No.

2545

AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, DENMARK,

FEDERAL REPUBUC OF GERMANY,
LUXEMBOURG, etc.
Final Act of the Unitecll Nations Conference of Plenipoten-
tiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons.
Held at Geneva from 2 July 1951 to 25 July 1951
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (with schedule).
Signed at Geneva, on 28 July 1951

Official texts: English and French.

Registered ex officio on 22 April 1954.

AUSTRALIE, BELGIQUE, DANEMARK,

REPUBUQUE FEDER.ALE D'ALLEMAGNE,
LUXEMBOURG, etc.
Acte final de la Conference de plenipotentiaires des Nations
Unies sur le statut des refugies et des apatrides. Tenue
a Geneve du 2 juillet 1951 au 25 j111illet 1951
Convention relative au statut des refu:gies (avec annexe).
Signee a Geneve, le 28 juillet 1951

Textes officiels anglais et franftiis.

Enregistres d'office le 22 avril 1954.
138 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

No. 2545. FINAL ACT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CON-

FERENCE OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES ON THE STATUS
OF REFUGEES AND STATELESS PERSONS. HELP AT
GENEVA, FROM 2 JULY 1951 TO 25 JULY 1951

I
The General Assembly of the United Nations, by Resolution 429 (V) of
14 December 1950, 1 decided to convene in Geneva a Conference of Pleni-
potentiaries to complete the drafting of, and to sign, a Convention 2 relating to the
Status of Refugees and a Protocol relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
The Conference met at the European Office of the United Nations in Geneva
from 2 to 25 July 1951.
The Governments of the following twenty-six States were represented by
delegates who all submitted satisfactory credentials or other communications
of appointment authorizing them to participate in the Conference :
Australia Italy
Austria Luxembourg
Belgium Monaco
Brazil Netherlands
Canada Norway
Colombia Sweden
Denmark Switzerland (the Swiss delegation also
Egypt represented Liechtenstein)
France Turkey
Federal Republic of Germany United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Greece N othern Ireland
Holy See United States of America
Iraq Venezuela
Israel Yugoslavia

The Governments of the following two States were represented by observers :

Cuba
Iran
Pursuant to the request of the General Assembly, the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees participated, without the right to vote, in the deliber-
ations of the Conference.
1 United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembl)•, Fifth Session., Supplement No. 20

(A/1775), p. 48.
• See p. 150 of this volume.
140 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

The International Labour Organisation and the International Refugee Organ-

ization were represented at the Conference without the right to vote.
The Conference invited a representative of the Council of Europe to be repre-
sented at the Conference without the right to vote.
Representatives of the following Non-Governmental Organizations in consult-
ative relationship with the Economic and Social Council were also present as
observers :

Category A
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
International Federation of Christian Trade Unions
Inter-Parliamentary Union

Category B
Agudas Israel World Organization
Caritas Internationalis
Catholic International Union for Social Service
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
Consultative Council of Jewish Organizations
Co-ordinating Board of Jewish Organizations
Friend's World Committee for Consultation
International Association of Penal Law
International Bureau for the Unification of Penal Law
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Council of Women
International Federation of Friends of Young Women
International League for the Rights of Man
International Socia] Service
International Union for Child Welfare
International Union of Catholic Women's Leagues
Pax Romana
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
World Jewish Congress
World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Young Women's Christian Association

Register
International Relief Committee for Intellectual Workers
League of Red Cross Societies
Standing Conference of Voluntary Agencies
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World University Service
No. 2545
142 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations which have been granted

consultative status by the Economic and Social Council as well as of those entered
by the Secretary-General on the Register referred to in Resolution 288 B (X) 1
of the Economic and Social Council, paragraph 17, had under the rules of procedure
adopted by the Conference the right to submit written or oral statements to the
Conference.
The Conference elected Mr. Knud Larsen, of Denmark, as President, and
Mr. A. Herment, of Belgium, and Mr. Talat Miras, of Turkey, as Vice-Presidents.

At its second meeting, the Conference, acting on a proposal of the represent-

ative of Egypt, unanimously decided to address an invitation to the Holy See
to designate a plenipotentiary representative to participate in its work. A repre-
sentative of the Holy See took his place at the Conference on 10 July 1951.

The Conference adopted as its agenda the Provisional Agenda drawn up

by the Secretary-General (A/CONF.2/2/Rev.1). It also adopted the Provisional
Rules of Procedure drawn up by the Secretary-General, with the addition of
a provision which authorized a representative of the Council of Europe to be
present at the Conference without the right to vote and to submit proposals
(A/CONF.2/3/Rev. l).
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Conference, the President
and Vice-Presidents examined the credentials of representatives and on 17 July 1951
reported to the Conference the results of such examination, the Conference adopting
the report.
The Conference used as the basis of its discussions the draft Convention
relating to the Status of Refugees and the draft Protocol relating to the Status
of Stateless Persons prepared by the ad hoc Committe on Refugees and Stateless
Persons at its second session held in. Geneva from 14 to 25 August 1950, with the
exception of the preamble and article 1 (Definition of the term "refugee") of
the draft Convention. The text of the preamble before the Conference was that
which was adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 11 August 1950 in
Resolution 319 B II (XI). The text of article 1 before the Conference was that
recommended by the General Assembly on 14 December 1950 and contained in
the Annex to Resolution 429 (V). The latter was a modification of the text as
it had been adopted by the Economic and Social Council in Resolution 319 B II
(XI).*
The Conference adopted the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees
in two readings. Prior to its .second reading it established a Style Committee
composed of the President and the representatives of Belgium, France, Israel,
1 United Nations, Of/icial Records of the Economic and Social Council, Fifth Year, Tenth
Session, Supplement .Vo. 1 (E/1661), p. 24.
* The texts referred to in the paragraph above are contained in document A/CONF.2/1.

No. 2545
144 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Italy, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United
States of America, together with the High Commissioner for Refugees, which
elected as its Chairman Mr. G. Warren, of the United States of America. The
Style Committee redrafted the text which had been adopted by the Conference
on first reading, particularly from the point of view of language and of concordance
between the English and French texts.
The Convention was adopted on 25 July by 24 votes to none with no absten-
tions and opened for signature at the European Office of the United Nations from
28 July to 31 August 1951. It will be re-opened for signature at the permanent
headquarters of the United Nations in New York from 17 September 1951 to
31 December 1952.
The English and French texts of the Convention, which are equally authentic,
are appended to this Final Act.

II
The Conference decided, by 17 votes to 3 with 3 abstentions, that the titles
of the chapters and of the articles of the Convention are included for practical
purposes and do not constitute an element of interpretation.

III
With respect to the draft Protocol relating to the Status of Stateless Persons,
the Conference adopted the following resolution :
"THE CONFERENCE,
"HAVING CONSIDERED the draft Protocol relating to the Status of Stateless
Persons,
"CONSIDERING that the subject still requires more detailed study,
"DECIDES not to take a decision on the subject at the present Conference
and refers the draft Protocol back to the appropriate organs of the United
Nations for further study."

IV
The Conference adopted unanimously the following recommendations

A
"THE CONFERENCE,
"CONSIDERING that the issue and recognition of travel documents i~
necessary to facilitate the movements of refugees, and in particular their
resettlement,
"URGES Governments which are parties to the Inter-Governmental
Agreement on Refugee Travel Documents signed in London on 15 October
No. 2545
146 United ~ ations - Treaty Series 1954

1946, 1 or which recognize travel documents issued in accordance with the

Agreement, to continue to issue or to recognize such travel documents, and
to extend the issue of such documents to refugees as defined in article 1 of
the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or to recognize the travel
documents so issued to such persons, until they shall have undertaken
obligations under article 28 of the said Convention."

B
"THE CONFERENCE,
"CONSIDERING that the unity of the family, the natural and fundamental
group unit of society, is an essential right of the refugee, and that such unity
is constantly threatened, and
"NOTING with satisfaction that, according to the official commentary
of the ad hoc Committee on Statelessness and Related Problems (E/1618,
p. 40) the rights granted to a refugee are extended to members of his family,
"RECOMMENDS Governments to take the necessary measures for the
protection of the refugee's family, especially with a view to :
"(1) Ensuring that the unity of the refugee's family is maintained
particularly in cases where the head of the family has fulfilled
the necessary conditions for admission to a particular country ;
"(2) The protection of refugees who are minors, in particular unaccom-
panied children and girls, with special reference to guardianship
and adoption."

C
"THE CONFERENCE,
"CONSIDERING that, in the moral, legal and material spheres, refugees
need the help of suitable welfare services, especially that of appropriate
non-governmental organizations ;
"RECOMMENDS Governments and intergovernmental bodies to facilitate,
encourage and sustain the efforts of properly qualified organizations."

D
"THE CONFERENCE,
"CONSIDERING that many persons still leave their country of origin for reasons
of persecution and are entitled to special protection on account of their
position,
1 United Nations, Treaty Series, \-01. 11, p. 73; Vol. 76, p. 24-1 ; Vol. 82, p. 328; Vol. 91,
p. 369, and Vol. 97, p. 314.
No. 2545
148 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

"RECOMMENDS that Governments continue to receive refugees in their

territories and that they act in concert in a true spirit of international co-
operation in order that these refugees may find asylum and the possibility
of resettlement."

E
"THE CONFERENCE
"EXPRESSES the hope that the Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees will have value as an example exceeding its contractual scope and
that all nations will be guided by it in granting so far as possible to persons
in their territory as refugees and who would not be covered by the terms
of the Convention, the treatment for which it provides."

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the President, Vice-Presidents and the Executive

Secretary of the Conference have signed this Final Act.
DoNE at Geneva this twenty-eighth day of July one thousand nine hundred
and fifty-one in a single copy in the English and French languages, each text
being equally authentic. Translations of this Final Act into Chinese, Russian
and Spanish will be prepared by the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
who will, on request, send copies thereof to each of the Governments invited to
attend the Conference.

The President of the Conference

Knud LARSEN

The Vice-Presidents of the Conference

HERMENT
Talat MIRAS

The Executive Secretary of the Conference

John P. HUMPHREY
150 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

CONVENTION 1 RELATING TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES.

SIGNED AT GENEVA, ON 28 JULY 1951

P1eamble

The HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,

CONSIDERING that the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights approved on 10 December 1948 2 by the General
Assembly have affirmed the principle that human beings shall enjoy fundamental
rights and freedoms without discrimination,
CONSIDERING that the United Nations has, on various occasions, manifested
its profound concern for refugees and endeavoured to assure refugees the widest
possible exercise of these fundamental rights and freedoms,

CONSIDERING that it is desirable to revise and consolidate previous inter-

national agreements relating to the status of refugees and to extend the scope
of and the protection accorded by such instruments by means of a new agreement,

CONSIDERING that the grant of asylum may place unduly heavy burdens on
certain countries, and that a satisfactory solution of a problem of which the United
Nations has recognized the international scope and nature cannot therefore be
achieved without international co-operation,

1 The Convention came into force on 22 April 1954, the ninetieth day following the day ol
deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification or accession, in accordance with article 43.
The following States deposited with the Secretary-General of the C'nited Nations their
instrument of ratification or accession on the dates indicated :
Denmark - also applicable to Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . 4 December 195:.!
(With declaration, see p. 189, and with reservations, see p. 198)
Norway .................. . 23 March 195:l
(With declaration and reservations, see p. 198)
Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 July 195:l
(With declaration and reservations, see p. 200)
Luxembourg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2~l July 195:;
(With reservations, see p. 193, and declaration, see p, 200)
Federal Republic of Germany . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . 1 !Jecemlwr 195:l
(With declaration, see p. 190)
Australia (accession) - also applicable to Norfolk Island, Papua,
New Guinea and Nauru , . . . . . . . . . . . . , , , . , 22 January 1954
(With declaration and reservations, see p. 200)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -· also
applicable to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man . . , . , 11 .'.\larch 1954
(With declaration, seep. 197, and with reservations, commen-
tary and declaration, see p. 202)
1 United Nations, Official Records of the Third Session of the Genna! .~ssembly, Part I(.\ 8101,
p. 71.
No.- 2545
152 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

EXPRESSING the wish that all States, recognizing the social and humanitarian
nature of the problem of refugees, will do everything within their power to prevent
this problem from becoming a cause of tension between States,
NOTING that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is charged
with the task of supervising international conventions providing for the protection
of refugees, and recognizing that the effective co-ordination of measures taken to
deal with this problem will depend upon the co-operation of States with the
High Commissioner,
HAVE AGREED as follows :

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

DEFINITION OF THE TERM "REFUGEE"

A. For the purposes of the present Convention, the term "refugee" shall apply
to any person who :
(1) Has been considered a refugee under the Arrangements of 12 May
1926 1 and 30 June 1928 2 or under the Conventions of 28 October 1933 3
and 10 February 1938 4 , the Protocol of 14 September 1939 5 or the Constitution
of the International Refugee Organization ; 6

Decisions of non-eligibility taken by the International Refugee Organ-

ization during the period of its activities shall not prevent the status of refugee
being accorded to persons who fulfil the conditions of paragraph 2 of this
section;
(2) As a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951 and owing
to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nation-
ality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside
the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling
to avail himself of the protection of that country ; or who, not having a
nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence
as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to
return to it.
1 League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. LXXXIX, p. 47.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. LXXXIX, pp. 53 and 63; Vol. XCIII, p. 377;
Vol. CCIV, p. 445, and Vol. CCV, p. 193.
3 League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CLIX, p. 199; Vol. CLXXII, p. 432; Vol. CLXXXI,
p. 429; Vol. CC, p. 530; Vol. CCIV, p. 464, and Vol. CCV, p. 214.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CXCII, p. 59; Vol. CC, p. 572, and Vol. CCV, p. 218.
5 League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CXCVIII, p. 141, and Vol. CCV, p. 219.
6 United Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. 18, p. 3, and Vol. 26, p. 416.
No. 2545
154 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

In the case of a person who has more than one nationality, the term "the
country of his nationality" shall mean each of the countries of which he is a national,
and a person shall not be deemed to be lacking the protection of the country o(
his nationality if, without any valid reason based on wellfounded fear, he ha$
not availed himself of the protection of one of the countries of which he is a national.
J

B. (1) For the purposes of this Convention, the words "events occurring before
1 January 1951" in article 1, section A, shall be understood to mean either

(a) "events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951"; or

(b) "events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951";
and each Contracting State shall make a declaration at the time of signature,
ratification or accession, specifying which of these meanings it applies for the
purpose of its obligations under this Convention.

(2) Any Contracting State which has adopted alternative (a) may at any
time extend its obligations by adopting alternative (b) by means of a notification
addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
C. This Convention shall cease to apply to any person falling under the term~
of section A if :
(1) He has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country
of his nationality ; or
(2) Having lost his nationality, he has voluntarily reacquired it ; or
(3) He has acquired a new nationality, and enjoys the protection of
the country of his new nationality ; or
(4) He has voluntarily re-established himself in the country which
he left or outside which he remained owing to fear of persecution ; or
(5) He can no longer, because the circumstances in connexion with
which he has been recognized as a refugee have ceased to exist, continue to
refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality;
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under
section A (1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising
out of previous persecution for refusing to avail himself of the protection
of the country of nationality;

(6) Being a person who has no nationality he is, because the circum-
stances in connexion with which he has been recognized as a refugee haye
ceased to exist, able to return to the country of his former habitual residence;

Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under
section A (1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising
No, 2545
156 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

out of previous persecution for refusing to return to the country of his former
habitual residence.

D. This Convention shall not apply to persons who are at present receiving from
organs or agencies of the United Nations other than the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees protection or assistance.

When such protection or assistance has ceased for any reason, without
the position of such persons being definitively settled in accordance with the
relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations,
these persons shall ipso facto be entitled to the benefits of this Convention.
E. This Convention shall not apply to a person who is recognized by the competent
authorities of the country in which he has taken residence as having the rights
and obligations which are attached to the possession of the nationality of that
country.
F. The provisions of this Convention shall not apply to any person with respect
to whom there are serious reasons for considering that :
(a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against
humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to
make provision in respect of such crimes ;
(b) he has committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of
refuge prior to his admission to that country as a refugee ;
(c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the
United Nations.

Article 2
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
Every refugee has duties to the country in which he finds himself, which
require in particular that he conform to its laws and regulations as well as to
measures taken for the maintenance of public order.

Article 3
NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees
without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin.

Article 4
RELIGION
The Contracting States shall accord to refugees within their territories treat-
ment at least as favourable as that accorded to their nationals with respect to
No. 2545
158 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

freedom to practice their religion and freedom as regards the religious education
of their children.

Article 5
RIGHTS GRANTED APART FROM THIS CONVENTION

Nothing in this Convention shall be deemed to impair any rights and benefits
granted by a Contracting State to refugees apart from this Convention.

Article 6
THE TERM "IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES"

For the purpose of this Convention, the term "in the same circumstances"
implies that any requirements (including requirements as to length and conditions
of sojourn or residence) which the particular individual would have to fulfil for
the enjoyment of the right in question, if he were not a refugee, must be fulfilled
by him, with the exception of requirements which by their nature a refugee is
incapable of fulfilling.

Article 7
EXEMPTION FROM RECIPROCITY

I. Except where this Convention contains more favourable provisions, a Contract-

ing State shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is accorded to aliens
generally.
2. After a period of three years' residence, all refugees shall enjoy exemption
from legislative reciprocity in the territory of the Contracting States.
3. Each Contracting State shall continue to accord to refugees the rights and
benefits to which they were already entitled, in the absence of reciprocity, at the
date of entry into force of this Convention for that State.
-L The Contracting States shall consider favourably the possibility of according
to refugees, in the absence of reciprocity, rights and benefits beyond those to
which they are entitled according to paragraphs 2 and 3, and to extending exemp-
tion from reciprocity to refugees who do not fulfil the conditions provided for
in paragraphs 2 and 3.
5. The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 apply both to the rights and benefits
referred to in articles 13, 18, 19, 21 and 22 of this Convention and to rights and
benefits for which this Convention does not provide.

Article 8
EXEMPTION FROM EXCEPTIONAL MEASURES

With regard to exceptional measures which may be taken against the person,
property or interests of nationals of a foreign State, the Contracting States shall
No. 2545
160 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

not apply such measures to a refugee who is formally a national of the said State
solely on account of such nationality. Contracting States which, under their
legislation, are prevented from applying the general principle expressed in this
article, shall, in appropriate cases, grant exemptions in favour of such refugees.

Article 9

PROVISIONAL MEASURES

Nothing in this Convention shall prevent a Contracting State, in time of

war or other grave and exceptional circumstances, from taking provisionally
measures which it considers to be essential to the national security in the case
of a particular person, pending a determination by the Contracting State that
that person is in fact a refugee and that the continuance of such measures is
necessary in his case in the interests of national security.

Article 10

CONTINUITY OF RESIDENCE

1. Where a refugee has been forcibly displaced during the Second \:Vorld War
and removed to the territory of a Contracting State, and is resident there, the
period of such enforced sojourn shall be considered to have been lawful residence
within that territory.
2. Where a refugee has been forcibly displaced during the Second World VVar
from the territory of a Contracting State and has, prior to the date of entry into
force of this Convention, returned there for the purpose of taking up residence,
the period of residence before and after such enforced displacement shall be regarded
as one uninterrupted period for any purposes for which uninterrupted residence
is required.

Article 11

REFUGEE SEAMEN

In the case of refugees regularly serving as crew members on board a ship

flying the flag of a Contracting State, that State shall give sympathetic consider-
ation to their establishment on its territory and the issue of travel documents
to them or their temporary admission to its territory particularly with a view
to facilitating their establishment in another country.

No. 2545
162 U ni'.ted Nations - Treaty Series 1954

CHAPTER II

JURIDICAL STATUS

Article 12

PERSONAL STATUS

I. The personal status of a refugee shall be governed by the law of the country
of his domicile or, if he has no domicile, by the law of the country of his residence.
2. Rights previously acquired by a refugee and dependent on personal status,
more particularly rights attaching to marriage, shall be respected by a Contracting
State, subject to compliance, if this be necessary, with the formalities required
by the law of that State, provided that the right in question is one which would
have been recognized by the Jaw of that State had he not become a refugee .

..J.rticle 13

~IOVABLE .\~D Il\L\10\"ABLE PROPERTY

The Contracting States shall accord to a. refugee treatment as favourable

as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens
generally in the same circumstances, as regards the acquisition of movable and
immovable property and other rights pertaining thereto, and to leases and other
contracts relating to mo,·able and immovable property .

.-l. rticle U

..\.RTlSTlC' RIGHTS AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

In respect of the protection of industrial property, such as inventions, designs

or models, trade marks, trade names, and of rights in literary, artistic and scientific
works, a refugee shall be accorded in the country in which he has his habitual
residence the same protection as is accorded to nationals of that country. In
the territory of any other Contracting State, he shall be accorded the same protec-
tion as is accorded in that territory to nationals of the country in which he has
his habitual residence.

Article J.5

RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION

As regards non-political and non-profit-making associations and trade unions

the Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory
the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, in the
same circumstances.
No. 2.545
164 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 16
ACCESS TO COURTS

I. A refugee shall have free access to the courts of law on the territory of all
Contracting States.
2. A refugee shall enjoy in the Contracting State in which he has his habitual
residence the same treatment as a national in matters pertaining to access to the
Courts, including legal assistance and exemption from cautio judicatum solvi.
3. A refugee shall be accorded in the matters referred to in paragraph 2 in countries
other than that in which he has his habitual residence the treatment granted to
a national of the country of his habitual residence.

CHAPTER III

GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT

Article 17
WAGE-EARNING EMPLOYMENT

1. The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their

territory the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country
in the same circumstances, as regards the right to engage in wage-earning em-
ployment.
2. In any case, restrictive measures imposed on aliens or the employment of
aliens for the protection of the national labour market shall not be applied to a
refugee who was already exempt from them at the date of entry into force of
this Convention for the Contracting State concerned, or who fulfils one of the
following conditions :
(a) He has completed three years' residence in the country.
(b) He has a spouse possessing the nationality of the country of residence.
A refugee may not invoke the benefit of this provision if he has abandoned
his spouse;
(c) He has one or more children possessing the nationality of the country
of residence.
3. The Contracting States shall give sympathetic consideration to assimilating
the rights of all refugees with regard to wage-earning employment to those of
nationals, and in particular of those refugees who have entered their territory
pursuant to programmes of labour recruitment or under immigration schemes.

No. 2545
166 United Nations - Treaty Series 195-t

Article 18
SELF-EMPLOYMENT

The Contracting States shall accord to a refugee lawfully in their territory

treatment as favourable as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than
that accorded to aliens generally in the same circumstances, as regards the right
to engage on his own account in agriculture, industry, handicrafts and commerct'
and to establish commercial and industrial companies.

Article 19
LIBERAL PROFESSIONS

1. Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in thei1

territory who hold diplomas recognized by the competent authorities of that
State, and who are desirous of practising a liberal profession, treatment as favour-
able as possible and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to alien"
generally in the same circumstances.
2. The Contracting States shall use their best endeavours consistently witlt
their laws and constitutions to secure the settlement of such refugees in the terri-
tories, other than the metropolitan territory, for whose international relatiom
they are responsible.

CHAPTER I\'

WELFARE

Article 20
RATIONING

Where a rationing system exists, which applies to the population at large

and regulates the general distribution of products in short supply, refugeef' shall
be accorded the same treatment as nationals.

Article 21
HOUSING

As regards housing, the Contracting States, in so far as the matter is regulated

by laws or regulations or is subject to the control of public authorities, shall accord
to refugees lawfully staying in their territory treatment as favourable as possible
and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally
in the same circumstances.

No. 2545
168 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 22

PUBLIC EDUCATION

1. The Contracting States shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is

accorded to nationals with respect to elementary education.
2. The Contracting States shall accord to refugees treatment as favourable
as possible, and, in any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens
generally in the same circumstances, with respect to education other than element-
ary education and, in particular, as regards access to studies, the recognition of
foreign school certificates, diplomas and degrees, the remission of fees and charges
and the award of scholarships.

Article 23

PUBLIC RELIEF

The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their

territory the same treatment with respect to public relief and assistance as is
accorded to their nationals.

Article 24

LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL SECURITY

1. The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their

territory the same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect of the following
matters
(a) In so far as such matters are governed by laws or regulations or are
subject to the control of administrative authorities : remuneration,
including family allowances where these form part of remuneration,
hours of work, overtime arrangements, holidays with pay, restrictions
on home work, minimum age of employment, apprenticeship and training,
women's work and the work of young persons, and the enjoyment of
the benefits of collective bargaining ;

(b) Social security (legal provisions in respect of employment injury, occupa-

tional diseases, maternity, sickness, disability, old age, death, unem-
ployment, family responsibilities and any other contingency which,
according to national laws or regulations, is covered by a social security
scheme), subject to the following limitations :
(i) There may be appropriate arrangements for the maintenance of
acquired rights and rights in course of acquisition ;
No. 2545
170 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

(ii) National laws or regulations of the country of residence may

prescribe special arrangements concerning benefits or portions
of benefits which are payable wholly out of public funds, and con-
cerning allowances paid to persons who do not fulfil the contribution
conditions prescribed for the award of a normal pension.
2. The right to compensation for the death of a refugee resulting from employment
injury or from occupational disease shall not be affected by the fact that the resi-
dence of the beneficiary is outside the territory of the Contracting State.
3. The Contracting States shall extend to refugees the benefits of agreements
concluded between them, or which may be concluded between them in the future,
concerning the maintenance of acquired rights and rights in the process of acqui-
sition in regard to social security, subject only to the conditions which apply
to nationals of the States signatory to the agreements in question.
4. The Contracting States will give sympathetic consideration to extending
to refugees so far as possible the benefits of similar agreements which may at
any time be in force between such Contracting States and non-contracting States.

CHAPTER V

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES

Article 25
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE

1. When the exercise of a right by a refugee would normally require the assistance
of authorities of a foreign country to whom he cannot have recourse, the Contract-
ing States in whose territory he is residing shall arrange that such assistance be
afforded to him by their own authorities or by an international authority.
2. The authority or authorities mentioned in paragraph 1 shall deliver or cause
to be delivered under their supervision to refugees such documents or certifications
as would normally be delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities.
3. Documents or certifications so delivered shall stand in the stead of the official
instruments delivered to aliens by or through their national authorities, and
shall be given credence in the absence of proof to the contrary.
4. Subject to such exceptional treatment as may be granted to indigent persons,
fees may be charged for the services mentioned herein, but such fees shall be
moderate and commensurate with those charged to nationals for similar services.

5. The provisions of this article shall be without prejudice to articles 27 and 28.
No. 2545
 172 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 26

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT

Each Contracting State shall accord to refugees lawfully in its territory

the right to choose their place of residence and to move freely within its territory,
subject to any regulations applicable to aliens generally in the same circumstances.

Article 27

IDENTITY PAPERS

The Contracting States shall issue identity papers to any refugee in their
territory who does not possess a valid travel document.

Article 28

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

/ 1. The Contracting States shall issue to refugees lawfully staying in their territory
travel documents for the purpose of travel outside their territory, unless compelling
reasons of national security or public order otherwi'>e require, and the provisions
of the Schedule to this Convention shall apply with respect to such documents.
The Contracting States may issue such a travel document to any other refugee
in their territory; they shall in particular give sympathetic consideration to the
issue of such a travel document to refugees in their territory who are unable to
obtain a travel document from the country of their lawful residence.

2. Travel documents issued to refugees under previous international agreements

by parties thereto shall be recognized and treated by the Contracting States in
the same way as if they had been issued pursuant to this article.

Article 29
FISCAL CHARGES

1. The Contracting States shall not impose upon refugees duties, charges or
taxes, of any description whatsoever, other or higher than those which are or
may be levied on their nationals in similar situations.
2. Nothing in the above paragraph shall prevent the application to refugees
of the laws and regulations concerning charges in respect of the issue to aliens
of administrative documents including identity papers.

No. 2545
174 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 30
TRANSFER OF ASSETS

1. A Contracting State shall, in conformity with its laws and regulations, perrr,it
refugees to transfer assets which they have brought into its territory, to another
country where they have been admitted for the purposes of resettlement.

2. A Contracting State shall give sympathetic consideration to the application

of refugees for permission to transfer assets wherever they may be and which are
necessary for their resettlement in another country to which they have been
admitted.

Article 31
REFUGEES UNLAWFULLY IN THE COUNTRY OF REFUGE

1. The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal
entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their
life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article I, enter or are present in their
territory without authorization, provided they present themselv()S without delay
to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.

2. The Contracting States shall not apply to the movements of such refugees
restrictions other than those which are necessary and such restrictions shall only
be applied until their status in the country is regularized or they obtain admission
into another country. The Contracting States shall allow such refugees a reason-
able period and all the necessary facilities to obtain admission into another country.

Article 32
EXPULSION

1. The Contracting States shall not expel a refugee lawfully in their territory
save on grounds of national security or public order.
2. The expulsion of such a refugee shall be only in pursuance of a decision reached
in accordance with due process of law. Except where compelling reasons of
national security otherwise require, the refugee shall be allowed to submit evidence
to clear himself, and to appeal to and be represented for the purpose before com-
petent authority or a person or persons specially designated by the competent
authority.
3. The Contracting States shall allow such a refugee a reasonable period within
which to seek legal admission into another country. The Contracting States
reserve the right to apply during that period such internal measures as they
may deem necessary.
No. 2545
176 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 33

PROHIBITION OF EXPULSION OR RETURN

("REFOULEMENT")

1. No Contracting State shall expel or return ("refouler") a refugee in any manner

whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threat-
ened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular
social group or political opinion.
2. The benefit of the present provision may not, however, be claimed by a refugee
whom there are reasonable grounds for regarding as a danger to the security of
the country in which he is, or who, having been convicted by a final judgment
of a particularly serious crime, constitutes a danger to the community of that
country.

Article 34

NATURALIZATION

The Contracting States shall as far as possible facilitate the assimilation

and naturalization of refugees. They shall in particular make every effort to
expedite naturalization proceedings and to reduce as far as possible the charges
and costs of such proceedings.

CHAPTER VI

EXECUTORY AND TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Article 35

CO-OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES WITH THE UNITED NATIONS

1. The Contracting States undertake to co-operate with the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or any other agency of the United
Nations which may succeed it, in the exercise of its functions, and shall in particular
facilitate its duty of supervising the application of the provisions of this Convention.
2. In order to enable the Office of the High Commissioner or any other agency
of the United Nations which may succeed it, to make reports to the competent
organs of the United Nations, the Contracting States undertake to provide them
in the appropriate form with information and statistical data requested concerning:
(a) the condition of refugees,
(b) the implementation of this Convention, and
(c) laws, regulations and decrees which are, or may hereafter be, in force
relating to refugees.
No. 2545
178 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Article 36

INFORMATION ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION

The Contracting States shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the

United Nations the laws and regulations which they may adopt to ensure the
application of this Convention.

Article 37

RELATION TO PREVIOUS CONVENTIONS

Without prejudice to article 28, paragraph 2, of this Convention, this Con-

vention replaces, as between parties to it, the Arrangements of 5 July 1922, 1 31 May
1924, 12 May 1926, 2 30 June 1928 3 and 30 July 1935, the Conventions of 28 Oc•
tober 1933 4 and 10 February 1938, 5 the Protocol of 14 September 1939 6 and the
Agreement of 15 October 1946. 7

CHAPTER VII

FINAL CLAUSES

Article 38
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Any dispute between parties to this Convention relating to its interpretation

or application, which cannot be settled by other means, shall be referred to the
International Court of Justice at the request of any one of the parties to the
dispute.
Article 39

SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION AND ACCESSION

1. This Convention shall be opened for signature at Geneva on 28 July 1951

and shall thereafter be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
It shall be open for signature at the European Office of the United Nations from
1 League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. XIII, p. 237 ; Vol. XV, p. 322; Vol. XIX, p. 284;
Vol. XXIV, p. 178; Vol. XXVII, p. 420, and Vol. XLV, p. 103.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. LXXXIX, p. 47.
a League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. LXXXIX, pp. 53 and 63; Vol. XCIII, p. 377 ;
Vol. CCIV, p. 445, and Vol. CCV, p. 193.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CLIX, p. 199; Vol. CLXXVII, p. 432; Vol. CLXXXI,
p. 429; Vol. CC, p. 530; Vol. CCIV, p. 464, and Vol. CCV, p. 214.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CXCII, p. 59; Vol. CC, p. 572, and Vol. CCIV, p. 218.
• League of Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. CXCVIII, p. 141, and Vol. CCV, p. 219.
7 United Nations, Treaty Series, Vol. 11, p. 73; Vol. 76, p. 244; Vol. 82, p. 328; Vol. 91,

p. 369, and Vol. 97, p. 314.

No. 2545
180 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

28 July to 31 August 1951 and shall be re-opened for signature at the Headquarters
of the United Nations from 17 September 1951 to 31 December 1952.
2. This Convention shall be open for signature on behalf of all States Members
of the United Nations, and also on behalf of any other State invited to attend
the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons
or to which an invitation to sign will have been addressed by the General Assembly.
It shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be deposited with
the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. This Convention shall be open from 28 July 1951 for accession by the States
referred to in paragraph 2 of this article. Accession shall be effected by the deposit
of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 40

TERRITORIAL APPLICATION CLAUSE

1. Any State may, at the time of signature, ratification or accession, declare

that this Convention shall extend to all or any of the territories for the international
relations of which it is responsible. Such a declaration shall take effect when
the Convention enters into force for the State concerned.

2. At any time thereafter any such extension shall be made by notification

addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and shall take effect
as from the ninetieth day after the day of receipt by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations of this notification, or as from the date of entry into force of the
Convention for the State concerned, whichever is the later.
3. With respect to those territories to which this Convention is not extended
at the time of signature, ratification or accession, each State concerned shall
consider the possibility of taking the necessary steps in order to extend the applica-
tion of this Convention to such territories, subject, where necessary for constitu-
tional reasons, to the consent of the Governments of such territories.

Article 41

FEDERAL CLAUSE

In the case of a Federal or non-unitary State, the following provisions shall

apply :
(a) With respect to those articles of this Convention that come within
the legislative jurisdiction of the federal legislative authority, the oblig-
ations of the Federal Government shall to this extent be the same as
those of Parties which are not Federal States ;
No. 2545
182 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

(b) With respect to those articles of this Convention that come within the
legislative jurisdiction of constituent States, provinces or cantons which
are not, under the constitutional system of the federation, bound to
take legislative action, the Federal Government shall bring such articles
with a favourable recommendation to the notice of the appropriate
authorities of states, provinces or cantons at the earliest possible moment.

(c) A Federal State Party to this Convention shall, at the request of any
other Contracting State transmitted through the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, supply a statement of the law and practice of the
Federation and its constituent units in regard to any particular provi-
sion of the Convention showing the extent to which effect has been
given-To that provision by legislative or other action.

Article 42

RESERVATIONS

1. At the time of signature, ratification or accession, any State may make

reservations to articles of the Convention other than to articles 1, 3, 4, 16 (1),
33, 36-46 inclusive.
2. Any State making a reservation in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article
may at any time withdraw the reservation by a communication to that effect
addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 43

ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. This Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day following the day
of deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification or accession.
2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of
the sixth instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into
force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit by such State of its ins-
trument of ratification or accession.

Article 44

DENUNCIATION

1. Any Contracting State may denounce this Convention at any time by a not-
ification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2. Such denunciation shall take effect for the Contracting State concerned one
year from the date upon which it is received by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
No. 2545
184 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

3. Any State which has made a declaration or notification under article 40 may,
at any time thereafter, by a notification to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, declare that the Convention shall cease to extend to such territory one
year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

Article 45

REVISION

1. Any Contracting State may request revjsion of this Convention at any time
by a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall recommend the steps,
if any, to be taken in respect of such request.

Article 46

NOTIFICATIONS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all Members of the
United Nations and non-member States referred to in article 39 :
(a) Of declarations and notifications in accordance with section B of article 1 ;
(b) Of signatures, ratifications and accessions in accordance with article 39;
(c) Of declarations and notifications in accordance with article 40 ;
(d) Of reservations and withdrawals in accordance with article 42 ;
(e) Of the date on which this Convention will come into force in accordance
with article 43 ;
(f) Of denunciations and notifications in accordance with article 44 ;
(g) Of requests for revision in accordance with article 45.
IN FAITH WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Con-
vention on behalf of their respective Governments,
DONE at Geneva, this twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand nine hundred
and fifty-one, in a single copy, of which the English and French texts are equally
authentic and which shall remain deposited in the archives of the United Nations,
and certified true copies of which shall be delivered to all Members of the United
Nations and to the non-member States referred to in article 39.

No. 2545
186 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Afghanistan Afghanistan

Albania Albanit

Argentina Argentin(

Australia Australie

Austria Autriche
Dr Karl FRITZER

Sous les reserves qui suivent: a) les stipulations fi.gurant aux

articles 6, 7 (2), 8, 17 (1 et 2), 23 et 25 ne sont reconnues que
comme des recommandations et non comme des obligations qui
s'imposent juridiquement ; b) les stipulations figurant a !'ar-
ticle 22 (1 et 2) ne sont acceptees que dans la mesure ou elles
s'appliquent a !'education publique ; c) les stipulations figurant
a !'article 31 (1) ne sont acceptees qu'en ce qui concerne les
refugies qui n'ont pas fait l'objet dans le passe d'une decision
emanant d'une autorite juridictionnelle ou administrative
competente autrichienne d'interdiction de sejour ( Aufenthalt-
verbot) ou d'expulsion ( Ausweisung ou Abschaffung) ; d) Jes
stipulations figurant a l'article 32 ne sont acceptees qu'en ce qui
concerne les refugies qui ne feraient pas l'objet d'une expulsion
pour des raisons de securite nationale ou d'ordre public, comme
consequence d'une mesure trouvant son fondement dans le
droit penal, ou pour un autre motif d'interet public.
II est declare en outre qu'au point de vue des obligations
assumees par la Republique d' Autriche en vertu de la Conven-
tion l'expression « evenements survenus avant le premier
janvier 1951 » figurant a !'article 1, section A, sera comprise
comme se referant aux evenements survenus avant le premier
janvier 1951 en Europe ou ailleurs 1 .
[TRANSLA'rION - TRADUCTION]
1 Subject to the following reservations: (a) the provisions of articles 6, 7 (2), 8, 17 (I and 2),
23 and 25, are recognized only as recommendations and not as legally binding ouligations ;
(b) the provisions of article 22 (land 2) are accepted only in so far as they apply to public educa-
No. 2545
1954 Nations U nies - Recueil des Traites 187

Belgium Belgique
HERMENT

Sous la reserve suivante : Dans tous les cas oi1 la Convention

confere aux refugies le traitement le plus favorable accorde
aux ressortissants d'un pays etranger, cette clause ne sera
pas interpretee par le Gouvernement belge comme devant
comporter le regime accorde aux nationaux des pays avec
lesquels la Belgique a conclu des accords regionaux, douaniers,
economiques ou politiques 2 •

Bolivia Bolivie

Brazil Bresil
Joao Carlos MUNIZ
:N'ew York 15 de julho do 1952

Bulgaria Bulgarie

Burma Birmanie

Byelorussian Soviet Republique socialiste

Socialist Republic sovietique de Bielorussie

tion; (c) the provisions of article 31 (1) are accepted only in respect of refugees who have not,
in the past, been the subject of a decision by a competent Austrian judicial or administrative
authority prohibiting residence ( Aufenthaltverbot) or ordering expulsion (Ausweisung or Ab-
schafjung) ; (d) the provisions of article 32 are accepted only in respect of refugees who are not
ordered to be expelled for reasons of national security or public order, in pursuance of a measure
based on criminal law, or for any other reason of public policy.
It is also declared that, for the purpose of the obligations assumed by the Austrian Republic
under this Convention, the words "events occurring before 1 Jan·~ary 1951" in article 1, section A,
shall be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951.
• Subject to the following reservation : in all cases where this Convention grants to refugees
the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, this provision shall
not be interpreted by the Belgian Government as necessarily involving the regime accorded to
nationals of countries with which Belgium has concluded regional, customs, economic or political
agreements.
N• 2545
188 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Cambodia Cambodge

Canada Canada

Ceylon Ceylan

Chile Chili

China Chine

Colombia Colombie
G. GIRALDO-JARAMILLO

En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement de la

Colombie declare qu'au point de vue des obligations assumees
par lui en vertu de la Convention, !'expression « evcnements
survenus avant le premier janvier 1951 » figurant a !'article 1,
section A, sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements
survenus avant le premier janvier 1951 en Europe 1 .

Costa Rica Costa-Rica

Cuba Cuba

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTION]
1 In signing this Convention, the Government of Colombia declares that, for the purpn~" of
its obligations thereunder, the words "events occurring before 1 January 1951" in article 1, sec-
tion A, shall be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951.
51 5
1954 Nations Unies - Recueil des Tra£tes 189

Czechoslovakia Tchecoslovaquie

Denmark Danemark
Knud LARSEN

In signing this Convention, the Government of Denmark

declares that for the purpose of its obligations thereunder the
words cc events occurring before 1 January 1951" in article I,
section A, shall be understood as referring to events occurring
in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 19Sl. 1

Dominican Republic Republique Dominicaine

Ecuador Equateur

Egypt Egypte

El Salvador Salvador

Ethiopia Ethiopie

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTIONj
1 En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement du Danernark declare qu'au point de vue
des obligations assumees par lui en vertu de la Convention, !'expression « evenements survenus
avant le premier janvier 1951 » figurant a !'article premier de la section A, sera comprise comme
se rMerant aux evenements survenus avant le premier janvie:r 1951 en Europe ou ailleurs.
N° ~545
190 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Federal Republic of Germany Republique federale d'Allemagne

Dr. Heinz KREKELER
New York, November 19th 1951
In signing this Convention, the Government of the Federal
Republic of Germany declares that for the purpose of its oblig-
ations thereunder the words "events occurring before 1 January
1951" in article 1, section A, shall be understood as referring to
events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951. 1

Finland Finlande

France France
H. H0PPEN0T 2
11 septembre 1952

Greece Grece
Alexis KYROU
10 avril 1952
En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement de la Grece
declare qu'au point de vue des obligations assumees par lui
en vertu de la Convention, !'expression « evenements survenus

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCT!ON]
1 En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement de la Republique federate d' Allemagne
declare qu'au point de vue des obligations assumees par lui en vertu de la Convention, l'expres-
dion • evenements survenus avant le premier janvier 1951 • figurant a !'article }er, section A,
sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements survenus avant le premier janvier 1951 en
Europe ou ailleurs.
1 Au moment de la signature, le Represen- • At the time of signature, the Permanent
tant permanent de la France a fait la declara- Representative of France made the following
tion suivante : declaration :
[TRANSLATION - TRADUCT!ON]
« Conformement au paragraphe 1) de la "In accordance with Article l, Section
section B de !'article premier, le Gouverne- B(l), the French Government declares that
ment fran9ais declare qu'au point de vue des for the purpose of its obligations under this
obligations assumees par lui en vertu de la Convention, the words "events occurring
presente Convention, !es mots " evenements before 1 January 1951" in Article 1, Section
survenus avant le }er janvier 1951 » figurant A(2), shall be understood to mean "events
au paragraphe 2) de la section A de !'article occurring in Europe before 1 January
premier seront compris dans le sens : « evene- 1951 ". A declaration regarding the terri-
ments survenus avant le I•r janvier 1951 en torial application of the Convention will
Europe ». En ce qui concerne le champ d'ap- be made at the time of ratification, in
plication de la Convention, une declaration accordance with Article 40."
sera faite au moment de la ratification, con-
formement a !'article 40. »
No. 2545
1954 Nations Unies - Recueil des Traites 191

avant le premier janvier 1951 » figurant a l'article 1, section A,

sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements survenus
avant le premier janvier 1951 en Europe ou ailleurs 1 .

Guatemala Guatemala

Haiti Haiti

Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan Royaume hachemite de Jordanie

Holy See Saint-Siege

May 21, 1952
Amleto G. C1coGNANI

Honduras Honduras

Hungary Hongrie

Iceland Islande

India Inde

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTION]
1
In signing this Convention, the Government of Greece declares that for the purpose of
its obligations thereunder the words "events occurring before 1 January 1951" in article 1, sec-
tion A, shall be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January
1951.
N• 2545
192 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Indonesia Indonesie

Iran Iran

Iraq Irak

Ireland Irlande

Israel Israel
Jacob ROBINSON
August 1st, 1951

Italy Halie
En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement de la Repu-
blique italienne declare que les stipulations figurant aux
articles 6, 7(2), 8, 17, 18, 19, 22 (2), 23, 25 et 34 ne sont
reconnues par lui que comme des recommandations.
Il declare en outre qu'au point de vue des obligations
assumees par la Republique italienne en vertu de la Convention,
!'expression « evenements survenus avant le premier janvier
1951 » fi.gurant a !'article 1er, section A (2), sera comprise commc
se referant aux evenements survenus avant le premier janvier
1951 en Europe 1 .
le 23 j uillet 1952
Gastone GUIDOTTI

Japan Japon

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTION]
1In signing this Convention, the Government of the Republic of Italy declares that the
provisions of articles 6, 7 (2), 8, 17, 18, 19, 22 (2), 23, 25 and 34 arc recognized Ly it as recommen-
dations only.
It also declares that for the purpose of the obligations assumed by the Republic of Italy
under this Convention, the words "events occurring before 1 January 1951" in article 1, section
A (2), shall be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951.
No. 2545
1954 Nations Unies - Recu,eil des Traites 193

Laos Laos

Lebanon Liban

Liberia Liberia

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
Ph. ZUTTER
0. SCHURCH

Luxembourg Luxembourg
J. STURM

Sous la reserve suivante :

Dans tous les cas ou la Convention confere aux refugies
le traitement le plus favorable accorde aux :ressortissants d'un
pays etranger, cette clause ne sera pas i:nterpretee comme
devant comporter le regime accorde aux nationaux des pays
avec lesquels le Grand-Duche du Luxembourg a conclu des
accords regionaux, douaniers, economiques ou politiques 1 .

Mexico Mexique

Monaco Monaco

Nepal Nepal

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTIONJ
1 Subject to the following reservation : in all cases where t 1:iis Convention grants to refugees
the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, this provision shall not
be interpreted as necessarily involving the regime accorded to nationals of countries with which
the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg has concluded regional, customs, economic or political
agreements.
N° 2545
194 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

~ etherlands Pays-Bas
E. 0. BOETZELAER

En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement des Pays-

Bas declare qu'au point de vue des obligations assumees par
lui en vertu de la Convention, !'expression cc evenements survenus
avant le premier janvier 1951 » figurant a !'article 1, section A,
sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements survenus
avant le premier janvier 1951 en Europe ou ailleurs.
Cette signature est faite sous la reserve que dans tousles cas
ou cette Convention confere aux refugies le traitement le plus
favorable accorde aux ressortissants d'un pays etranger, cette
clause ne sera pas interpretee comme comportant le regime
accorde aux nationaux des pays avec lesquels les Pays-Bas ont
conclu des accords regionaux, douaniers, economiques ou
politiques 1 .

New Zealand Nouvelle-Zelande

Nicaragua Nicaragua

Norway Norvege
Peter ANKER
Sous reserye de ratification 2 •

Pakistan Pakistan

Panama Panama

[TR.-\NSL.-\T!ON - TRADUCT!ON]
1 In signing this Convention, the Government of the Netherlands declares that, for the
purpose of its obligations thereunder, the words "events occurring before l January 1951" in
article 1, section A, shall be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe or elsewhere
before 1 January 1951.
This signature is appended subject to the reservation that in all cases where this Convention
grants to refugees the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country this
provision shall not be interpreted as involving the regime accorded to nationals of countries with
which the Netherlands has concluded regional, customs, economic or political agreements.
• Subject to ratification.
No. 2545
1954 Nations Unies - Recueil des Traites 195

Paraguay Paraguay

Peru Perou

Philippines Philippine!:'

Poland Pologne

Portugal Portugal

Republic of Korea Republique de Coree

Rumania Roumanie

Saudi Arabia Arabie Seoudite

Sweden Suede
Sture PETREN

Switzerland Suisse
Ph. ZUTTER

0. SCHURCH

N° 2545
196 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Syria

Thailand Thailande

Turkey Turquie
Talat MIRAS
24 aout 1951
En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement de la
Republique turque declare qu'au point de vue des obligations
assumees par lui en vertu de la Convention, !'expression« evene-
ments survenus avant le 1er janvier 1951 n fi.gurant a !'article 1,
section A, sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements
survenus avant le 1er janvier 1951 en Europe. Il n'entend done
assumer aucune obligation en relation avec les evenements
survenus en dehors de !'Europe.
Le Gouvernement turc considere, d'autre part, que !'expres-
sion« evenements survenus avant le 1er janvier 1951 » se rapportc
au commencement des evenements. Par consequent, comme
la pression exercee sur la minorite turque de Bulgaric, qui
commern;a avant le 1er janvier 1951, continue toujours, les
refugies de Bulgarie d'origine turque, obliges de quitter ce pays
par suite de cette pression, qui, ne pouvant passer en Turquie,
se refugieraient sur le territoire d'une autre partie contractante
apres le 1er janvier 1951, doivent egalement beneficier des
dispositions de cette Convention.
Le Gouvernement turc formulera, au moment de la ratifi-
cation, des reserves qu'il pourrait faire conformement a !'article
42 de la Convention.

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCT!ON]
1 The Government of the Turkish Republic, in signing this Convention, states that, so far
as the commitments accepted by it under the Convention are concerned, the term "events occur-
ring before 1 January 1951" in article 1, Part A, shall be understood to refer to events occurring
in Europe before 1 January. It does not therefore intend to accept any commitment in con-
nexion with events occurring outside of Europe.
The Turkish Government considers, moreover, that the term "events occurring before
1 January 1951" refers to the beginning of the events. Consequently, since the pressure exerted
upon the Turkish minority in Bulgaria, which began before 1 January 1951, is still continuing,
the provisions of this Convention must also apply to the Bulgarian refugees of Turkish extraction
compelled to leave that country as a result of this pressure and who, being unable to enter Turkey,
might seek refuge on the territory of another contracting party after 1 January 1951.
The Turkish Government will, at the time of ratification, enter reservations which it could
make under article 42 of the Convention.
No. 2545
1954 Nations Unies - Recueil des Traites 197

United Kingdom of Great Britain Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne

and Northern Ireland et d'Irlande du Nord
s. HOARE

J.B. HOWARD

In signing this Convention, the Government of the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declares that
for the purpose of its obligations thereunder the words "events
occurring before 1 January 1951" in article ll, section A, shall
be understood as referring to events occurring in Europe or
elsewhere before 1 January 1951. 1

United States of America Etats-Unis d' Amerique

Uruguay Uruguay

Venezuela Venezuela

Viet- Nam Viet Nam

Yemen YPmen

Yugoslavia Yougoslavie
S. MAKIEDO
Le Gouvernement de la RPF de Yougoslavie se reserve
le droit de formuler en ratifiant la Convenhon telles reserves
qu'il jugera appropriees, conformi~ment a !'article 42 de la
Convention 2 •

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTION]
1 En signant cette Convention, le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et
d'Irlande du Nord declare qu'au point de vue des obligations assumees par lui en vertu de la
Convention, !'expression « evenements survenus avant le premier janvier 1951 » figurant a !'ar-
ticle l, section A, sera comprise comme se referant aux evenements survenus avant le premier
janvier 1951 en Europe ou ailleurs.
1
The Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia reserves the right, in
ratifying this Convention, to formulate such reservations as it may deem appropriate, in accord-
ance with article 42 of this Convention.
N• 2545
198 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

DECLARATIONS AND RESERVATIONS MADE AT THE TIME OF

RATIFICATION OR ACCESSION

DENMARK

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTIONJ

"Denmark is not bound by articles 14 and 17 or by article 24, paragraph 3 ;

"The provisions of article 24, paragraph 1, under which refugees are in certain
cases placed on the same footing as nationals, shall not oblige Denmark to grant
refugees in every case exactly the same remuneration as that provided by law
for nationals, but only to grant them what is required for their support ;

"Paragraph 2 of the same article shall be binding upon Denmark only if the
beneficiary is a national of a State which grants Danish nationals the same treat-
ment as its own nationals from the point of view of the benefits provided for in
its relevant legislation."

NORWAY

Declaration
"In accordance with article I, section B (1), the Government of Norway
declares that for the purpose of its obligations under this Convention, the words
'events occurring before 1 January 1951', in article 1, section A (2), shall be
understood to mean 'events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before I January
1951' ".

Reservations*
"The obligation stipulated in article 17 (1) to accord to refugees lawfully
staying in the country the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of
a foreign country in the same circumstances as regards the right to engage in
wage-earning employment, shall not be construed as extending tu refugees the
benefits of agreements which may in the future be concluded between Norway,
Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, or between Norway and any one of
these countries, for the purpose of establishing special conditions for the transfer
of labour between these countries.
"The obligation stipulated in article 24 (I) (b) to accord to refugees lawfully
staying in the country the same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect

* By a communication received on 21 January 1954, the Government of Norway gaw

notice of the withdrawal, with immediate effect, of the reservation made by it to article '..!-! of
the Convention.
No. 2545
200 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

of social security, shall not apply as regards benefits payable under the Act of the
16th July, 1936, relating to the disabled and the blind or the Act relating to family
allowances of the 24th October, 1946, nor as regards the benefits payable under
the Act of the 24th June, 1931, relating to employment injury insurance for
seamen.
"A reservation is also made with respect to the provisions contained in article
24 (3) insofar as payment of benefits under the three above-mentioned Acts is
concerned."

BELGIUM

Declaration [TRANSLATION]

"The words 'events occurring before I January 1951', in article I, section A

of the Convention, should, from the point of view of the obligations assumed by
the Belgian Government in virtue of the Convention, be understood to mean
·events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before I January 1951' ".

Reservations [TRANSLATION]

"I. In all cases where the Convention grants to refugees the most favourable
treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, this provision shall not
be interpreted by the Belgian Government as necessarily involving the regime
accorded to nationals of countries with which Belgium has concluded regional
customs, economic or political agreements.
"2. Article 15 of the Convention shall not be applicable in Belgium ; refugees
lawfully staying in Belgian territory will enjoy the same treatment, as regards
the right of association, as that accorded to aliens in general."

LUXEMBOURG

[TRANSLATION - TRADUCTION]

"The Grand Ducal Government understands the words 'events occurring

before I January 1951', in article I, section A of the Convention, to mean 'events
occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951' in accordance with alternative (a)
in section B of the same article".

AUSTRALIA

Declaration
"In accordance with article 1, section B (1), the Government of the Common-
wealth of Australia declares that, for the purpose of its obligations under this
Convention, the words 'events occurring before I January 1951' in Article 1,
No. 2545
202 United Nations - Treaty Series 195--1

section A shall be understood to mean "events occurring in Europe before 1 Jan-

uary, 1951' ".

Reservatfons
"The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia understands that
none of the obligations with regard to refugees stipulated in Articles 17, 18, 19
and 26 of the Com·ention precludes :
"(a) the imposition of conditions upon which a refugee may enter the Com-
monwealth of Australia or any of its Territories where the entry b
made for a specific purpose ; or
" ( b) the making of arrangements with a refugee under which he is required
to undertake employment under the direction of the Government
of the Commonwealth of Australia for a specified period after his
entry into the Commonwealth of Australia or any of its Territories.

"The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia makes a reservation

with respect to the provisions contained in paragraph 1 of Article 28 of the Con-
vention and does not accept the obligations stipulated in this paragraph but is
prepared to recognize travel documents issued by other Contracting States pursuant
to this Article.
"The Go\'ernment of the Commonwealth of Australia makes a reservation
with respect to the provisions contained in Article 32 of the Convention and
does not accept the obligations stipulated in this Article."

UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

"When ratifying the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees signed

at Geneva on July 28, 1951, and in accordance with Article 42, paragraph 1,
thereof, the Government of the United Kingdom have deemed it necessary to
make certain reservations thereto, the text of which is reproduced below :
"(i) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland understand Articles 8 and 9 as not preventing them from taking in time
of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances measures in the interests
of national security in the case of a refugee on the ground of his nationality.
The Provisions of Article 8 shall not prevent the Government of the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from exercising any rights over property
or interests which they may acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated
power under a Treaty of Peace or other agreement or arrangement for the restor-
ation of peace which has been or may be completed as a result of the Second
World War. Furthermore, the provisions of Article 8 shall not affect the treatment
to be accorded to any property or interests which at the date of entry into force
Nn. 25~5
204 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

of this Convention for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
are under the control of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland by reason of a state of war which exists or existed between
them and any other State.
"(ii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland accept paragraph 2 of Article 17 with the substitution of "four years"
for "three years" in sub-paragraph (a) and with the omission of sub-paragraph (c).

"(iii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, in respect of such of the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of par-
agraph 1 of Article 24 as fall within the scope of the National Health Service,
can only undertake to apply the provisions of that paragraph so far as the law
allows ; and it can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 2 of that
Article so far as the law allows.
"(iv) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland cannot undertake to give effect to the obligations contained in paragraphs 1
and 2 of Article 25 and can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 3
so far as the law allows.

Commentary
"In connexion with sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 relating
to certain matters within the scope of the National Health Service, the National
Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1949, contains powers for charges to be made
to persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain (which category would include
refugees) who receive treatment under the Service. While these powers have
not yet been exercised it is possible that this might have to be done at some future
date. In Northern Ireland the health services are restricted to persons ordinarily
resident in the country except where regulations are made to extend the Service
to others. It is for these reasons that the Government of the United Kingdom
while they are prepared in the future, as in the past, to give the most sympathetic
consideration to the situation of refugees, find it necessary to make a reservation
to sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 of the Convention.

"The scheme of Industrial Injuries Insurance in Great Britain does not meet
the requirements of paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Convention. Where an
insured person has died as the result of an industrial accident or a disease due
to the nature of his employment, benefit cannot generally be paid to his dependents
who are abroad unless they are in any part of the British Commonwealth, in the
Irish Republic or in a country with which the United Kingdom has made a reciprocal
agreement concerning the payment of industrial injury benefits. There is an
exception to this rule in favour of the dependents of certain seamen who die as
a result of industrial accidents happening to them while they are in the service
No. 2545
206 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

of British ships. In this matter refugees are treated in the same way as citizens
of the United Kingdom and Colonies and by reason of paragraphs 3 and 4 of
Article 24 of the Convention, the dependents of refugees will be able to take
advantage of reciprocal agreements which provide for the payment of United
Kingdom industrial injury benefits in other countries. By reason of paragraphs
(3) and (4) of Article 24 refugees vrill enjoy under the scheme of National Insurance
and Industrial injuries Insurance certain rights which are withheld from British
subjects who arr not citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

"No arrangements exist in the United Kingdom for the administrative assist-
ance for which provision is made in Article 25 nor have any such arrangements
been found necessary in the case of refugees. Any need for the documents or
certifications mentioned in paragraph 2 of that Article would be met by affidavits.

Declaration

"I have the honour to refer to my note of this day's date forwarding for
deposit the instrument of ratification by the Government of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the Convention relating to the Status
of Refugees, which was opened for signature at Geneva on July 28, 1951, and to
inform Your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom
desire, at the time of ratifying the Convention, to make a declaration, in accordance
with the terms of Article 40, paragraph 1, thereof, concerning its extension to the
Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

"I am accordingly instructed by Her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary

of State for Foreign Affairs hereby to declare on behalf of the Government of the
United Kingdom and in accordance with Article 40, paragraph I thereof, that
the above-mentioned Convention extends to the Channel Islands and the Isle
of Man subject to the following reservations made under the terms of Article 42,
paragraph 1, of the Convention : -
" (i) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland understand Articles 8 and 9 as not preventing the taking in the Isle of
:Man and in the Channel Islands, in time of war or other grave and exceptional
circumstances, of measures in the interests of national security in the case of a
refugee on the ground of his nationality. The provisions of Article 8 shall not
prevent the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland from exercising any rights over property or interests which they may
acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated power under a Treaty of Peace
or other agreement or arrangement for the restoration of peace which has been
or may be completed as a result of the Second \Vorld War. Furthermore, the
208 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

provisions of Article 8 shall not affect the treatment to be accorded to any property
or interests which at the date of the entry into force of this Convention for the
Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are under the control of the Government
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reason of a
state of war which exists or existed between them and any other state.

"(ii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland accept paragraph 2 of Article 17 in its application to the Isle of Man
and the Channel Islands with the substitution of "four years" for "three years"
in sub-paragraph (a) and with the omission of sub-paragraph (c).
"(iii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland can only undertake that the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph l
of Article 24 and of paragraph 2 of that Article will be applied in the Channel
Islands so far as the law allows, and that the provisions of that sub-paragraph,
in respect of such matters referred to therein as fall within the scope of the Isle
of Man Health Service, and of paragraph 2 of that Article will be applied in the
Isle of Man so far as the law allows.
"(iv) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland cannot undertake that effect will be given in the Isle of Man and the
Channel Islands to paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 25 and can only undertake that
the provisions of paragraph 3 will be applied in the Isle of Man and the Channel
Islands so far as the law allows.

"The considerations upon which certain of these reservations arc based are
similar to those set out in the memorandum relating to the corresponding reser-
vations made in respect of the United Kingdom, which was enclosed in my note
under reference."

No. 25~5
210 United S ations - Treaty Series 1954

SCHEDULE

Paragraph 1

1. The travel document referred to in article 28 of this Convention shall be similar

to the specimen annexed hereto.
2. The document shall be made out in at least two languages, one of which shall !,,.
English or French.

Paragraph 2

Subject to the regulations obtaining in the country of issue, children nrny be inclu(k-d
111the travel document of a parent or, in exceptional circumstances, of anoth('r adult
rdngee.

Paragraph 3

The foes chargL·d for issue of the document shall not cxcccd the lowest scale of chargl'S
iur national passports.

Paragraph 4

Save in special or exceptional cases, the document shall be made valid for lite largL·»t
possible number of countries.

Paragraph ,5

The document shall have a ,·alidity of either one or two years, at thl' discn·tio11
nf the h,suing authority.

Paragraph 6

I. The renewal or extension of the validity of the document is a matter for the authority
which issued it, so long as the holder has 11ot established lawful residence in another
territory and resides lawfully in the territory of the said authority. The issue of a new
document is, under the same conditions, a matter for the authority which issued llw
former document.
2. Diplomatic or consular authorities, specially authorized for the purpose, shall be
empowered to extend, for a period not exceeding six months, the validity of travel
documents issued by their Governments.
3. The Contracting States shall give sympathetic consideration to renewing or exten<ling
the validity of travel documents or issuing new documents to refugees no longer lu.wfully
rl'sidcnt in their territory who are unable to obtain a travel document from the country
of their lawful residence.

Paragraph 7

The Contracting States shall recognize the validity of the documents issu,•d in accunl-
ance with the provisions of article 28 of this Convention.
No, 2545
212 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Paragraph 8
The competent authorities of the country to which the refugee desires lo proceed
shall, if they are prepared to admit him and if a visa is required, affix a visa on the
document of which he is the holder.

Paragraph 9
I. The Contracting States undertake to issue transit visas to refugees who have obtained
visas for a territory of final destination.
2. The issue of such visas may be refused on grounds which would justify rdusal of a
visa to any alien.

Paragraph 10
The fees for the issue of exit, entry or transit visas shall not exceed lhc lowest scale
of charges for visas on foreign passports.

Paragraph 11
When a refugee has lawfully taken up residence in the territory of another Conlrading
State, the responsibility for the issue of a new document, under the terms an<l conditions
of article 28, shall be that of the competent authority of that territory, to which the
refugee shall be entitled to apply.

Paragraph 12
The authority issuing a new document shall withdraw the old document and shall
return it to the country of issue if it is stated in the document that it should be so returned ;
otherwise it shall withdraw and cancel the document.

Paragraph 13
1. Each Contracting State undertakes that the holder of a travel document issued by
it in accordance with article 28 of this Convention shall be readmitted to its territory
at any time during the period of its validity.

2. Subject to the provisions of the preceding sub-paragraph, a Contracting State may

require the holder of the document to comply with such formalities as may be prescribed
in regard to exit from or return to its territory.
3. The Contracting States reserve the right, in exceptional cases, or in cases where the
refugee's stay is authorized for a specific period, when issuing the document, to limit
the period during which the refugee may return to a period of not less than three months.

Paragraph 14
Subject only to the terms of paragraph 13, the provisions of this Schedule in no
way affect the laws and regulations governing the conditions of admission to, transit
through, residence and establishment in, and departure from, the territories of the
Contracting States.
No. 2545
214 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

Paragraph 15
Neither the issue of the document nor the entries made thereon determine or afkct
the status of the holder, particularly as regards nationality.

Para{{raph 16
The issue of the document does not in any way entitle the holder lo the protL·ctio11
of the diplomatic or consular authorities of the country of issue, and does not conft::1
on these authorities a right of protection.

ANNEX

SPECIMEN TRAVEL DOCUMENT

The document will be in booklet form (approximately 15 x 10 cenlimelres).

It is recommended that it be so printed that any erasure or alleration by chemic,tl
or other means can be readily detected, and that the words "Convention of 28 July 1951"
be printed in continuous repetition on each page, in the langmtge of llll' issuing country.

(Cover of booklet)

TRAVEL DOCUMENT

(Convention of 28 July 1951)

( 1)

TRAVEL DOClE\1E).T
(Convention of 28 July 19:'il)

This document expiH•,; on . . . . . . . . . .

unless its validity is extended or renewed.
NamL•
Forename{s)
Accompanied by child (children,

1. This document is issued solely with a view to providing lhe holder with a lra,·(•1
document which can serve in lieu of a national passport. Il is without pn•judice to and
in no way affects the holder's nationalily.
No. 2545
216 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

2. The holder is authorized to return to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [state here

thl' country whose authorities arc issuing the document] on or before . .
. . . . . unless some later date is hereafter specified. [The period during which lite
holder is allowed to return must not be less than three months.]
3. Should the holder take up residence in a country other than that which issued the
present document, he must, if he wishes to travel again, apply to the competent author-
ities of his country of residence for a new document. [The old travel document shall
be withdrawn by the authority issuing the new document and returned to the authority
which issued it.] 1
(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)

(2)

Place and date of birth

Occupation . . . . . .
Present residence
*Maiden name and forename(s) of wife

*'.'lame and forcname(s) of husband

Description
Height . . . .
Hair . . . . .
Colour of eyes
Nose
Shape of face .
Complexion
Special peculiarities

Children accompanying holder

Name Forename(s) Place and Sex
date of birth

•Strike out whichever does not apply.

(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)
1 The sentence in brackets to be inserted by Governments which so desire.
No. 2545
218 United Nations - Treaty Series 1954

(3)

Photograph of holder and stamp of issuing authority

Finger-prints of holder (if required)

Signature of holder

(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)

(4)

I. This document is valid for the following countries :

2 Document or documents on the basis of which the present document is issued

Issued at
Date . .
Signature and stamp of authority
issuing the document :

Fee paid :
(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)

(5)

Extension or renewal of validity

Fee paid: From
To.
Done at Date
Signature and stamp of authority
extending or renewing the validity
of the document :

No. 2545
220 United Nations - Treaty Series ·1954

Extension or renewal of validity

Fee paid: From
To.
Done at Date
Signature and stamp of authority
extending or renewing tlw validity
of the document ;

(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)

(6)

Extension or renewal of validity

Fee paid: From

To.
Done at Date
Signature and stamp of authority
extending or renewing the validity
of the document :

Extension or renewal of validity

Fee paid: From
To.
Done at Date
Signature and stamp of authority
extending or renewing the validity
of the document :
(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of cover.)

(7-32)

Visas

The name of the holder of the document must be repeated in each visa.
(This document contains ... pages, exclusive of covrr.)

No. 2545