scope:

The Seventh Edition of Doc 9303 represents a restructuring of the ICAO specifications for Machine Readable Travel Documents. Without incorporating substantial modifications to the specifications, in this new edition Doc 9303 has been reformatted into a set of specifications for Size 1 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD1), Size 2 Machine Readable Official Travel Documents (TD2), and Size 3 Machine Readable Travel Documents (TD3), as well as visas  This set of specifications consists of various separate documents in which general (applicable to all MRTDs) as well as MRTD form factor specific specifications are grouped.

This Part 8 of Doc 9303 provides guidance on Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs). The purpose of this guidance material is to promote a consistent approach in the issuance of ETDs in order to:

● enhance the security of the document;

● protect the individual;

● promote greater confidence for border staff in handling ETDs at ports; and

● address the vulnerabilities presented by inconsistent practices and security features.

The guidance material covers travel documents issued by Issuing Authorities to travellers in distressed or unpredicted situations where it is not possible to issue a standard full-validity passport or travel document book and addresses the following areas:

● security/issuance;

● cost;

● format;

● validity;

● document title/name; and

● post-issuance.

This guidance material does not cover:

● standard full-validity passports delivered in emergency situations;

● standard passports delivered with limited validity;

● convention travel documents (which are covered under separate guidance on Issuing Machine Readable Convention Travel Documents for Refugees and Stateless Persons¹), or "Laissez- passer" issued by the United Nations or the European Union; or

● travel documents issued by humanitarian organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

However, it is intended that this guidance material can be used as a measure of best practice across all issuing organizations, such as humanitarian organizations who issue travel documents to stateless and displaced persons, and vulnerable migrants (including refugees and asylum seekers). Humanitarian organizations are encouraged to comply with its general principles to improve the standards and security of their documents.

¹ See ICAO/UNHCR Guide for Issuing Machine Readable Convention Travel Documents for Refugees and Stateless Persons.