Okay, so I needed to get myself a Serbian ID card. I’m not a Serbian citizen, but I’ve been hanging around here for a while now, way longer than the usual tourist. First off, I figured out who actually needs one of these things. Turns out, if you’re from outside the EU/EEA and you’re planning to stick around for more than 90 days, you’re gonna need it. Also, EU/EEA folks staying longer need one too. I fit the bill, so I started digging deeper.
I learned that any Serbian citizen over 16 with a valid biometric ID or passport can become an “eCitizen,” whatever that means. But for foreigners like me, it’s a bit different. If our ID card is all beat up or worn out, we gotta replace it. Makes sense.
I also found something about using a “qualified electronic certificate” to generate an electronic identity. Sounds fancy, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with that info yet.
One big question I had was whether I could travel within Serbia with just this ID. Good news – you can, as long as it’s valid. Turns out, even citizens of EU countries and Switzerland can use their IDs here. That’s pretty convenient.
Now, getting the card itself – that’s where it got a little tricky. It said I needed a valid travel document or ID card. Also, a valid visa if I have a passport. Luckily, I had all that sorted.
The Process:
- Gather Documents: I made sure I had my passport with a valid visa, proof of my address in Serbia, and some passport-sized photos. I hate taking those photos.
- Find the Police Station: I had to go to the local police station that handles these things. It took me a bit of asking around to find the right place.
- Fill Out Forms: There were some forms to fill out, of course. Nothing too crazy, just the usual personal info stuff.
- Pay the Fee: There’s a fee for the ID card, naturally. I paid it at some payment office thing nearby.
- Wait: This was the hardest part. It took a few weeks for the ID card to be ready.
- Pick It Up: Finally, I got a notification that my card was ready, and I went back to the police station to pick it up.
It wasn’t the most exciting process, but I got it done. Now I have my Serbian ID card, which makes things a lot easier around here. I don’t have to carry my passport everywhere, and it feels good to have a proper local ID.
I learned that even Serbian citizens over 10 can get one, but those over 16 must carry it all the time or they can get fined. I guess I’ll make sure to keep it on me!
Anyway, that’s the story of how I got my Serbian ID card. Not a thriller, but hopefully, it helps someone else out there going through the same thing. It’s really not that bad, just a bit of a bureaucratic hassle.
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