UK Refugee Travel Document: Visa Free Countries 2026
The complete guide to travel rights, visa-free countries, and practical advice for UK Refugee Travel Document holders in 2026. Understand how the RTD differs from a BRP, which countries accept it, and how to apply.
A UK Refugee Travel Document (RTD) is a travel document issued by the UK Home Office to individuals who have been granted refugee status in the United Kingdom. It serves as a passport substitute, allowing you to travel internationally when you cannot use your national passport from your country of origin.
This guide is essential reading if you hold refugee status in the UK and want to understand your travel options. The RTD is a completely separate document from the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) that was issued to most UK visa holders. While all BRPs expired on 31 December 2024 and have been replaced by digital eVisas, Refugee Travel Documents remain valid physical booklets that you carry when travelling.
If you have refugee status, you need two things for international travel: your eVisa (which proves your UK immigration status and replaces the expired BRP) and your Refugee Travel Document (which serves as your travel/identity document at borders). You cannot travel with just one of these.
Critical Travel Restriction
You CANNOT travel to your country of origin or the country from which you sought asylum using a Refugee Travel Document. Doing so may jeopardise your refugee status in the UK.
What Is a UK Refugee Travel Document?
A Refugee Travel Document is a blue booklet issued under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. It is recognised by most countries as a valid travel document. Key features:
- Issued to: People with UK refugee status, or those who arrived via family reunion to join someone with refugee status.
- Validity: Up to 10 years for settled individuals (those with Indefinite Leave to Remain), up to 5 years for children under 16, or until your leave expires (for those with temporary permission).
- Cost: GBP 94.50 for adults, GBP 61.50 for children under 16, free for those born before 1 September 1929.
- Processing time: Varies. Allow 6-8 weeks before your planned travel date.
- How to apply: Online through gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document.
RTD vs BRP vs eVisa: Understanding the Differences
| Feature | BRP (Expired) | eVisa | Refugee Travel Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Physical card (expired) | Digital immigration record | Physical travel booklet |
| Purpose | Proved UK status (no longer valid) | Proves UK immigration status | Used as passport for travel |
| Who gets it? | All visa holders (historical) | All visa holders (current) | Refugees only |
| Still valid? | No (expired Dec 2024) | Yes | Yes (if within validity) |
| Schengen access | Depended on nationality | Depends on nationality | Many Schengen countries visa-free |
Visa-Free Countries for UK Refugee Travel Document Holders
The following countries have historically accepted UK Refugee Travel Documents for visa-free entry. Critical caveat: The UK withdrew from the European Convention on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees in 2003, which means many countries that previously accepted UK RTDs visa-free may now require a visa. Rules change frequently and vary by individual country. Always verify with the destination country’s embassy before booking travel. The information below is based on available sources but has not been individually verified with each country’s immigration authority as of March 2026.
Schengen Area Countries (Visa-Free)
Most Schengen countries allow UK RTD holders to enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This is a significant advantage that RTD holders have over many BRP/eVisa holders whose nationality requires a Schengen visa.
- Denmark — Up to 90 days
- Finland — Up to 90 days
- Germany — Up to 90 days
- Greece — Up to 90 days
- Iceland — Up to 90 days
- Italy — Up to 90 days
- Lithuania — Up to 90 days
- Luxembourg — Up to 90 days
- Malta — Up to 90 days
- Netherlands — Up to 90 days
- Norway — Up to 90 days
- Poland — Up to 90 days
- Romania — Up to 90 days
- Slovenia — Up to 90 days
- Switzerland — Up to 90 days
- Monaco — Up to 90 days (follows France's rules)
Note: Some Schengen countries (such as France, Spain, Austria, Belgium, and others) may now require a visa for UK RTD holders following the UK's withdrawal from the relevant convention. Requirements change frequently. Contact the specific embassy before travelling.
Non-Schengen European Countries (Visa-Free)
- Albania — Up to 90 days
- Croatia — Up to 90 days
- Kosovo — Up to 90 days
- Moldova — Up to 90 days
Caribbean
- Trinidad and Tobago — Visa-free entry
Travel Restrictions for RTD Holders
Countries You CANNOT Visit
You must not travel to:
- Your country of origin — the country of your nationality
- The country you sought asylum from — if different from your country of origin
Travelling to these countries could result in the UK government concluding that you no longer need refugee protection, potentially leading to the revocation of your refugee status and leave to remain.
The Two-Year Rule
If you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years continuously, your leave to remain may automatically lapse. This means you could lose your right to live in the UK. Plan your travel carefully and ensure you return within this timeframe. If exceptional circumstances prevent your return, seek immigration legal advice immediately.
Countries That May Require a Visa
Many countries that do not have specific visa-free agreements for UK Refugee Travel Documents will require you to apply for a visa through their embassy. This process can be more complex than for national passport holders, as not all embassies are familiar with RTDs. Allow extra time and carry supporting documentation including your UK eVisa status, proof of UK residence, and the RTD itself.
How to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document
- Check eligibility: You must have UK refugee status or have arrived via family reunion to join a refugee.
- Apply online: Go to gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document and select “Refugee Travel Document”.
- Pay the fee: GBP 94.50 (adults), GBP 61.50 (children under 16).
- Provide documents: Passport-sized photographs, proof of immigration status, any previous travel documents.
- Wait for processing: Allow 6-8 weeks. Do not book travel until you have your RTD.
- Collect or receive: Your RTD will be posted to you or you may need to attend an appointment.
eVisa Transition and Refugee Travel Documents
The BRP to eVisa transition in 2024-2025 affects refugees in a specific way:
- Your BRP card has expired (like everyone else's), but your Refugee Travel Document remains valid.
- You now need an eVisa (accessible through your UKVI account) to prove your UK immigration status.
- When travelling, you carry your RTD as your travel/identity document and your eVisa proves your UK status digitally.
- Set up your UKVI account at gov.uk/get-access-evisa if you haven't already.
- Ensure your RTD details are correctly linked in your UKVI account.
For more information on the eVisa system, see our Digital Immigration Status Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
A UK Refugee Travel Document (RTD) is a travel booklet issued by the Home Office to people with UK refugee status. It serves as a passport substitute for international travel. It costs GBP 94.50 for adults and is valid for up to 10 years.
Historically, some Schengen countries (Germany, Italy, Netherlands, etc.) plus Albania, Croatia, and Moldova have accepted UK RTDs. However, since the UK withdrew from the European Convention on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees in 2003, rules vary by country. Always verify with the destination embassy before booking.
No. You cannot travel to your country of origin or the country from which you sought asylum. Doing so could jeopardise your refugee status.
No. A BRP was a card proving UK immigration status (now replaced by eVisa). An RTD is a separate travel booklet used as a passport. You need both an eVisa AND an RTD for international travel.
Some Schengen countries may allow visa-free entry for UK RTD holders, but this is no longer guaranteed since the UK left the European Convention on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees. Check with each country’s embassy before travel, as policies vary and change.
Apply online at gov.uk/apply-home-office-travel-document. Cost: GBP 94.50 adults, GBP 61.50 children. Allow 6-8 weeks processing time.
If you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years continuously, your leave to remain may lapse and you could lose your right to live in the UK.
Yes. RTDs are separate from BRPs and remain valid. You now also need an eVisa (which replaced the BRP) to prove your UK immigration status alongside your RTD.