Existing Statelessness determination procedure Good practices on the continuation of SDPs and the protection of applicants during a health crisis At the time of publishing this paper, the COVID-19 virus is affecting most countries in the world and most governments are taking measures to limit the spread of the virus. In a number of countries, these measures include suspending or modifying administrative procedures that are deemed noncritical. The complete suspension of SDPs is likely to result in significant application backlogs and, more importantly, an extended period in which stateless persons will remain in limbo and without access to the rights afforded to recognized stateless persons. A number of good practices have been identified that allow for the continuation of at least parts of the procedure during the public health crisis. To avoid gatherings of applicants and staff, procedures allowing for the written or electronic submission of statelessness applications are encouraged. Good practices can be found in Costa Rica, Ecuador and the United Kingdom, among other countries, where applications can be submitted online. The introduction of new ways to apply for statelessness status will increase the accessibility of the procedure and should be considered to continue after the crisis has ended. Subsequent steps in the process of statelessness status determination, including the provision of legal advice and guidance, may also take place by phone or online. As a matter of good practice, the submission of an application for statelessness determination should have a suspensive effect on removal orders and provide the right to stay for the duration of the procedure. This becomes even more important in times of a public health crisis that has led many governments to put in place measures to restrict access to, and movement within the territory, to nationals. However, not all countries that have established SDP grant such a right to stay. Countries should consider lifting removal orders and allowing for the right to stay for the duration of the crisis. U N H C R > G P P AC T I O N 6 : E S TA B L I S H I N G S TAT E L E S S N E S S D E T E R M I N AT I O N P R O C E D U R E S 13