Artikel 2

1. Responsibility shall be considered to be transferred on the expiry of a period of two years of actual and continuous stay in the second State with the agreement of its authorities or earlier if the second State has permitted the refugee to remain in its territory either on a permanent basis or for a period exceeding the validity of the travel document.
This period of two years shall run from the date of admission of the refugee to the territory of the second State or, if such a date cannot be established, from the date on which he presents himself to the authorities of the second State.
2. For the calculation of the period specified in paragraph 1 of this Article:
a. stays authorised solely for the purpose of studies, training or medical care shall not be taken into account;
b. periods of imprisonment of the refugee imposed in connection with a criminal conviction shall not be taken into account;
c. periods during which the refugee is allowed to remain in the territory of the second State pending an appeal against a decision of refusal of residence or of removal from the territory shall only be taken into account if the decision on the appeal is favourable to the refugee;
d. periods during which the refugee leaves on a temporary basis the territory of the second State for not more than three consecutive months or, on more than one occasion, for not more than six months in total, shall be taken into account, such absences not being deemed to interrupt or suspend the stay.
3. Responsibility shall also be deemed to be transferred if readmission of the refugee to the first State can no longer be requested under Article 4.