Author
Since 2015, travel documents for beneficiaries of international protection are issued for a period of up to 5 years.[1] Refugees obtain a Convention travel document (‘Konventionsreisepass’) without further conditions, unless there are compelling reasons in terms of national security and public order against the issuance of a document,[2] whereas beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must establish that they are unable to obtain a travel document from their country of origin.[3] A geographical limitation further applies to beneficiaries of protection who are not allowed to travel to their country of origin with these documents.
Article 94(2) FPG allows persons recognised as refugees in another country to apply for a Convention travel document in Austria.
In 2020, 14,614 Convention travel documents were issued to refugees and 1,982 Fremdenpässe (travel documents for foreigeners) were issued. However, there is no data how many of those were issued to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.[4]
[1] Article 90(1) FPG.
[2] VwGH, Decision 2013/21/0003, 16 May 2013. One example of such reasons was found in the case of a person convicted of international drug dealing: VwGH, Decision 2009/21/0340, 29 April 2010.
[3] Article 88(2a) FPG.
[4] Ministry of Interior, Answer to parliamentary request, 4884/AB, XXVII. GP, 12 March 2021, available in German at: https://bit.ly/38XK2AP.