Flexible and accessible procedures To prevent discrimination, application procedures should be flexible and allow for both written and oral submissions. If required, application forms should be simplified. Applications should be permitted in any language and/or free translation and interpretation provided to address language barriers. Some countries provide flexible and accessible ways to apply for determination of statelessness. Applications can be made in writing and orally in any language in Hungary, Moldova, and Türkiye. In Albania and Kosovo, applications are accepted in English as well as local languages. Moldova does not require the application to be made in any specific form, provided it contains a clear and detailed description of relevant facts and evidence. In Georgia, the application form is simple and available in multiple languages. While it must be completed in Georgian, a translator can be requested to assist. Similarly, in Ukraine, while the application must be made in writing in Ukrainian on a specific form and in person, the form is simple, and the law obliges the authorities to complete the application upon request if the applicant is unable to and to provide free translation and interpretation (although this is rarely provided in practice due to a lack of interpreters and funding). Applicants should not need to submit any documents or fulfil requirements that may hinder access to SDPs, given that the nature of their statelessness may mean they cannot access certain documents or forms of identity. Where such requirements do exist, authorities should be flexible and offer exemptions, ensuring that the merits of the application are still considered. In Bulgaria, regulations provide that if the applicant cannot provide a birth certificate or proof of residence in the country, they can indicate the reason to the competent authority (although there may still be issues in practice). In Latvia, there is a safeguard in the law permitting a decision to be made based on available documentation if applicants are unable to provide the required identity document and proof of inability to acquire another nationality. As to the remaining barriers, language barriers are common with applications often being required to be made in an official language, or with a certified translation, which can be costly. Some countries impose significant documentation requirements such as France, where applicants must submit a specific written form in French accompanied by two recent photographs and sometimes other documentation; Montenegro, where a birth certificate is usually required; and Ukraine, where despite the law providing for flexibility, in practice, photo ID, biometric data, and other documentation is often required. In some countries, applications are complex, lengthy, and excessively formal, such as in Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where applicants must also provide biometric information and establish their identity. In the Netherlands, municipalities are now only able to assess cases of ‘obvious statelessness’, which may push individuals to seek lengthy and costly judicial proceedings. Accessible information about the procedure Information about the procedure should be available to potential applicants in a language they understand, and this should be widely disseminated (for example online, through information campaigns, and/or individual counselling). In France, Georgia and Latvia, detailed information on how to obtain statelessness status is available online, both in English and in an official language. 29 In Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom there is some information online, although it is very limited. 30 To fill information gaps, UNHCR and NGOs often publish additional information for applicants on how to apply for the SDP, eligibility requirements, and procedural safeguards, for example, in Ukraine, Bulgaria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. However, in several countries, such as Hungary, Albania, and Montenegro there is no specific guidance on how to apply for statelessness status aimed at potential applicants. Competent authorities with expertise The relevant competent authorities, judiciary, and lawyers should have the right expertise, with access to training and information. Access to the procedure should be facilitated at an appropriate level for the country