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European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, COE, 1959

Entry into force: Sunday, September 4, 1960

Adoption date: Apr 20, 1959

Adoption place: Strasbourg

Depositary: Secrétaire Général du Conseil de l'Europe

Signed by 24 countries, ratified by 23 countries

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Country Signature date Ratification date * Reservation / Declaration Comments
Armenia

May 11, 2001

-

-
Belgium

Apr 20, 1959

Apr 20, 1959

-
Cyprus

Apr 7, 1978

-

-
Czech Republic

Mar 9, 1999

Mar 9, 1999

-
Denmark

Nov 30, 1960

Nov 30, 1960

Declaration made at the time of signature, on 30 November 1960 - Or. Fr.

The European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees will enter into force in respect of Denmark on 1 January 1961.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1961 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 9


Declaration contained in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 29 December 1960, registered at the Secretariat General on 3 January 1961 - Or. Fr.

For refugees resident in a State which is not a Party to the Nordic Agreement concerning the waiving of passport control at the Inter-Nordic frontiers, signed at Copenhagen on 12 July 1957, the term "territory" shall, in so far as the right of refugees to remain in Denmark without visa and residence permit is concerned, mean the territory to which the said Nordic Agreement applies by virtue of Article 1, paragraph 2 thereof.

It should be noted that, by virtue of Article 14, the Nordic Agreement is extended, with effect from 1 January 1961, to the Feroe Islands.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1961 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 1

Finland

Jul 4, 1990

Jul 4, 1990

Declaration contained in a Note Verbale from the Permanent Representation of Finland, dated 3 January 1994, registered at the Secretariat General on 5 January 1994 - Or. Fr.

The Permanent Representation of Finland, referring to the decree which came into force in Finland on 1 January 1994, hereby informs the General Secretariat that all refugees who have been granted a travel document by France now require a visa on Finnish soil. This new policy will make practice in France and in Finland similar as from 1 January 1994.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1994 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 1

France

Apr 20, 1959

Apr 20, 1959

Declaration contained in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 27 May 1959, registered at the Secretariat General on 28 May 1959 - Or. Fr.

With regard to the definition of the term "territory", the French Government has declared that the term refers only to "metropolitan France".
Période d'effet : 4/9/1960 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 2


Declaration contained in a letter from the Permanent Representative of France, dated 15 September 1986, registered at the Secretariat General on 16 September 1986 - Or. Fr.

In pursuance of the measures which have just been taken by the Government in the field of the movement of persons, France finds itself constrained to suspend immediately, with effect from 16 September at 0 hour:

- The European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe of 13 December 1957, in application of the provisions of its Article 7;

- The European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees of 20 April 1959, in application of the provisions of its Article 7.
Période d'effet : 16/9/1986 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 7

Germany

Apr 20, 1959

Nov 6, 1961

-
Hungary

Jun 16, 2009

Nov 6, 2011

Declaration from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, dated 22 September 2009, registered at the date of deposit of the instrument of ratification, on 6 November 2009 – Or. Engl.

The Government of the Republic of Hungary interprets the term "visit of not more than three months' duration" contained in Article 1.b of the Agreement as a period of three months during the six months following the date of first entry.
Period covered: 7/12/2009 -
The preceding statement concerns Article(s) : 1

Iceland

Sep 8, 1966

Sep 8, 1966

-
Ireland

Oct 29, 1969

Oct 29, 1969

-
Italy

Dec 4, 1963

Jun 1, 1965

The text is not available

Liechtenstein

-

Oct 28, 1969

Declaration made at the time of deposit of the instrument of accession, on 28 October 1969 - Or. Fr.

Settlement in the meaning of Article 5 of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees shall be determined in relation to the place where the refugee's personal interests are centred. Consequently, presence on the territory of a High Contracting Party for the purpose of attending an educational establishment, convalescent home or other similar institutions shall not constitute settlement within the meaning of the said Article 5.
Période d'effet : 29/11/1969 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 5

Luxembourg

Apr 20, 1959

Apr 24, 1961

-
Malta

Jan 17, 1989

Jan 17, 1989

Declaration made at the time of signature, on 17 January 1989 - Or. Engl.

Settlement in the meaning of Article 5 of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees shall be determined in relation to the place where the refugee's personal interests are centred. Consequently, presence on the territory of a High Contracting Party for the purpose of attending an educational establishment, medical establishment, convalescent home or other similar institution shall not constitute settlement within the meaning of the said Article 5.
Période d'effet : 18/2/1989 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 5

Netherlands

Jun 4, 1959

Aug 3, 1960

Declaration contained in the instrument of ratification, deposited on 3 August 1960 - Or. Fr.

We approve herewith, for the Kingdom in Europe, in respect of all the provisions contained therein, the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees.
Period covered: 4/9/1960 -
The preceding statement concerns Article(s) : 2

Norway

Nov 25, 1960

Nov 25, 1960

Declaration made at the time of signature, on 25 November 1960 - Or. Fr.

The European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees will enter into force in respect of Norway on 1 January 1961.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1961 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 9


Declaration contained in a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated 13 December 1960, registered at the Secretariat General on 15 December 1960 - Or. Engl.

For refugees resident in a State which is not a Party to the Nordic Convention concerning the waiving of passport control at the Inter-Nordic frontiers of 12 July 1957, the term "territory" shall, in so far as the right of refugees to remain in Norway without visa and residence permit is concerned, mean the territory covered by Article 1, paragraph 2 of the above-mentioned Convention.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1961 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 2

Poland

May 19, 2004

Apr 20, 2005

Declaration made at the time on signature on 19 May 2004 - Or. Engl./Pol.

Settlement in the meaning of Article 5 of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees shall be construed as the stay related to the transfer of the refugee's important vital interests, for which the refugee was granted a permit different than a visa in line with provisions regulating the entry, transit, stay and departure of aliens from the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Stay for which the refugee was granted a permit for the purpose of attending an educational establishment, medical establishment, convalescent home or other similar institutions shall not constitute settlement within the meaning of the said Article 5.
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 5

Portugal

May 10, 1979

Oct 12, 1981

Declaration contained in a letter from the Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, dated 30 November 1981, registered at the Secretariat General on 1 December 1981 - Or. Fr.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of this Agreement, the term "territory" means the portuguese territory on the European continent and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira.
Period covered: 13/11/1981 -
The preceding statement concerns Article(s) : 2

Romania

Nov 5, 1999

Apr 24, 2001

-
Slovakia

Jun 3, 2004

Jan 27, 2005

Declaration contained in Note verbale from the Permanent Representation of Slovakia, dated 24 March 2005, registered at the Secretariat General on 29 March 2005 - Or. Engl.

In accordance with Article 2 of the Agreement, Slovakia declares that the territory of the Slovak Republic is integral and indivisible, defined by State borders with neighbouring States according to the international treaties concluded by the Slovak Republic or by international treaties by which the Slovak Republic is bound.
Période d'effet : 29/3/2005 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 2

Spain

Mar 10, 1982

Jun 30, 1982

-
Sweden

Nov 30, 1960

Nov 30, 1960

Declaration made at the time of signature, on 30 November 1960 - Or. Fr.

The European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees will enter into force in respect of Sweden on 1 January 1961.
Période d'effet : 1/1/1961 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 9

Declaration contained in a letter from the Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, dated 30 November 1960, handed to the Secretary General at the time of signature, on 30 November 1960 - Or. Fr.

For refugees resident in a State which is not a Party to the Nordic Agreement concerning the waiving of passport control at the Inter-Nordic frontiers, signed at Copenhagen on 12 July 1957, the term "territory" shall, in so far as the right of refugees to remain in Sweden without visa and residence permit is concerned, mean the territory to which the said Nordic Agreement applies.
Period covered: 1/1/1961 -
The preceding statement concerns Article(s) : 2

Switzerland

Nov 29, 1965

Dec 20, 1966

Declaration made at the time of signature, on 29 November 1965 - Or. Fr.

Settlement in the meaning of Article 5 of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees shall be determined in relation to the place where the refugee's personal interests are centred. Consequently, presence on the territory of a High Contracting Party for the purpose of attending an educational establishment, medical establishment, convalescent home or other similar institution shall not constitute settlement within the meaning of the said Article 5.
Période d'effet : 21/1/1967 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 5

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Aug 26, 1968

Aug 26, 1968

Declaration of suspension contained in a letter from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, dated 7 February 2003, registered at the Secretariat General on 7 February 2003 - Or. Engl.

Under the provisions of Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Agreement, the United Kingdom gives hereby formal notice of its intention to suspend on public order and security grounds the operation of this Agreement. This decision will come into force at 00.01 hours on Tuesday 11 February 2003.

The Home Secretary will on [7 February 2003] announce to Parliament that he intends to suspend the operation of the Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees of 1959. This decision reflects growing concern that the holders of 1951 Convention Travel Documents, issued by signatories to the Agreement, are travelling to the United Kindgom and either remaining illegally or making asylum applications in false identities in order to access the benefits system. This undermines the integrity of our asylum process, places an unacceptable burden on the system and diverts valuable resources from those in genuine need. There are also security implications for the United Kingdom if people remain in the United Kingdom illegally.
Période d'effet : 11/2/2003 -
Déclaration ci-dessus relative aux articles : 7