EU emergency travel document

SUMMARY OF:

Directive (EU) 2019/997 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

The EU emergency travel document (EU ETD) is a travel document issued on request by an EU Member State to an unrepresented* European Union (EU) citizen if, for example, their passport has been stolen, lost or destroyed, or cannot be obtained within a reasonable time.
The directive sets out rules and procedures for obtaining the document and establishes a uniform format. The EU ETD allows the same kind of diplomatic and consular protection in the country visited as that enjoyed by the nationals of the Member State which issues the document.

KEY POINTS

Procedure

Unrepresented citizens may apply for an EU ETD at the embassy or consulate of any Member State. When a Member State receives an application, it must, as soon as possible and no later than 2 working days after receipt, consult the Member State of nationality to verify the nationality and identity of the applicant. It must provide all relevant information, in particular:
- the applicant’s name, nationality, date of birth and gender;
- a full-face photograph;
- copies or scanned copies of all available means of identification, such as an identity card, driving licence or social security number.
Normally within 3 days of receiving the information, the Member State of nationality must confirm whether the applicant is one of its nationals. The Member State dealing with the application will then issue the EU ETD within 2 working days.
If the Member State of nationality objects to an EU ETD being issued to one of its nationals, the document will not be issued and the Member State of nationality will then be responsible for consular protection.
In extremely urgent cases, the Member State dealing with the application may issue an EU ETD without consultation, but must first have exhausted all available means of communication and must inform the Member State of nationality as soon as possible.
For security reasons, the holder must return the EU ETD to the competent authorities, regardless of whether it has expired, upon arrival at the final destination.
The European Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing a standard application form.

Uniform format

The directive defines the standard format to be used for EU ETDs, consisting of a standard form and an accompanying sticker. They must contain all the necessary information and meet high technical standards, particularly safeguards against counterfeiting and falsification.
Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2452, adopted in December 2022, lays down additional technical specifications concerning:
- the design, format and colours of the uniform EU ETD form and sticker;
- the requirements for the material and printing techniques of the uniform EU ETD form; and
- security features and requirements, including enhanced anti-forgery, counterfeiting and falsification standards.

Cost

The Member State dealing with an application must charge the applicant the same fee that it charges its own nationals for emergency documents, and may choose to waive the fee generally or in any specific situation it determines.

Validity

An EU ETD is valid for the period required to complete the journey for which it is issued, allowing for necessary overnight stops and connections. The period of validity includes a 2-day grace period. Validity will not normally exceed 15 days.

Transposition, monitoring and evaluation

Member States ensure regular monitoring of how the directive is applied.
Member States have 2 years from the adoption of the additional technical specifications to pass the laws, regulations and administrative rules necessary to comply with the directive (i.e. until December 2024). Member States must apply these national rules as of December 2025.
No sooner than 5 years after the date of transposition, the Commission will evaluate the directive and report its main findings to the European Parliament and to the Council of the European Union. The report will include an evaluation of the appropriateness of the level of personal data security, the impact on fundamental rights and the possible introduction of a uniform fee for EU ETDs.
The directive repeals Decision 96/409/CFSP.

FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?

Member States have until December 2024 to transpose the directive into national law. National legislation transposing the directive must apply from December 2025, which means that EU citizens will be issued with the new EU ETD as of that date.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Consular protection (European Commission)
Consular protection (Council of the European Union).

KEY TERMS

Unrepresented EU citizen. A citizen holding the nationality of a Member State which is not represented in a non-EU country, i.e. which has no permanent embassy or consulate, or which has no embassy, consulate or honorary consul there that is effectively in a position to provide consular protection in a given case.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive (EU) 2019/997 of 18 June 2019 establishing an EU Emergency Travel Document and repealing Decision 96/409/CFSP (OJ L 163, 20.6.2019, pp. 1–12).