During the process of switching to a Kosovo driver’s license, Serbian driver’s licenses will be physically damaged by Kosovo institutions, the Kosovo Police confirmed for KoSSev.
„According to the information available to the police, Serbian driver’s licenses will be hole -punched in two places as it is considered to be an invalid document and as such they will be returned to the applicant together with a valid Kosovo driver’s license,“ Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police, Veton Elshani, said in a statement for KoSSev.
Last week, the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs decided to allow citizens to switch from Serbian driver’s licenses issued to citizens in Kosovo, which Kosovo authorities perceive as illegal, to Kosovo driver’s licenses.
The decision entered into force on May 9. Residents will be able to switch to Kosovo driver’s licenses for the next three months – until August 9, 2024. From that point on, Serbian permits issued for citizens in Kosovo will no longer be permitted in the territory of Kosovo.
Due to May 9th being a weekend, the decision was officially applied from May 10th.
77 requests for the replacement of driver’s licenses submitted so far
On that day, 29 requests were submitted for exchange of Serbian driver’s licenses for Kosovo ones, the Kosovo Minister of the Interior, Xhelal Svecla, confirmed.
The Kosovo Police of the region north told KoSSev that 44 requests were submitted today throughout Kosovo, both in municipalities north and south of the Ibar.
The deputy commander of the KP of the region north, Veton Elshani, said that the Center in charge of issuing documents will also be open on Saturdays.
„Last Saturday, only four requests were submitted because residents were not aware of this,“ added Elshani.
Conditions to switch driver’s licenses
The Kosovo MIA also revealed the conditions and processes for this procedure.
In order to apply for a transfer from a Serbian to a Kosovo driver’s license, citizens must possess:
Driving licenses issued by the Republic of Serbia for persons who passed the driving test for the corresponding categories after June 10, 1999, until May 9 of this year (the date of entry into force of the Decision of the Kosovo Ministry of Interior).
Driving licenses of the former SFRY or the former FRY, for persons who passed the driving test for the corresponding categories in Kosovo before June 10, 1999, but their validity period was extended by the Republic of Serbia after June 10, 1999, until May 9.
Documentation
Citizens, along with the request, must also submit the following documentation to the Center in charge of issuing documents:
A copy of the Kosovo ID card, the original driver’s license issued by the Serbian authorities, a medical certificate and proof of fee payment.
When it comes to medical certificates, certificates issued by Serbian health institutions will not be accepted for this process, exclusively those given by Kosovo institutions. For category B/BE, the price of the certificate is 20 euros and 50 euros for C and D. The mentioned fee is 15 euros.
At the same time, adding categories from the Serbian to the Kosovo driver’s license is also allowed for persons who passed the exam for the corresponding categories after June 10, 1999, until May 9. For that, citizens additionally need, in addition to other documents, an original UNMIK or RKS driver’s license.
Pristina invited all citizens who have a Serbian driver’s license to apply for an „official driver’s license of the Republic of Kosovo“ through an electronic application form on the website.
However, this link is still not functional.
The entire process of obtaining a Kosovo driver’s license takes 15 days.
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