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Colombia: Procedures and identity documents required for obtaining or renewing a driver's licence, and whether these vary from department to department; procedure for obtaining a driver's licence in the Medellin region

According to information provided by consular staff of the Embassy of Colombia during a telephone interview on 9 January 2003, the basic requirements for obtaining a driver's licence are the same throughout Colombia, as these correspond to provisions of the Traffic Code (Código de Tránsito) which applies to the whole country.

The specialized journal Motor, published by the Colombian editorial house El Tiempo, reports that the Ministry of Transport has a central registry of driver's licences which allows verification of the authenticity of licences (Motor18 Dec. 2002). The journal quotes a lawyer specialized in traffic and transport issues as saying that if a person applied and obtained in person the licence, he or she would have: made a payment of procedural fees at a dedicated teller window, submitted to a medical examination, and approached a transit office where an official would have processed the documentation and issued him or her the card (ibid.). However, the lawyer cautions that some persons have chosen to use middlemen (intermediarios) that could have obtained a licence for them through fraudulent means or with legally-invalid documents, and recommends that those persons approach the authorities to apply for a driver's licence as if it were being requested for the first time (ibid.).

The Colombian legal information Internet portal Leyesnet provides detailed information on requirements for obtaining and renewing a driver's licence in Colombia, and does not indicate any major differences in requirements for different cities and departments (2002). Although Leyesnet reports two separate procedures for obtaining a licence for driving motorcycles and for other vehicles, all applicants must:

– be free of any pending traffic fines or tickets;

– submit a driver's licence application form;

– submit a photocopy of his or her national identity card or a voucher indicating that this card is in the process of being issued;

– submit the original certificate of a driving course completed at an institution approved by the Ministry of Transport;

– provide original proof of payment of the application fees (32,200 pesos);

– provide an original general and visual capacity medical certificate (examen médico general y de agudeza visual) issued no more than 30 days before the date of application;

– declare his or her blood type;

– provide a 3 cm x 4 cm colour photograph with a blue background (Leyesnet 2002).

Generally, to renew a licence or obtain a duplicate due to loss or theft of the original driver's licence the person must meet all the above requirements (except for medical information and driving course certificate) and include a photocopy or original of the driver's licence, or the theft/loss report and accompanying proof of having notified the Ministry of Transport (ibid.). If the application is for a renewal, the original will be requested at the time the new one is issued (ibid.).

Finally, minors must also present an original of a document showing permission and "solidary responsibility" (responsabilidad solidaria) of the persons who have parental responsibility for the minor, as well as a bond guaranteeing an equivalent of 500 minimum daily wages liability, valid until the applicant reaches the age of majority (ibid.).

The Colombian Internet portal Terra provides a similar description of requirements for obtaining car and motorcycle driver's licences, but it does indicate that the documents and renewal fees required in Bogota could differ from those required in other municipalities (7 Jan. 2003).

The municipal government of Medellin indicates the following requirements for obtaining a motorcycle or car driver's licence for the first time:

– a training certificate issued by a driving school;

– a medical certificate issued by a health centre or private physician and authorized by the Ministry of Health;

– a photocopy of the applicant's cédula or identity card;

– a cédula-sized colour photograph;

– proof of a bank deposit (consignación) for the Ministry of Transport;

– payment of the application fee at the specific teller windows (Colombia 10 Jan. 2003).

For renewing a motorcycle or car driver's licence, a person must submit all the above items, except for the training certificate, and must also show his or her original driver's licence (ibid.).

To obtain a duplicate, the person must submit:

– a notice from the Traffic Secretariat (Secretaría de Tránsito) where the original was issued;

– a medical certificate (see above);

– a photocopy of the cédula or identity card;

– a cédula-sized colour photograph; and

– proof of a bank deposit (consignación) for the Ministry of Transport (ibid.).

The municipal government of Medellin adds that minors applying for a driver's licence must submit a written authorization from their parents or guardian(s) and a financial or insurance bond (póliza de responsabilidad civil) (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Colombia. Embassy of Colombia, Ottawa. 9 January 2003. Telephone interview with consular staff.

Colombia. Municipal government of Medellin. 10 January 2003. "Requisitos para los diferentes trámites de licencia de conducción (Expedición, recategorización, refrendación y duplicado)." <http://www.medellin.gov.co/transito/ servicios.htm# LICENCIA%20DE%20CONDUCCIÓN> [Accessed 10 Jan. 2003]

Leyesnet [Bogota]. 2002. "Solicitud de licencias de conducción." <http://www.leyesnet. com/Classic/Tramites2.asp?TramiteID=12> [Accessed 10 Jan. 2003]

Motor [Bogota]. 18 December 2002. "Esta es la verdad." <http://motor.terra.com. co/noticias/otras/Tramites/2002-12-18/ARTICULO-WEB-MOTOR_NOTA_INTERIOR-221569.html> [Accessed 10 Jan. 2003]

Terra [Bogota]. 7 January 2003. "Trámites de tránsito." <http://www.terra.com.co/ servicios/tramites/tramitesdetransito1.html> [Accessed 8 Jan. 2003]