A refugee travel document, also called a 1951 Convention travel document, is a travel document issued to a refugee by the state in which they now reside. As refugees are usually unable to obtain passports from their state of nationality, because they have fled persecution or sought asylum from the authorities of that state, an alternative document is necessary to allow them to travel internationally.
Travel documents for refugees are booklets similar to passports. Each country is responsible for the travel documents it issues to refugees. In many cases, their cover bears the words "Travel Document" in English and French (and often in the language of the issuing state).
However, as a refugee travel document is not a regular national passport, some problems may be encountered by the holder from time to time, for example due to non-familiarity of airline staff with such documents.
