Serbia introduces new passports next year

All Serbian citizens will be issued with new passports by December 21, 2008, according to the Interior Ministry. Only 11 percent of Serbian citizens have passports issued currently, the MUP added. Serbia introduces new passports next year According to the ministry, the first new passports will be issued in March next year. The MUP is technologically in a position to distribute all the passports within nine months. The new passports meet EU standards, which will help Serbia in its efforts to get on the Schengen white list for visas. The MUP believes that Serbian citizens are discouraged from applying for passports because of the difficult conditions for receiving visas, a statement said. The new passports, they say, will allow for easier visa access because all information will be filed automatically and all the necessary protective elements of the document will be in place. Interior Ministry Secretary Milorad Todorovic said that Serbian citizens will have an easier time traveling abroad by 2009. “The deadline for changing the current passports is December 31, 2008, and the new passport will begin to be issued from March 1, 2008. It is possible to get them out in such a short period of time because we will be technologically ready for fast production,” Todorovic said. The MUP does not know how much the new passports will cost, but said that the process of issuing will be much easier. They will be valid for five years at a time, and two years for persons under the age of 14. New visa-related meeting in September The Serbian Government EU Integration Office Director Tanja Miscevic praised the Interior Ministry for bringing the proposal before parliament quickly, adding that this was a good step towards European integration. “We have a big meeting with the EU on September 13- 14 for improving legal and internal affairs. This is the first event that we can show as a positive move at this meeting. The meeting will mark the start of discussions regarding the Schengen white list,” she said. The meeting will also feature the European Commission’s yearly progress report on Serbia.

Serbia introduces new passports next year

According to the ministry, the first new passports will be issued in March next year. The MUP is technologically in a position to distribute all the passports within nine months.

The new passports meet EU standards, which will help Serbia in its efforts to get on the Schengen white list for visas.

The MUP believes that Serbian citizens are discouraged from applying for passports because of the difficult conditions for receiving visas, a statement said.

The new passports, they say, will allow for easier visa access because all information will be filed automatically and all the necessary protective elements of the document will be in place.

Interior Ministry Secretary Milorad Todorović said that Serbian citizens will have an easier time traveling abroad by 2009.

“The deadline for changing the current passports is December 31, 2008, and the new passport will begin to be issued from March 1, 2008. It is possible to get them out in such a short period of time because we will be technologically ready for fast production,” Todorović said.

The MUP does not know how much the new passports will cost, but said that the process of issuing will be much easier. They will be valid for five years at a time, and two years for persons under the age of 14.

New visa-related meeting in September

The Serbian Government EU Integration Office Director Tanja Miščević praised the Interior Ministry for bringing the proposal before parliament quickly, adding that this was a good step towards European integration.

“We have a big meeting with the EU on September 13- 14 for improving legal and internal affairs. This is the first event that we can show as a positive move at this meeting. The meeting will mark the start of discussions regarding the Schengen white list,” she said.

The meeting will also feature the European Commission’s yearly progress report on Serbia.