Title:
The Blue Passport for Refugees in Germany
Introduction
In the context of asylum, the Blue Passport is a vital document issued to people who have been recognised as refugees or as entitled to asylum in Germany. This document serves as a substitute for the national passport and grants certain rights during their stay in the country.
The Blue Passport is a “Convention travel document” (Konventionspass), recognised under the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention. It is used as a travel document for individuals who have been granted refugee status or asylum.
It allows them to travel to certain countries, but they are not permitted to return to their country of origin.
No application for a passport from the country of origin:
If a person applies for a national passport from their home country or visits the embassy or consulate of their country of origin, they may lose their right to asylum or refugee status.
Eligibility criteria:
The Blue Passport is granted to individuals who have been formally recognised as refugees. Persons who only have subsidiary protection or a national deportation ban generally do not receive this document.
Holders of the Blue Passport can travel to more than 100 countries, including states that have signed the Geneva Refugee Convention.
However, travelling to some of these countries still requires obtaining a visa in advance.
Holders of the Blue Passport may travel to Schengen countries for a period of up to three months, provided they do not work there.
Travelling to or entering the country of origin is strictly prohibited under all circumstances.
The Blue Passport is issued by the local immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde).
An application fee of around 100 euros must be paid, and documents such as proof of identity and a biometric passport photo must be submitted.
Since November 2007, passports have been issued with an electronic chip to secure and protect the stored data.
Information such as fingerprints is stored on this chip, and this procedure is necessary to reliably verify the identity of the passport holder.
The Blue Passport remains valid as long as the person’s residence permit is valid.
Holders of the Blue Passport must apply for renewal before the document expires.
If a person loses their Blue Passport, they must report the loss to the police and then apply for a replacement document at the competent immigration authority.
The Blue Passport is an essential document that helps refugees in Germany to travel to certain countries while maintaining the protection they have been granted.
Holders of this passport must comply with the relevant travel rules and ensure that they preserve their legal status in Germany.
The editorial team of our website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete. Please treat the information in this article as an initial guide and always contact the competent authorities or specialised advisory centres for binding and up-to-date information.
