In the limited situations where a passport is unavailable or unnecessary, an Australian travel-related document may be issued to enable a person to travel.

Travel-related documents available to Australian citizens - Provisional Travel Documents.

Travel-related documents available to non-citizens living in Australia include Convention Travel Documents (Titres de Voyage) and Certificates of Identity. In rare and compassionate circumstances, citizens of a Commonwealth country who cannot obtain a travel document from their country of nationality may be issued with a Document of Identity.

Travel-related documents for Australian citizens

Provisional Travel Document

A Provisional Travel Document (PTD) is generally issued in an emergency situation overseas to enable an Australian to travel to the nearest passport-issuing authority.

To obtain a PTD, you should contact the nearestAustralian diplomatic mission or consulate to discuss your individual circumstances.

Travel-related documents for non-citizens including asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons

For help in understanding the information below, or to ask questions, you can phone the Australian Passport Information Service (APIS) on 131 232. Select option zero (0) to be connected with an operator.

If you need interpreting assistance please phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450. TIS will then arrange an interpreter in the language you speak and transfer your call to APIS at no cost to you.

You will also need to call APIS to make an appointment to lodge an application for a travel-related document.

Convention Travel Document

A Convention Travel Document (CTD), also known as a Titre de Voyage, may be issued to a non-Australian citizen who is living in Australia and holds a protection visa issued on refugee grounds by the Australian government in accordance with the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and its 1967 Protocol.

A CTD is usually valid for one or two years and cannot easily be replaced if it expires or is lost, stolen or damaged while you are outside Australia.

Certificate of Identity

A Certificate of Identity (COI) may be issued to a non-Australian citizen who is about to leave Australia and is either stateless, or unable to obtain a travel document from their country of nationality.

Do not finalise or pay for travel arrangements until you receive your travel document. You must, however, provide with your application evidence of your intended travel such as a draft itinerary or a quotation for travel bookings.  

If you claim to be stateless in accordance with the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons we will confirm your status with the Department of Home Affairs. Australian visa documentation showing your nationality as stateless may not be sufficient to confirm statelessness in accordance with the UN Convention. If we cannot confirm your statelessness, you might be eligible for the issue of a COI if you meet other criteria.  

If you are applying for a COI because you are unable to obtain a travel document from your country of nationality, you will need to show evidence of this.

A COI is usually valid for 12 months only and cannot easily be replaced if it expires or is lost, stolen or damaged while you are outside Australia. A COI ceases to be valid if you return to your country of nationality and are able to obtain a valid travel document from that country

Applying for a Convention Travel Document or a Certificate of Identity

To obtain either a Convention Travel Document (CTD) or a Certificate of Identity (COI), you must complete an Application for Certificate of Identity or Convention Travel Document (PC5) form and lodge it in person at anAustralian passport office (not Australia Post), with therelevant fee.

With your application, you must include identity documentation and a record of your current visa status using one of the following:

• Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA) issued at the time you first travelled to Australia
• Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) printout
• Department of Home Affairs visa grant letter, or
• ImmiCard

Information on visas is available from theDepartment of Home Affairs.

Your travel document

When you apply for a CTD or a COI, we will ask you to sign a letter stating that you understand the terms of its issue and your responsibilities outlined below. 

Before departing Australia you must confirm with:

• theDepartment of Home Affairs that
  • you have the appropriate visa to re-enter Australia, and
  • travelling outside Australia does not breach any travel conditions of your visa (risking its cancellation);
• each country you intend travelling to that
  • your Australian travel document is accepted,
  • you meet their entry and exit requirements, and
  • if travelling on a CTD you will not be forcibly returned to a country from which you sought asylum – known as ‘refoulement’.

See more Information ontemporary protection visa holders seeking the Department of Home Affairs approval to travel.

See more information onpermanent protection visa holders.