french emergency travel document

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The International Committee of the Red Cross Emergency Travel Document

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Emergency travel document (ETD)

Summaries of EU Legislation

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SUMMARY OF:

Decision 96/409/CSFP on the drawing up of an emergency travel document

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

• It establishes a standard model for an emergency travel document (ETD) that can be issued in the event of the loss, destruction, theft or other temporary unavailability of an EU citizen’s passport.
• It allows for the issuing of ETDs to EU citizens for a single journey back to their EU country of origin, their country of permanent residence, or, in exceptional cases, to another destination (inside or outside the EU).

The decision does not apply to passports that have expired; it is specifically confined to cases where travel documents have been lost, stolen or destroyed, or are temporarily unavailable.

Obtaining an ETD

Embassies and consulates of EU countries issue ETDs in the following circumstances:

• the applicant is an EU national whose passport or travel document has been lost, stolen or destroyed or is temporarily unavailable;
• the applicant is in a country in which their EU country of origin has no accessible embassy or consulate able to issue a travel document, or is not otherwise represented;
• clearance has been obtained from the authorities of the applicant’s country of origin.

The applicant for an ETD must send an application form, together with certified photocopies of any available proof of identity and nationality to the authority designated by their country of origin.

Charges and fees

The EU country issuing the ETD collects from the applicant the same charges and fees as those it normally charges for issuing an emergency passport. An applicant who is unable to cover other local-related expenditure will receive, where appropriate, the necessary funds as instructed by his/her country of origin, in accordance with Decision 95/553/EC (which will be repealed by Directive (EU) 2015/637 as of 1 May 2018).

Validity period

To ensure that citizens are able to return to a given place, the ETD should be valid for slightly longer than the minimum time needed to complete the journey for which it is issued. In calculating this period, the need for overnight stops and for making travel connections should be taken into consideration.

Security measures

Annex III of the decision deals with the security measures relating to the ETD. These include aspects such as the type of paper and the numbering system to be used, as well as how the seal of the issuing authority is affixed.

For more information, see:

• ‘Consular protection’ on the European Commission's website.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Decision 96/409/CSFP of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 25 June 1996 on the establishment of an emergency travel document (OJ L 168, 6.7.1996, pp. 4–11)

Successive amendments to Decision 96/409/CSFP have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Decision 95/553/EC of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 19 December 1995 regarding protection for citizens of the European Union by diplomatic and consular representations (OJ L 314, 28.12.1995, pp. 73–76)

Council Directive (EU) 2015/637 of 20 April 2015 on the coordination and cooperation measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the Union in third countries and repealing Decision 95/553/EC (OJ L 106, 24.4.2015, pp. 1–13)

last update 23.08.2016

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• Passports, travel and living abroad

Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport

Who can apply.

An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport. It is usually only valid for one single or return journey.

You can travel through a maximum of 5 countries.

You can apply for an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you’re a British national
• you’re outside the UK
• you need to travel within 6 weeks
• your UK passport has been lost, stolen, damaged, is full, has recently expired or is with HM Passport Office or a foreign embassy
• you cannot renew or replace your UK passport from abroad before you travel
• you have had a valid UK passport in the last 10 years

If you have not held a UK passport in the last 10 years

If you have not had a UK passport before or you had one that expired more than 10 years ago, you’ll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document.

You might be able to get an emergency travel document if all the following apply:

• you have, or are eligible for, British nationality
• you have an urgent and unplanned reason to travel due to exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances may include if:

• your child was born unexpectedly
• you need urgent medical treatment that you cannot access without travel to another country
• you wish to attend the funeral of a close relative

If you have never held a UK passport, or not held one in the last 10 years, you cannot get emergency travel documents for activities such as holidays, weddings, family events and job interviews.

You’ll have to explain and provide evidence to show why your journey is urgent and essential. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

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Update April 12, 2024

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With what documents can a french minor travel abroad.

Verified 08 December 2021 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

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A set of rights and duties aimed at the best interests of the child. It belongs to the parents or to a third person on the decision of the judge, until the majority or the emancipation of the child. It serves to protect the safety, health and morals of children, to ensure their education and to enable their development, with due respect for their person.

Page(s) where the photo and signature are located

Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Wallis and Futuna Islands

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The rules are different whether the child travels with one of the parents or not in the European Union (EU) or abroad .

With one of his parents

Alone or with another person.

If the child lives in France and travels with one of his parents, he must present different documents depending on the country of destination.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

If the child travels to a country of the European Union or the Schengen area , he must present an identity card valid .

Warning  

since Brexit , the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union , or The European Economic Area (EEA) .

In another country

Depending on the country's requirements, the child must present 

• or a valid individual passport (which can be obtained for any minor, even a baby)
• a valid individual passport and a visa.

The family record book cannot be required even if the child and his or her parents have a different name.

To find out what documents are required by the country you are traveling to, you can consult travel advice on diplomatie.gouv.fr .

Before departure, it is strongly recommended to consult the embassy or consulate of the country of destination.

Who shall I contact

• French Embassy or Consulate Abroad

the same rules apply if the minor traveling is a baby.

Video - True or false: is the family booklet enough to travel abroad with minors?

Vidéo - Is the family booklet sufficient to travel abroad with minors?

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SMS conversation between two friends:

*So the party at your place on Saturday is still good?

*Well no... My parents don't go to Greece anymore...

I'm disgusted my brothers didn't get their ID cards...

*But I believe they can travel just with their family booklet

Is the family booklet sufficient to travel abroad with minors?

Answer: No!

Speech by expert: Sandrine, interior specialist at Service-Public.fr

Indeed, it is a received wisdom. A minor cannot travel only with the family record book. Like an adult, he or she must have either a valid national identity card or passport, both of which are valid. My advice, to make sure you have completed all the necessary formalities before your departure, I invite you to consult the sites of diplomatie.gouv.fr as well as the site of service-public.fr. Have a nice trip!

Key points:

• A minor cannot travel abroad with his family record book
• He must travel with an identity card (only in the EU) or a passport
• For all necessary formalities: diplomatie.gouv.fr and service-public.fr

A minor child who lives in France and travels within the European Union or abroad without one of his parents must have an authorization to leave the territory (AST) signed by his 2 parents. Without this authorization, he will not be able to leave French territory.

The rules depend on the nationality of the parent signing the AST.

French parent

A child traveling abroad, not accompanied by a holder of parental authority , must have subsequent documents  :

• Original of form cerfa no. 15646 signed by a parental authority
• Valid ID ID minor: identity card or passport + visa if necessary depending on the country of destination. Consult travel advice on diplomatie.gouv.fr .
• Copy of a proof of identity of the signatory parent ( identity card , passport ). The proof of identity must be valid or expired for less than 5 years. If the parent does not parental authority : business card, identity card or passport of the person with parental authority.

No other document (e.g. the family record book) may be required when the minor crosses the border, including if the minor and the parent signing the AST have a different name.

Please note

the child who leaves the city to go overseas must have an AST in case of a stopover abroad.

European foreigner parent (EU + EEA + Switzerland)

If the parent who establishes and signs the AST is European , a child traveling abroad not accompanied by a holder of parental authority , must have subsequent documents  :

• Copy of a valid proof of identity of the signatory parent ( identity card , passport or residence permit). If the parent does not parental authority : professional card or copy of a valid identity document of the person with parental authority.

No other document (e.g. family record book) may be required when the minor crosses the border, including if the minor and the parent signing the AST have a different name.

Foreigner parent of another nationality

If the parent who establishes and signs the AST is a foreigner, the child who travels unaccompanied by a holder of parental authority , shall be equipped with subsequent documents  :

• Copy of a valid proof of identity of the signatory parent : passport, residence permit, identity and travel document for refugees or stateless persons. If the parent does not parental authority : professional card or copy of a valid identity document of the person with parental authority.

Statute and miscellaneous references

Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of 9 March 2016 on the Schengen Borders Code

Civil Code: Article 371-6

Decree No. 2016-1483 of 2 November 2016 on the authorization of departure from the territory of an unaccompanied minor

Order of 13 December 2016 on the authorization to leave the territory of a minor not accompanied by a holder of parental authority

Circular of 29 December 2016 on the conditions for leaving the territory of minors (PDF - 266.1 KB)

Online services and forms

Authorization to leave the territory (AST)

What documents can a foreigners minor leave France with?

Additional topics

Identity documents required to travel by air

Parental conflict on the departure of a minor child

Travel advice

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European Union countries

European Commission

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• Emergency Travel Document

Emergency travel documents may be issued to a citizen of the United Republic of Tanzania who is travelling on an emergency journey. It may also be issued to a citizen of the United Republic who is stranded abroad and cannot get a passport.

Requirements for Obtaining Emergency Travel Document

• Applicant’s Birth certificate or an Affidavit of birth
• Birth Certificate or Affidavit of birth of a parent or Certificate of Naturalisation;
• National ID Card (issued by NIDA)
• An introduction letter from Ward Executive Officer OR
• A fee of 20,000 ( or 20 USD If applicant is outside the country)

If the applicant is outside the country, he must submit a Police Loss Report

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Applying for an emergency travel document in (French) Guiana

If your passport or ID card is lost or stolen in (French) Guiana, and you need an emergency travel document soon, this is how to apply

Follow these steps

Step 1: email the embassy.

Email the embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname as soon as possible: [email protected] . Include the following documents and information:

• your full name;
• your date of birth;
• the name of the authority that issued the document (mayor of...., ambassador to.....);
• the date of issue;
• the telephone number on which you can be reached;
• proof that you cannot postpone your journey, for example a travel itinerary, flight details, other reservations or a letter from your employer;
• your exact travelling route;
• your current location.

Step 2: Wait for a response and file a police report

The embassy or consulate-general will ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to issue an emergency travel document. This usually takes between 1 and 3 working days. If you have not attached a scan or photo of your lost or stolen passport or ID card, the waiting time may be longer.

If the Ministry gives permission, the embassy or consulate-general will contact you to discuss where and when you can apply for your emergency travel document.

Reporting your passport or ID card as lost or stolen

While you wait for a response, you may report the loss or theft of your passport or ID card to the local police. This is not compulsory, but it can be useful. If you file a report, ask the police for written proof. You may need it for insurance purposes or to show the local authorities.

Step 3: Gather the documents that you need

Bring the following documents with you when you make your application:

• a completed passport application form ;
• a completed declaration stating that the travel document is missing (C2 Form);
• two passport photos that meet Dutch requirements. Find out where to obtain a passport photo in French Guiana ;
• proof that you are a tourist or that you cannot postpone your journey;
• if you will be travelling by plane, train, bus or boat: tickets for the rest of your journey;
• if possible: a photo or scan of the passport or ID card that was lost or stolen;
• if possible: other identity documents or photos or scans of them;
• if possible: a police report stating that your passport or ID card was lost or stolen.

If the emergency travel document is for a child younger than 18, their parent(s) or guardian(s) must give permission. The applicant must:

• bring photocopies of the passport or ID card of their parent(s) or guardian(s);
• get their parent(s)/guardian(s) to sign the passport application form or fill in a proof of consent .

Step 4: Go to your appointment

The embassy or consulate-general will tell you when and where your appointment is. Bring all the documents listed above with you to your appointment.

You will pay during the appointment. The overview of consular fees in Suriname tells you how much an emergency travel document costs and which payment methods are accepted.

Once your application has been processed, your passport or ID card will be registered internationally as invalid. This means no one will be able to travel on it. If you find your passport or ID card at a later date, you won’t be able to travel on it either.

Step 5: Collect your emergency travel document

The embassy or consulate-general will tell you when and where you can collect your document. Bear in mind that an emergency travel document has a shorter validity period than a passport or ID card.

If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides that you need a new passport or ID card instead, the process will take longer. This may happen if, for example, the country you are planning to travel to does not accept Dutch emergency travel documents. In that case you may have to wait for up to 4 weeks.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us .