition of de facto relationships is crucial as it forms the basis of your visa application. It refers to living together in an exclusive relationship without being legally married.

Suppose you can demonstrate that you are in a de facto relationship. In that case, you might be allowed to apply for a Partner Visa or include your partner in your other Australian visa application.

Both same- and opposite-sex partnerships fall under the definition of a de facto partner.

You and your partner must be at least 18 to legally be in a de facto relationship.

How long must I be in a de facto relationship for a Partner Visa application?

You must have lived with your de facto partner for at least 12 months for Partner Visa application purposes.

Meeting the 12-month cohabitation requirement is a key eligibility criterion for the Partner Visa application. It is essential to meet this requirement at the time of lodgement, as your application may fail if you have lived together for less than 12 months.

The de facto requirement applies to both temporary and permanent Partner Visa applications.

How is immigration defined, and what makes you eligible for a de facto partner visa?

The Department of Home Affairs will consider the following in assessing your eligibility for a De Facto Partner Visa:

An eligible person must sponsor you; in most cases, this is your partner.
You’re not in a married relationship with each other;
You are not related to your partner;
You’re in and can show a mutually committed relationship to share a life with the exclusion of all others;
You must show a continuing and genuine relationship;
You live together or do not live separately permanently and have evidence to provide this is true;
You both must be 18 when you submit your unmarried partner visa application;
Your relationship must have been ongoing for the entire 12 months before the application is submitted;
You must also meet health and character requirements.

When immigration assesses a de facto relationship for the visa, they look for specific types of evidence. These include living together full-time, sharing social and important financial commitments, and having a household separate from others. Understanding these requirements can help you prepare your documentation.

Please note: Periods of “dating” do not count toward the 12-month requirement.

Is there any exemption to the 12-month cohabitation requirement?

While the 12-month cohabitation requirement is a standard rule, some exceptions can give you hope. It’s possible to show that you are in a de facto relationship even if you have not lived for a full 12 months with your partner. These exceptions are applicable only in limited circumstances, such as:

You can show compelling and compassionate circumstances. For example, if you have children with your partner, or if your home country does not permit you to live with your partner,
Your partner is, or was, the holder of a humanitarian visa, and you were in a de facto relationship, which meets the requirements according to the Migration Regulations. You informed immigration of this before the humanitarian visa was granted.
Your relationship was registered under a law of a state or territory, written in the Acts Interpretation (Registered Relationship) Regulations 2008, as a kind of relationship needed in order to register. Not all states and territories have these regulations. To get more information on eligibility, please refer to the Births, Deaths, and Marriages agency.

Learn more about registering your relationship here

How do I prove that I am living together with my partner?

You must provide certain documents to prove that you are living together with your partner. Below is a complete checklist for a de facto relationship.

Please be sure to provide certified copies of your original documents. If immigration requires the original documents, they will ask you for them, so leave them out until needed.

Also, be sure to provide accredited English translations for documents not in English. If you apply online, you may send in your scanned, certified copies, which will be attached to your application through your ImmiAccount.

Required Forms for De Facto Partner Visa:

You must submit a Form 47SP called an Application for migration to Australia by a partner.
You must submit a Form 40SP called a Sponsorship for a partner to migrate to Australia.
Form 956 is called advice by a migration agent/exempt person for providing immigration assistance. This is required if you appoint a migration agent to submit your de facto Partner Visa application.

You can apply online through ImmiAccount , by post, or in person.

Required personal identity/ proof of ID

Biographical pages of passports or travel documents. They refer to pages that include the holder’s photo, personal details, date of issue, and date of expiry.
Two current passport-sized photographs (45mm x 35mm) for each person included in the application. Please be sure these pictures are just of the head and shoulders and on a plain background. Write the person’s name on the back of the photographs.
Family book showing both parent’s names
Identification document issued by the government
Court-issued documents given by the government that verify your identity
National identity card.
Certified copy of name change if you ever changed your name.
A national police certificate issued by the police department to migrate to Australia.
You must provide other legal documentation proving your identity if you cannot give any of these documents.

Your sponsor’s identity and evidence of residential:

Birth certificate
An Australian passport or foreign passport containing evidence of permanent residence
An Australian citizenship certificate
For New Zealand citizens, evidence of how long you have resided in Australia and your continuing links to Australia.
Evidence of ownership or rent of a house in which your sponsor resides
Proof of Utility accounts (gas, telephone, electricity)
Provide other bills for living expenses (food, water, toiletries, etc.)
Australian Federal Police Certificate
National Police Certificate from countries where your sponsor has lived for over 12 months.

De Facto Partner Visa Australia Relationship Proof

Evidence of de facto relationship for partner visa application:

Relationship certificate issued by the Australian state birth, death and marriage registry
Completed Form 888 (at least 2) by your friends/family witnessing your de facto relationship
Evidence of joint financial. This shows that you and your partner are financially stable and actively involved in the relationship, such as a joint bank account, joint house, or asset ownership.
Evidence of social ties. This is to show that both of you are well known to the public as a de facto partner. Examples include photos with your family and friends, documentation of your holiday, invitations for you and your partner, etc.
Evidence of living together/cohabitation. This is to show that you have lived together for at least 12 months, such as a joint lease agreement, joint bills, joint insurance, etc. (any documentation showing both of you have lived at the same address for the past 12 months).

Can I include the time spent travelling with my partner as cohabitation?

Sometimes, you may include the time spent travelling with your partner as cohabitation. But it’s crucial to demonstrate that you have begun a de facto relationship and moved in with your partner before the trip.

What if we have spent time apart?

You must demonstrate that you live together or, at the very least, do not live apart permanently to prove a de facto relationship.

Even after you’ve moved in together, your application might still be accepted if one of you moves out for work-related reasons.

Extenuating circumstances, such as work, studies, or visa concerns, are acceptable. However, it is crucial to demonstrate that you stay in close communication while apart.

What if I am still married to someone else?

Demonstrating that you are in a de facto relationship with your new partner is possible even if you are married but have split and are living with your new partner.

In this situation, it’s critical to demonstrate that your partnership is exclusive and that your prior relationship has ended.

We recommend finalising your divorce paper as soon as possible to strengthen your de facto partner visa application.

I still have many questions about the de facto partner visa. What should I do?

ONEderland Consulting is here to support and guide you through the de facto Partner Visa application process. Rest assured, we are here to assist you every step of the way.

We warmly invite you to contact our registered migration agent, Indah Melindasari, to discuss your concerns further.

Our consultation session is backed with a 100% refund guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with our service. We have a 98% success rate and are experts in complex cases. Call us or click below:

We are here to help you

The experienced visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting are here to provide unwavering support and offer comprehensive guidance whenever you require assistance with your de facto Partner Visa application. Your unique circumstances will be handled with the utmost care and professionalism.

We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews .

We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) , we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the MARA.

Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are professional and honest and speak various languages, such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone at 1300 827 159 . Alternatively, you may book your consultation online , and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.

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COMMENTS

Application for Travel Document
ALERT: Beginning July 1, 2022, we will issue a new travel authorization document to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, at our discretion if we find the beneficiary merits this authorization.We will no longer issue advance parole documents as evidence of our prior authorization for a TPS beneficiary to be ...
Travel Documents
Travel Documents. If you wish to return to the United States lawfully after traveling outside the United States, you generally must have a: Valid entry document, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or nonimmigrant visa; or. Valid and unexpired travel document. The type of document you need varies depending on your immigration status ...
Travel document
De facto travel documents are documents which in practice will be sufficient to cross borders legally, but with no legal status as a travel document. These are necessary in practice in areas in which travel documents are not expressly required for nationals of part Within the Border Controls in the Common Travel Area, ...
What are de facto travel documents?
De facto travel documents are documents which are adequate to cross borders lawfully as well as to reside in a country, but which have no legal status as a travel document. This is often the case in free movement areas. In order to prove their citizenship, citizens of countries which are part of a free movement area must show some form of identification. In this case a driving license is often ...
Statelessness
File Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, by mailing the application and supporting documents to the USCIS field office that has jurisdiction over where you live. Handwrite "PIP" in Part 2 instead of checking a box. Provide the name of the country where you are a citizen or national in box 2.f., Country of Citizenship.
What Travel Documents Do You Need?
De Facto Travel Documents. Some files allow you to travel across borders but do not qualify as legal travel documents. They are de facto travel documents. British and Irish citizens do not need any of these when traveling between certain places including the British Crown Dependencies, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, United Kingdom, and Ireland. ...
Statelessness
A stateless person is someone who, under national laws, does not enjoy citizenship - the legal bond between a government and an individual - in any country. While some people are de jure, or legally stateless persons (meaning they are not recognized as citizens under the laws of any state), many people are de facto, or effectively stateless ...
Travel document
De facto travel documents De facto travel documents are documents which in practice will be sufficient to cross borders legally, but with no legal status as a travel document. Within the Border Controls in the Common Travel Area, travel between Ireland, the United Kingdom, the British Crown Dependencies, Isle of Man and Channel Islands, no ...
De Facto Visa Holders: Can They Travel?
Find out more about de facto visa holders and their travel options in this informative article. 525 Main St, Worcester, MA 01608. Mon - Sat: 9:00am-18:00pm. Sunday CLOSED. 508-653-3352. North America. United States; Canada; ... Travel Documents: Just like any other traveler, you will need to have a valid passport to travel. ...
Partner Visa Checklist
full birth certificates (copies) of any children of the relationship. evidence that you and your spouse have been in a de facto relationship for 12 months prior to lodging your application. Important update: English Test for Permanent Stage of Partner Visas & Partner visa changes ahead- 2021. The new changes to Sponsored family visa's, will ...
Human security and citizenship in de facto states
As a result, these polities have taken other measures to ensure the citizens' rights, including freedom of movement. In some instances, de facto states have got easy access to the travel documents (i.e. passports) of their patron states (Armenia for Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey for Northern Cyprus, Jordan for Palestinian refugees). Other polities ...
travel document
1. Passports and visas are the most widely used forms of travel documents. 2. Some States also accept certain identity cards or other documents, such as residence permits . Definition (s)A document issued by a government or international treaty organisation which is acceptable proof of identity for the purpose of entering...
Australian De Facto Visa Tips To Prove Your Relationship
The Australian De Facto Visa is a popular visa for those overseas candidates who are in a de facto relationship with an Australian Citizen or permanent. ... joint travel or joint participation in sporting, social or cultural activities. ... - Documents showing joint bank account and online banking accounts
Chapter 5
De facto means in fact. See Matter of Hughes (PDF), 18 I&N Dec. 289 (Comm. 1982). See Matter of Church Scientology Int'l (PDF), 19 I&N Dec. 593 (Comm. 1988). See ... Travel and Identity Documents. 12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization. Technical Update - Replacing the Term "Foreign National" ...
How to Prove a De Facto Relationship to Receive an Australian Partner
To prove a de facto relationship, you need to provide evidence that you have cohabitated with your partner for at least 12 months. ... · Joint invitations or evidence you travel and go out together. ... · Joint mortgage or lease documents. · Joint ownership of your property. · Postal correspondence addressed to one or both of you at a ...
Proving a De Facto Relationship
To prove a de facto relationship, you must show that you live together, or at least do not live apart on a permanent basis. If you have started living together, but then one partner moves temporarily due to external circumstances, it may still be possible to make a successful application. External circumstances which may be acceptable include ...
Format Attachments
You'll find several kinds of fields in your grant application forms - check boxes, dates, data entry fields, and attachments. This page provides guidance on attachments: documents that are prepared outside the grant application using whatever editing software you desire (e.g., Microsoft Word), converted to PDF format, and then added or uploaded to your application.
Travel document
De facto travel documents are documents which in practice will be sufficient to cross borders legally, but with no legal status as a travel document. These are necessary in practice in areas in which travel documents are not expressly required for nationals of part Within the Border Controls in the Common Travel Area, ...
PDF Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
2. Application Type. a. I am a permanent resident or conditional resident of the United States, and I am applying for a reentry permit. b. I now hold U.S. refugee or asylee status, and I am applying for a Refugee Travel Document. c. I am a permanent resident as a direct result of refugee or asylee status, and I am applying for a Refugee Travel ...
485 visa checklist and requirements
Marriage certificate/ Divorce certificate or statutory declaration separation documents (if applicable) If you are living in a de facto relationship: independent evidence that you have been in the relationship for at least 12 months (for example, joint bank account statements, billing accounts in joint names or joint ownership of major assets).
Adding a Spouse or De Facto to TSS 482 visa
Location of Spouse or De Facto: Your spouse or de facto partner can be inside or outside Australia at the time of applying for the visa. Conditions of Visa for your spouse or de facto partner: They will be granted a subclass 457 visa with unrestricted work rights, Expiry: Their visa will expire on the same date as your subclass 457 visa. Checklist:
De Facto Partner Visa Australia
Required Forms for De Facto Partner Visa: You must submit a Form 47SP called an Application for migration to Australia by a partner. You must submit a Form 40SP called a Sponsorship for a partner to migrate to Australia. Form 956 is called advice by a migration agent/exempt person for providing immigration assistance.