Refugees and their dependants, including those who are united through the refugee family reunion process, can apply for a ‘Refugee Travel Document’. The cost is £94.50 (€ 108) for adults and £61.50 for children 15 years and under,[1] the same as a UK national passport.[2] An adult’s travel document will expire after 10 years if they have indefinite leave to remain, or at the same time as the refugee’s limited leave (if during the first 5 years of leave) if that is earlier. A child’s travel document will expire after 5 years or at the expiry of their leave.[3]
Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and other forms of leave, including their dependants, are expected to apply to their national authorities for a passport, unless the humanitarian protection is granted following a refusal of asylum and it is accepted that the beneficiary has a fear of their national authorities. Other than these individuals, including dependants, those with leave following a refusal of asylum, including beneficiaries of subsidiary protection where it is not accepted that the person is in fear of the national authority, are expected to show evidence of refusal to issue a document following contact with their national embassy.[4]
All those who are not entitled to a Refugee Travel Document, including all beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, can apply for a certificate of travel, which costs £300 (€ 343) for adults and £151 (€ 172) for children 15 years and under and has a maximum validity of five years if people have settlement, otherwise until the end of the validity of their leave.[5]
The procedure for all travel documents is via an online application.[6] Travel documents that are not CTD, issued by other countries, would often need to be accompanied by a visa.
In 2025, 97,742 travel documents were issued to third country nationals without a passport (this is not exclusively beneficiaries of international protection).[7] There are no specific obstacles to people obtaining these documents.
[1] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, accessed 27 March 2026, available here.
[2] See UK Gov, ‘Passport fees’, available here.
[3] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, accessed 27 March 2026, available here.
[4] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, accessed 27 March 2026, available here.
[5] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, accessed 27 March 2026, available here.
[6] Home Office, Apply for a Home Office travel document, accessed 27 March 2026, available here.
[7] Migration Transparency data to December 2025 table TD_01, 26 February 2026, available here.