§ Lord Aveburyasked her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take with the European Union to ensure that Home Office Certificates of Identity issued to persons granted exceptional leave to remain are accepted as valid travel documents in other European countries, or that these documents are replaced by some other travel documents which would be acceptable throughout Europe. [HL17]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)The Home Office Certificate of Identity (CID) is a travel document issued to foreign nationals, other than refugees, who are resident in the United Kingdom and cannot obtain a passport from their national authorities. This type of document is not issued under an international convention but on a discretionary basis. The CID, which guarantees the holder return to the United Kingdom within the document's validity. has 21WA traditionally been widely accepted for travel. However, it is for the authorities of each country to decide whether they will accept the CID as a valid form of travel document and I am aware that a number of our European Union partners are no longer doing so. My officials are in discussion with colleagues from the countries concerned in order to identify their particular concerns and, if possible, give assurances, which might encourage them to accept the CID for travel.
There are no proposals to replace the CID and it is not obvious how any alternative would solve the issue of acceptability.