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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Applications for new passports as of July 7

Belgrade, 4 July 2008

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic announced that applications for new Serbian passports will be accepted as of July 7 and called on citizens to show understanding for crowds at police station counters where passports are issued.

Bozidar Djelic

In a press conference, Djelic confirmed that there are certain red tape problems, but appealed to citizens to understand the state’s ambitious aim to issue the most modern passports.

I wish there were no crowds and that there were more resources to issue the documents, but the aim we set is very ambitious and calls for quick reaction, and this is out of keeping with our administration’s capacities, he explained.

The cost of issuing a new passport will total RSD 2,170, which is not the economic price, he said noting that a passport of similar quality in neighbouring countries costs from €70 to €150.

Citizens can also apply for new ID cards at the same counter, he said noting that old passports will be valid until the end of this year whereas for citizens living abroad until the end of next year.

Mirjana Orasanin

He explained that the deadline for citizens abroad needs to be longer so that they can gather all the documents in the country where they live, noting that if their old passport has expired citizens living abroad can get a travel paper in Serbia’s consular offices with which they can come to Serbia to get the new passport.

He also recalled that 204 new biometric passports have been issued so far and that the new passport is a precondition for including Serbia on the White Schengen List, i.e. visa-free travel.

The first passports will be ready in August since the problems at the Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins have been solved.

State Secretary of the Interior Ministry Mirjana Orasanin said that out of 65,000 requests for new ID cards, 45,000 have been processed, while 18,000 people rejected to have a chip in their ID card.

She noted that the final deadline for replacement of old ID cards is 2011.

Issuing a new passport takes 30 days from the date of submittal if submitted in Serbia, or 60 days if submitted abroad.

Citizens who apply for a new passport abroad will pay an additional fee of €15 as passports will only be issued in Serbia and not in diplomatic and consular offices abroad.