Countries that allow visa-free travel with Refugee Travel Documents
Please note that the information below changes regularly. For example, the UK leaving the EU may change the ability to travel visa-free to European countries. Therefore, you should always check the visa requirements of your country of destination before you travel.
This question comes up when you are considering travelling to one of the European or Schengen Countries or another country. Once you have obtained refugee status, you may wonder where you can travel without the need for a visa.
If you are a holder of a Refugee Travel Document issued by the United Kingdom under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, you can travel visa-free to a lot of countries. Different countries have their own travel restrictions and require you to have a visa even for short term visits like tourism, even if you have a Refugee Travel Document.
When you are travelling, you will need to make sure that you carry your valid UK residence permit confirming your refugee status together with the Refugee Travel Document.
NOTE: This list is subject to changes at any time. We recommend double-checking information on the current visa requirements with the embassy of your country of destination before making any travel arrangements or you can start an application with IaM and we can check for you.
IaM is not liable for any immigration or other difficulties you may encounter based on the information on this page.
For countries with official sources, there will be a hyperlink, which will be highlighted in orange and underlined. You can click on it to view more information.
Countries that require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:
- Afghanistan
- Argentina
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Andorra
- Austria
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Estonia
- France
- Georgia
- Greece
- India
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jamaica* (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kyrgystan
- Latvia
- Mali
- Malta
- Mexico
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Norway *(1951 Convention travel documents issued by Malta, Ireland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland have visa-free access to Norway)
- Poland
- Portugal
- Philippines
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Solomon
- Spain
- Sweden
- Tanzania
- Thailand* (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
- Turkey (unless for official visit)
- USA
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Countries that do not require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:
- Armenia
- Croatia
- Finland
- Georgia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Maldives
- Moldova
- Monaco**
- Montenegro
- Netherlands* (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
- Vatican city
European countries that require a visa to travel with a travel document:
European countries that you can travel visa free with a travel document:
- Croatia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Monaco* (To be confirmed after Brexit)
- Netherlands* (Depending on your nationality)
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovenia
- Switzerland
- Vatican city
List of countries that DO NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:
List of countries that issue travel documents:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Malta
- Netherlands*
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Ireland
- Romania
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
All the above countries issue refugee travel documents in one form or another. They allow you to leave the country that issued them and return with the same documents. Some countries allow you to travel to other countries without the need for a visa. Whereas, you may need to obtain a visa for other countries. These arrangements are usually due to agreements between countries.
Please note that in some instances, you may lose your refugee status if you travel to the country from which you sought refuge. You will need to check with the country that issued your travel documents.
Getting a Travel Visa
A travel visa is an official document, usually stamped or affixed into the bearer’s passport, that grants the right to legally enter, remain within, or leave a foreign country. A Schengen visa, for example, allows you to travel to any of the Schengen countries as well as other non-Schengen countries that allow travellers to enter their countries with a Schengen visa.
Travellers without a valid travel visa will be refused entry into a country. And, if the individual enters the country through illegal means and is later discovered, may be punished and deported.
How to Apply for a Visa
Each country has their own processes for applying for a visa. Generally, you will need to fill in an application form and submit any requirements that the consulate or embassy asks for, and some even require you to appear for an interview.
There are many factors that could add to your visa being approved or rejected by the consulate, and many find the process of applying for a visa stressful for this reason. You can choose to do this on your own, or get a service like IaM to help you either make the application or check the application that you filled out yourself.
If you want to make your own visa application to any of the Schengen countries, check out our blog posts for our detailed guides:
Follow our YouTube Channel ▶️ & Facebook page 📱
for the latest visas & UK immigration updates.
Do you have a refugee travel document and plan on travelling? Comment below.
IaM can help with your visa application to the United States, the UK & other countries
If you need help with a US visa, a UK Visa, or visa to Europe, including help with appointment booking obligations, IaM can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at IaM.
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51 Responses
Great article
Very informative
Just one suggestion in title if you can add UK
Hello,
Can I still travel to these countries visa free with a refugee travel document after brexit?
Thanks
We are in the process of updating this post. Check with the embassy first to know where you want to go.
The French embassy has been ignoring my email enquiries and their visa centre as well. I am stuck and do not know if I can still travel to France visa free with my refugee blue travel documents with Brexit. Has anyone travelled during this year 2021? did you need to apply for a Schengen visa or did you travel visa free? That would help a lot if someone could share their experience. Many thanks
i tried to go to france but they send me back
Yes, on our list it says France requires visa.
Greece need a visa as the embassy confirmed
Hi all, I am currently stck in Georgia that entered the UK red list and in need for a buffer place to spend the ten days before flying back to the UK. I would appreciate any suggestions for a visa free destination.
Hi. You can check the UK amber list (https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-uks-amber-travel-list/) or green list (https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-new-countries-on-the-green-list/).
Hello
What type of visa do I need to visit a Switzerland for about 2 weeks to visit a friend. And can I travel to Switzerland from Sudan . I live in the uk and I have a refugee travel document. I’m traveling to Sudan in few days then if possible will travel to Switzerland.
You will need a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland to visit a friend. You can check the list above if you are required to apply for this visa.
Hi , I have a Uganda travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28
If I travel Europe I need visa or not
Read the blog post above.
Can I still travel to Malta with a refugee travel document from the UK without a visa? I have contacted the relevant embassies but have not had any replies yet.
Hi. We have updated our list. You can check which countries you can travel to visa-free.
Hi CHesca , thanks alot for this information so i have read that Malta does not require visa for Blue refuggee TravelDocument . just some one stuck in Istanbul and have to go to malta to do the 10 days there .
thanks
You’re welcome. Glad to help.
Hi , I have a Japanese travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28
If I travel Europe I need visa or not
Check the list above or contact the embassy for more info.
Hi , thank you for this helpful article but can you please confirm about Turkey and Tunisia as I can see them in countries DO NOT require visas for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention.
do you have any link to show this new update I checked Turkish official website and I think they still ask Refugee travel document holders to apply for visa.
please let me know!
many thanks
You can check with the embassy to be sure if you will need a visa or not.
I,m a refugee in Namibia. I have acceptance status and my traveling document. I would like to visit Canada or Austria. Please how will I get the Visa.
Hi. You can start your application with us here:
For Austria: https://immigrationandmigration.com/schengen-visas/
For Canada: https://immigrationandmigration.com/canada-visas/
Hi, I been in Portugal in June 21, could I still travel to Portugal with my travel document from UK? Thank you very much.
Check the article above.
Hi I live in the UK having travel documents. Can I travel to paris without visa please let me know
Thanks
You can check the list above for France.
Hi Juan, can I check if your comment means you travelled to Portugal in June 2021 visa free? I have a flight to Portugal tomorrow and I was under the impression that I could travel without a visa with the same travel document mentioned in the article.
Thanks
I would also be interested in this question in regards Portugal.
Has anyone with refugee travel document indeed travelled to USA WITHOUT a visa or do we actually need a visa to get in?
According to our list, USA requires a visa.
My first inquiry: HI, my UK Refugee Travel Documents will expire in 14/11/2021 (that is bit less than 3 months from now). Can I still use it to travel to Europe (Greece or Lithuania)?
My second inquiry: about a week ago I contacted Lithuania (by email) asking if I could visit Lithuania using my Refugee Travel Document (above) visa-free. They confirmed that I COULD! However, in the list above Lithuania is under the “Countries that REQUIRE visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention”. Can you explain how this works please?
You need to make sure that your travel document is valid if you plan to travel. As we have put up in the notice, these restrictions can change at any time so we recommend you check with the embassy.
I hold a UN Convention Refugee Travel Document issued in the UK, and I am preparing to visit a country that does not require visa from me. I wonder if I need to present my Biographic Residency Permit Card (BRP) at the custom alonsige the travel document?
Yes you will need that to enter the UK.
I have refugee uganda refugee i need to visit canda how will i go there please help me.
Hello, I have a blue passport (1951) issued by Belgium, I live with in Brussels, I would like to go to south Africa, I would like to know if I need or apply for a visa to go there some days of vacation?.. Thanks
You can check our list above and/or check with the embassy to be sure.
Just been to the Portugal Consulate, Refugees now need a Visa to travel to Portugal.
Hi Baba, is this with the 1951 travel document??
Is this with travel document and valid biometric card?
Hi I have Uk travel document (black) I want travel Eastern Europe do I need visa or just buy ticket and travel also if not which country accept it ?
Check the list above.
Do I Require visa with UK travel Document and biometric card for Portugal? I am Albanian citizen, but I reside in the UK.
Hi Eduart, Albanian citizens do not need a Schengen visa to travel to Portugal or any Schengen countries.
You forgot to mention Canada in your list of countries that issue travel documents. Here’s the details about how to get a Canadian travel document: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-non-canadians.html
Hi,
Anyone been able to travel to Italy recently?
I tried to go from Birmingham to Milan with Ryanair and they denied me boarding even though I printed embassy website and consulate email confirming that visa is not required.
Ryanair’s handling agent at Birmingham Airport, Swissport use IATA TravelCentre to check for visas
Hi I am a Zimbabwean national who holds a UK refugee travel document and I just wanted to check if South Africa definitely does not require a visa as the last time a friend travelled there about ten years ago they did require one. At that time it did state that we needed one on their website but this is no longer stated so am guessing this has changed.
Checked with the embassy but referred me to vfs global.
Regarding my earlier enquiry just got an email from VFS global South Africa desk and the agent stated that a visa would need to be applied for prior to travel if I hold a UK refugee travel document as a Zimbabwean national.
Hi , I have a uk travel document the Convention of 28 july 1951 and i wanted to check if i need a visa to travel to belguim. Thanks
Belgium is listed above in one of the countries that you need a visa. Check out how to apply for a Belgium visa.