Lebanon: Whether a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon who is living abroad can be refused a renewal of his laissez-passer (travel document) after it has expired; the procedures a Palestinian abroad must follow to renew a laissez-passer issued by the Lebanese authorities after it has expired
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, the first secretary of the Embassy of Lebanon in Canada indicated that, [translation] "aside from exceptional cases, renewing a travel document for a Palestinian refugee from Lebanon is not difficult, even if [the document] has expired" (26 Jan. 2006). In correspondence sent on 27 January 2006, the first secretary informed the Research Directorate that the Lebanese authorities can refuse to renew a laissez-passer for a Palestinian from Lebanon if he or she does not [translation] "meet the criteria of a refugee in Lebanon, [that is], if that person has no documents attesting to his or her refugee status." In such a case, [translation] "the embassy can submit the application to the appropriate authorities in Lebanon so that they can decide on the case" (Lebanon 27 Jan. 2006). The Lebanese authorities can also refuse to renew a laissez-passer if the applicant submits false identity documents (ibid.). Moreover, when Palestinians [translation] "obtain Canadian citizenship, their names are removed from the Lebanese lists of Palestinian refugees and they can no longer obtain Lebanese travel documents" (ibid.).
While the first secretary's correspondence of 26 January 2006 itemized the procedures for renewing Palestinians' travel documents, the list of procedures that follows came from the Website of the Embassy of Lebanon in Canada.
[Embassy of Lebanon English version]
[Palestinians] can obtain a new travel document or renew a travel document at the Embassy after reception of the approval from the Lebanese general directorate of general security. First [they] need to imprint the print of [their] right thumb on 2 registration forms that [they] can get from the Embassy by sending a self-addressed (return) stamped envelope.
Once this is done, [applicants] need to fill out a Travel Document Application Form, and present it to the Embassy [with two copies of each of the following documents]:
- Tazkarat El Hawiya [Lebanese identity card];
- UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] refugee card;
- Actual [Lebanese] travel document;
- Imprint of [the] right thumb on 2 identification cards:
- In person: at the Embassy in front of the Consular Officer
- By mail: In front of a notary public attached to the following statement:
Before me, a notary public, in and for County of _____________, personally appeared Mr./Mrs. _______________, holder of travel document or Palestinian I.D. (Tazkarat Al-Hawiya) No.________________, issued Date:_________________, Place:__________________, who signed and affixed his/her right hand thumb on the annexed Travel Document Registration Forms.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name at
(County) ___________, ___________ (date) __________ (Seal);"
- 4 photos (Passport size);
- Canadian Landed Immigrant paper;
- A letter from the Canadian immigration authorities stating that the applicant does not have Canadian citizenship;
[A certified, self-addressed, stamped enveloped and telephone number (Lebanon 26 Jan. 2006, as this requirement does not appear on the Website);]
- The amount of:
- $60 [valid for one year];
- $300 [valid for five years];
- In person: cash
- By mail: a money order payable to the Embassy of Lebanon (Lebanon n.d.)
The [Embassy of Lebanon English version] "application for a travel document" or the application to renew a travel document can be accessed on the Website of the Embassy of Lebanon in Canada at <http://www.lebanonembassy.ca/ar/arpdf/Travel_document_Application_A.pdf> (Lebanon n.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Lebanon. 27 January 2006. Embassy of Lebanon in Canada. Correspondence from the first secretary.
_____. 26 January 2006. Embassy of Lebanon in Canada. Correspondence from the first secretary.
_____. N.d. Embassy of Lebanon in Canada. Consular Affairs. "Passports: For Palestinian New or Renewal of Travel Documents." <http://www.lebanonembassy.ca/eng/ca_passports.php> [Accessed 30 Jan. 2006]
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Association des cours constitutionnelles ayant en partage l'usage du français (ACCPUF); Department of Foreign Affairs and Emigration of Lebanon; Embassy of Lebanon in Washington, DC; European Commission; International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions; United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.