Practices by Stakeholder 1

Waivers or exceptions to exit and stay requirements

Crises often call for flexibility with regard to exit and visa requirements. Migrants seeking safety in a crisis may face barriers in meeting visa requirements, obtaining immigration exit visas, or paying immigration fees or penalties for overstay. Migrants’ ability to move to safety may be limited by visa and work permits that restrict them to particular geographic areas or employers. Actions host States can take, particularly during the acute phase of a crisis, include:

• Facilitating the exit of migrants and their families through waivers or expedited provision of exit visas and other necessary documents;
• Waiving fees or fines relating to exit, overstay, or violations of restrictions on movement;
• Easing re-entry permits for affected migrants, including students and foreign workers;
• Facilitating and providing access to consular personnel from States of origin to visit, identify, and provide assistance to their citizens;
• Refraining from detaining migrants during crises, in particular children;
• Ensuring detained migrant families are not separated;
• Facilitating access to and the protection of detained migrants.

Travel documents to stateless persons to facilitate travel

In cases of evacuation and organized returns, stateless persons can be particularly vulnerable. Stateless persons who cannot return to their place of former habitual residence will require travel documents to facilitate travel outside the host State. Some States have obligations under international law to issue identity papers and travel documents to stateless persons.