EU Emergency Travel Document

PURPOSE: to establish a new European Union Emergency Travel Document (EU ETD) to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens in third countries through the issuance of secure and widely accepted provisional travel documents.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document and repealing Decision 96/409/CFSP.

CONTENT: the Directive repealing Decision 96/409/CFSP defines the conditions and procedure for unrepresented citizens in third countries to obtain an EU Emergency Travel Document (EU ETD) and establishes a uniform format for such documents.

European Union Emergency Travel Document (EU ETD)

An EU ETD is a document authorising a single-journey document, allowing the bearer to return home, or, exceptionally, to another destination, in the event that they do not have access to their regular travel documents, for example because they were stolen or lost. Unrepresented citizens should be able to apply for an EU ETD at the embassy or consulate of any Member State.

This Directive updates and simplifies formalities for unrepresented EU citizens so that they can be issued a temporary travel document by another Member State to enable them to return home safely. It will thus enable unrepresented EU citizens to exercise their right to consular protection in an effective and safer environment.

The Directive also aims to ensure consistency between the specific conditions and procedures for the issuance of EU ETD and the general rules on coordination and cooperation measures necessary to facilitate consular protection for EU citizens not represented in third countries.

The main elements of the Directive are as follows:

Procedure

Where a Member State receives an application for an EU ETD, it shall, as soon as possible, and no later than two working days after receipt of the application, consult the Member State of nationality for the purpose of verifying the nationality and identity of the applicant.

The Member State assisting the citizen must communicate to the Member State of nationality all relevant information, in particular:

- the applicant's surname and given name(s), nationality, date of birth and sex;

- a facial image of the applicant, which should in principle be taken by the authorities of the assisting Member State on the day of the request;

- a copy or scanned copy of all available means of identification, such as an identity card or driving licence and possibly a national register number or social security number.

Within 3 days of receiving the information, the Member State of the person's nationality must confirm whether the applicant is one of its nationals. The assisting Member State shall issue the ETD at the latest within 2 working days of receiving confirmation of the applicant's nationality.

Uniform format

The Directive defines the standard format to be used for EU ETDs, consisting of a standard form and a standard sticker. It must contain all the necessary information and meet high technical standards, in particular as regards safeguards against counterfeiting and falsification.

Additional technical specifications

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts containing additional technical specifications for EU ETDs on the following aspects: (i) the design, format and colours of the standard EU ETD form and sticker; (ii) the requirements for materials and printing techniques of the standard EU ETD form; (iii) security features and requirements.

Validity

An EU ETD shall be valid for the period required for completion of the journey for which it is issued. In calculating that period, allowance shall be made for necessary overnight stops and for making travel connections. The period of validity shall include an additional ‘period of grace’ of two days. Save in exceptional circumstances, the validity of an EU ETD shall not exceed 15 calendar days. In order to enhance security, the beneficiary of such a document shall return it to the authorities as soon as it is safe to return home.

Member States shall ensure regular monitoring of the application of the Directive.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10.7.2019.

TRANSPOSITION: no later than two years from the adoption of the additional technical specifications.

APPLICATION: Member States shall start implementing the agreed measures three years after the adoption of the technical specifications.