Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Austria
Barbados
Botswana8
Bulgaria9
Costa Rica10
Czech Republic
Declarations: " ...Acceding to the Convention we declare the following: 1. Pursuant to Article 27 of the Convention, identity papers shall be issued only to stateless persons having permanent residence permits in the territory of the Czech Republic in accordance with the country's national legislation. 2. Article 23 of the Convention shall be applied to the extent provided by the national legislation of the Czech Republic. 3. Article 24, paragraph 1(b) shall be applied to the extent provided by the national legislation of the Czech Republic. 4. Pursuant to Article 28 of the Convention, travel documents shall be issued to stateless persons having permanent residence permits in the territory of the Czech Republic in accordance with the country's national legislation. Such persons shall be issued "aliens' passports" stating that their holders are stateless persons under the Convention of 28th September 1954."
Denmark11
El Salvador
Upon signature : El Salvador signs the present Convention with the reservation that the expression "treatment as favourable as possible", referred to in those of its provisions to which reservations may be made, must not be understood to include the special treatment which has been or may be granted to the nationals of Spain, the Latin American countries in general, and in particular to the countries which constituted the United Provinces of Central America and now form the Organization of Central American States.
Fiji
Finland12
France
Germany4,5
Guatemala
Upon signature:
Reservation: Guatemala signs the present Convention with the reservation that the expression "treatment as favourable as possible", referred to in those of its provisions to which reservations may be made, must not be understood to include the special treatment which has been or may be granted to the nationals of, Spain, the Latin American countries in general, and in particular to the countries which constituted the United Provinces of Central America and now form the Organization of Central American States.
Upon ratification:
Confirmation of the reservation made upon signature, as modified:
Reservation: Guatemala ratifies the present Convention with the reservation that the expression "treatment as favourable as possible", referred to in those of its provisions to which reservations may be made, shall not be understood to include the special treatment which Guatemala has granted or may grant to nationals of Spain, the Latin American countries in general, and in particular the countries which constitute the Central American Integration System (SICA), which are those countries which constituted the United Provinces of Central America, plus the Republic of Panama.
Holy See
Honduras
Upon signature: Honduras signs the present Convention with the reservation that the expression "treatment as favourable as possible", referred to in those of its provisions to which reservations may be made, must not be understood to include the special treatment which has been or may be granted to the nationals of Spain, the Latin American countries in general, and in particular to the countries which constituted the United Provinces of Central America and now form the Organization of Central American States.
Hungary13
Reservations: Reservation to Article 28 of the Convention: “The Republic of Hungary shall apply the provisions contained in Article 28 by issuing a travel document in both Hungarian and English languages, entitled ‘Utazási Igazolvány hontalan személy részére / Travel Document for Stateless Person' and supplied with the indication set out in Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 of the Schedule to the Convention.”
Ireland
Declaration: "The Government of Ireland understand the words `public order' and `in accordance with due process of law', as they appear in article 31 of the Convention, to mean respectively, `public policy' and `in accordance with the procedure provided by law'."
Reservation: "With regard to article 29 (1), the Government of Ireland do not undertake to accord to stateless persons treatment more favourable than that accorded to aliens generally with respect to (a) The stamp duty chargeable in Ireland in connection with conveyances, transfers and leases of lands, tenements and hereditaments, and (b) Income tax (including sur-tax)."
Italy14
Kiribati
Reservations: [The following reservations originally made by the United Kingdom were reformulated as follows in terms suited to their direct application to Kiribati] : "1. The Government of Kiribati understands articles 8 and 9 as not preventing them from taking in time of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances measures in the interests of national security in the case of a stateless person on the ground of his former nationality. The provisions of article 8 shall not prevent the Government of Kiribati from exercising any rights over property or interests which they may acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated Power under a Treaty of Peace or other agreement or arrangement for the restoration of peace which has been or may be completed as a result of the Second World War. Furthermore, the provisions of article 8 shall not affect the treatment to be accorded to any property or interest which at the date of entry into force of this Convention in respect of the Gilbert Islands were under the control of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reason of a state of war which exists or existed between them and any other State. "2. The Government of Kiribati can only undertake to apply the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of article 24 so far as the law allows. "3. The Government of Kiribati cannot undertake to give effect to the obligations contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 25 and can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 3 so far as the law allows."
Latvia
Reservations: “In accordance with article 38 of the [Convention] the Republic of Latvia reserves the right to apply the provisions of paragraph 1 (b) of Article 24 subject to limitations provided for by the national legislation.” “In accordance with article 38 of the [Convention] the Republic of Latvia reserves the right to apply the provisions of Article 27 subject to limitations provided for by the national legislation.”
Lesotho15
Malta16
Reservations: “The Republic of Malta does not consider itself bound by Article 11 in so far as to the obligation to give consideration to the establishment of stateless seamen in its territory, or to issue said seamen with travel documents. The Republic of Malta considers itself bound by Article 14 only in so far as in regard to a stateless person who is a permanent resident in the territory of the Republic of Malta. The Republic of Malta does not consider itself obliged, in terms of Article 32 to provide or to guarantee stateless persons born outside Malta facilities for their naturalisation beyond those accorded to aliens in general.”26 June 2021Declaration: “The Republic of Malta will fulfil its obligation under Article 28 by issuing an alien’s passport to stateless persons lawfully residing in its territory.”
26 June 2021
Declaration: “The Republic of Malta will fulfil its obligation under Article 28 by issuing an alien’s passport to stateless persons lawfully residing in its territory.”
Mexico17
Reservations: The Government of Mexico is convinced of the importance of ensuring that all stateless persons can obtain wage-earning employment as a means of subsistence and affirms that stateless persons will be treated, in accordance with the law, under the same conditions as aliens in general, without prejudice to the application of article 7 of the Federal Labour Act, which establishes the proportion of alien workers that employers are authorized to employ in Mexico, as well as other legal principles relating to work by aliens in the country, for which reason the Government of Mexico lodges an express reservation to article 17 of this Convention. The Government of Mexico does not consider itself obliged to guarantee stateless persons greater facilities for their naturalization than those accorded to aliens in general, for which reason it lodges an express reservation to the contents of article 32 of the Convention.
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
Nicaragua
Declaration: The Republic of Nicaragua declares that the expression "treatment as favourable as possible", referred to in those of its provisions to which reservations may be made, shall not be understood to include the special treatment which Nicaragua has granted or may grant to nationals of Spain, the Latin American countries in general, and in particular the countries which constitute the Central American Integration System (SICA), which are those countries which constituted the United Provinces of Central America, plus the Republic of Panama.
Philippines
Upon signature: "(a) As regards Article 17, paragraph 1, granting stateless persons the right to engage in wage-earning employment, [the Government of the Philippines] finds that this provision conflicts with the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended, which classifies as excludable aliens under Section 29 those coming to the Philippines to perform unskilled labour, and permits the admission of pre-arranged employees under Section 9 (g) only when there are no persons in the Philippines willing and competent to perform the labour or service for which the admission of aliens is desired. "(b) As regards Article 31, paragraph 1, to the effect that `the Contracting States shall not expel a stateless person lawfully in their territory, save on grounds of national security or public order', this provision would unduly restrict the power of the Philippine Government to deport undesirable aliens under Section 37 of the same Immigration Act which states the various grounds upon which aliens may be deported. "Upon signing the Convention [the Philippine Government], therefore hereby [registers] its non-conformity to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph 1, and Article 31, paragraph 1, thereof, for the reasons stated in (a) and (b) above."
Portugal
Reservation: “Under paragraph 1 of Article 38 of the Convention, the Portuguese Republic declares that in all cases where the stateless persons are accorded the most favourable treatment accorded to nationals of a foreign country, this clause shall not be interpreted as covering the regime applicable to nationals of Brazil, nationals from the European Union countries or nationals from other countries with which Portugal has established or may establish community relations, namely the Portuguese speaking States.”
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Reservation: "1. With reference to the application of Article 23 of the Convention, Romania reserves its right to accord public relief only to stateless persons which are also refugees, under the provisions of the Convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees and of the Protocol of 31 January 1967 relating to the Status of Refugees or, as the case may be, subject to the provisions of the domestic law; 2. With reference to the application of Article 27 of the Convention, Romania reserves its right to issue identity papers only to stateless persons to whom the competent authorities accorded the right to stay on the territory of Romania permanently or, as the case may be, for a determinated period, subject to the provisions of the domestic law; 3. With reference to the application of Article 31 of the Convention, Romania reserves its right to expel a stateless person staying lawfully on its territory whenever the stateless person committed an offence, subject to the provisions of the legislation in force."
Slovakia
Declaration: “The Slovak Republic shall not be bound by article 27 to that effect it shall issue identity papers to any stateless person that is not in possession of a valid travel document. The Slovak Republic shall issue identity papers only to the stateless person present on the territory of the Slovak Republic who have been granted long-term or permanent residence permit.”
Spain
Reservation: “[The Government of the Kingdom of Spain] makes a reservation to article 29, paragraph 1, and considers itself bound by the provisions of that paragraph only in the case of stateless persons residing in the territory of any of the Contracting States."
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Reservation: “The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines can only undertake that the provisions of articles 23, 24, 25 and 31 will be applied in St. Vincent and the Grenadines so far as the law allows.”
Sweden18
Reservations: (1) ... (2) ... (3) To article 12, paragraph 1. This paragraph will not be binding on Sweden. (4) ... (5) To article 24, paragraph 3. The provisions of this paragraph will not be binding on Sweden. (6) To article 25, paragraph 2. Sweden does not consider itself obliged to cause a Swedish authority, in lieu of a foreign authority, to deliver certificates for the issuance of which there is insufficient documentation in Sweden.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Declaration: "I have the honour further to state that the Government of the United Kingdom deposit the present instrument of ratification on the understanding that the combined effects of articles 36 and 38 permit them to include in any declaration or notification made under paragraph 1 of article 36 or paragraph 2 of article 36 respectively any reservation consistent with article 38 which the Government of the territory concerned might desire to make."
Reservations: "When ratifying the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons which was opened for signature at New York on September 28, 1954, the Government of the United Kingdom have deemed it necessary to make certain reservations in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 38 thereof the text of which is reproduced below: (1) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland understand Articles 8 and 9 as not preventing them from taking in time of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances measures in the interests of national security in the case of a stateless person on the ground of his former nationality. The provisions of Article 8 shall not prevent the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from exercising any rights over property or interests which they may acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated Power under a Treaty of Peace or other agreement or arrangement for the restoration of peace which has been or may be completed as a result of the Second World War. Furthermore, the provisions of Article 8 shall not affect the treatment to be accorded to any property or interests which at the date of entry into force of this Convention for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are under the control of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reason of a state of war which exists or existed between them and any other State. (2) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in respect of such of the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 as fall within the scope of the National Health Service, can only undertake to apply the provisions of that paragraph so far as the law allows. (3) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland cannot undertake to give effect to the obligations contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 25 and can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 3 so far as the law allows." Commentary : "In connexion with sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 which relates to certain matters within the scope of the National Health Service, the National Health Service (Amendment) Act 1949 contains powers for charges to be made to persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain (which category would include some stateless persons) who receive treatment under the Service. These powers have not yet been exercised but it may be necessary to exercise them at some future date. In Northern Ireland the Health Services are restricted to persons ordinarily resident in the country except where regulations are made to extend the Services to others. For these reasons, the Government of the United Kingdom, while prepared in the future, as in the past, to give the most sympathetic consideration to the situation of stateless persons, find it necessary to make reservation to sub-paragraph (b) of Article 24. "No arrangements exist in the United Kingdom for the administrative assistance for which provision is made in Article 25 nor have any such arrangements been found necessary in the case of stateless persons. Any need for the documents or certifications mentioned in paragraph 2 of that Article would be met by affidavit."
Zambia19
"Article 22 (1): The Government of the Republic of Zambia considers paragraph 1 of article 22 to be a recommendation only, and not a binding obligation to accord to stateless persons national treatment with respect to elementary education;
"Article 26: The Government of the Republic of Zambia reserves the right under article 26 to designate a place or places of residence for stateless persons;
"Article 28: The Government of the Republic of Zambia does not consider itself bound under article 28 to issue a travel document with a return clause in cases where a country of second asylum has accepted or indicated its willingness to accept a stateless person from Zambia;
"Article 31: "The Government of the Republic of Zambia shall not undertake under article 31 to grant treatment more favourable than that accorded to aliens generally with respect to expulsion."
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland3,15,21,22,23,24,25
Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Seventeenth Session, Supplement, No. 1 (E/2596), p. 12.
The former Yugoslavia had acceeded to the Convention on 9 April 1959. See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Croatia”, “former Yugoslavia”, “Slovenia”, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and “Yugoslavia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
On 10 June 1997, the Secretary-General received communications concerning the status of Hong Kong from the Governments of the the United Kingdom and China (see also note 2 under “China” and note 2 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” regarding Hong Kong in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume). Upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, China notified the Secretary-General that the Convention will also apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In addition, the notification made by the Government of China contained the following declaration:
The Government of the People's Republic of China cannot undertake that effect will be given in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to article 25, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Convention, and can only undertake that the provisions of paragraph 3 of the said article will be applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region so far as the law there allows.
Within the above ambit, responsibility for the international rights and obligations of a Party to the [said Convention] will be assumed by the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Instrument of ratification received by the Secretary-General on 2 August 1976 and supplemented by notification of reservation received on 26 October 1976, the date on which the instrument is deemed to have been deposited. See also note 1 under “Germany” regarding Berlin (West) in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
See note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
By a notification received by the Secretary-General on 2 April 1965, the Government of Madagascar denounced the Convention; the denunciation took effect on 2 April 1966.
See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
In the notification of succession, the Government of Botswana also maintained the reservations made by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on extension of the Convention to the Bechuanaland Protectorate. For the text of the reservations, see "Declarations and reservations made upon notification of territorial application" , under United Kingdom.
In a communication received on 26 October 2020, the Government of Bulgaria has notified the Secretary-General that it has decided to withdraw the reservation to article 31 of the Convention made upon accession. The reservation read as follows :
“Article 31 shall not oblige the Republic of Bulgaria to grant to stateless persons a status more favourable than that accorded to aliens in general.”
The reservation made upon signature was not maintained upon ratification. For the text of the reservation, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 360, p. 196.
In a communication received on 23 August 1962, the Government of Denmark informed the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw as from 1 October 1961 the reservation to article 14 of the Convention.
In a communication received on 25 March 1968, the Government of Denmark informed the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw as from that date, the reservation to article 24, paragraph 2, of the Con vention. For the text of the reservations withdrawn by the above communications, see United Nations, Treaty Series ,vol. 360, p. 132.
In a communication received on 30 September 1970, the Government of Finland notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw the reservation formulated in its instrument of accession to article 12, paragraph 1, of the Convention. For the text of the said reservation, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 648, p. 368.
On 3 July 2012, the Government of Hungary notified the Secretary-General of a partial withdrawal of its reservation to articles 23 and 24 made upon accession. The reservation made upon accession read as follows:
“The Republic of Hungary shall apply the provisions contained in Articles 23 and 24 in such a way that it ensures to stateless persons having permanent domestic residence equal treatment with its own citizens.”
In a communication received on 25 January 1968, the Government of Italy notified the Secretary-General of the withdrawal of the reservations made at the time of signature to articles 6, 7 (2), 8, 19, 22 (2), 23, 25 and 32 (see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 189, p. 192).
Reservations 1 and 2 had been formulated by the Government of the United Kingdom in respect of the territory of Basutoland. Reservation 3 constitutes a new reservation, which was made subject to the provisions of article 39 (2) of the Convention.
The declaration made by Malta was accepted in deposit on 26 June 2021 in the absence of objection from Contracting Parties, either to the deposit itself or to the procedure envisaged, within the one-year period from the date of the notification circulating the declaration.
On 11 July 2014, the Government of Mexico notified the Secretary-General of the partial withdrawal of the reservation made upon accession. The portion of the reservation which has been withdrawn read as follows:
The Government of Mexico lodges an express reservation to article 31 of the Convention, and, therefore, refers to the application of article 33 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.
In a communication received on 25 November 1966, the Government of Sweden has notified the Secretary-General that it has decided, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 38 of the Convention, to withdraw some of its reservations to article 24, paragraph 1 (b), by rewording them and to withdraw the reservation to article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention. In a communication received on 5 March 1970, the Government of Sweden notified the Secretary-General of the withdrawal of its reservation to article 7, paragraph 2, of the Convention. For the text of the reservations to article 24, paragraph 1 (b), as originally formulated by the Government of Sweden in its instrument of ratification, and of the reservation to article 7, paragraph 2, see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 529, p. 362.
On 14 November 2019, the Government of Sweden notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw its reservations to article 8 and to paragraph 1 (b) of article 24. The reservations that have been withdrawn read as follows: To article 8. This article will not be binding on Sweden; To article 24, paragraph 1 (b). Notwithstanding the rule concerning the treatment of stateless persons as nationals, Sweden will not be bound to accord to stateless persons the same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect of the possibility of entitlement to a national pension under the provisions of the National Insurance Act; and likewise to the effect that, in so far as the right to a supplementary pension under the said Act and the computation of such pension in certain respects are concerned, the rules applicable to Swedish nationals shall be more favourable than those applied to other insured persons.
In its notification of succession, the Government of Zambia declared that it withdrew the reservations made by the Government of the United Kingdom upon extension of the Convention by the latter to the former Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The reservations reproduced herein are new reservations, which were made subject to the provisions of article 39 (2) of the Convention.
In the note accompanying the instrument of ratification, the Government of the Netherlands stated, with reference to article 36, paragraph 3 of the Convention, that "if at any time the Government of the Netherlands Antilles agrees to the extension of the Convention to its territory, the Secretary-General shall be notified thereof without delay. Such notification will contain the reservations, if any, which the Government of the Netherlands Antilles might wish to make with respect to local requirements in accordance with article 38 of the Convention." See also note 1 under “Netherlands” regarding Aruba/Netherlands Antilles in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
See note 1 under “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
See accession by Uganda.
See succession by Lesotho.
See succession by Fiji.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary-General on 22 March 1968, the President of the Republic of Malawi, referring to the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, done at New York on 28 September 1954, stated the following:
"In my letter to you of the 24th November 1964, concerning the disposition of Malawi's inherited treaty obligations, my Government declared that with respect to multilateral treaties which had been applied or extended to the former Nyasaland Protectorate, any Party to such a treaty could on the basis of reciprocity rely as against Malawi on the terms of that treaty until Malawi notified its depositary of what action it wished to take by way of confirmation of termination, confirmation of succession, or accession.
"I am to inform you as depositary of this Convention that the Government of Malawi now wishes to terminate any connection with this Convention which it might have inherited. The Government of Malawi considers that any legal relationship with the afore-mentioned Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, New York, 1954 which might have devolved upon it by way of succession from the ratification of the United Kingdom, is terminated as of this date."