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Colombia: Validity period of a Colombian driver's licence; whether Colombian driver's licences bear an issuing date; procedures to obtain a driver's licence (institutions involved, place of issuance, documents, steps involved) (2005 - January 2006)

Article 22 of the Código de Tránsito de Colombia states that driver's licences authorizing one to drive a personal car are valid indefinitely (Colombia 8 Nov. 2002). Article 17 of the Código lists all the characteristics appearing on a regular Colombian driver's licence, including the issuing date but not the expiry date (ibid.).

A consular official from the Embassy of Colombia in Ottawa confirmed that, following new regulations, driver's licences also bear the issuing date (27 Jan. 2006).

The Website of the Ministry of Transportation of Colombia added that even though the licence is of [translation] "unlimited validity," the holder needs to undergo a professional medical exam every six years to prove his or her physical suitability to drive a vehicle, in accordance with Article 139 of Decree 2150/95 (Colombia 2001).

Drivers over 65 years of age need to renew their licence on a yearly basis (ibid. 8 Nov. 2002). Licences to drive commercial vehicles need to be renewed every three years (Colombia 2001; ibid. 8 Nov. 2002).

Article 23 of the Código de Tránsito de Colombia states that one can renew a license at any authorized transit organization and that this process [translation] "will not take more than 24 hours once the [holder's] documentation has been accepted" (Colombia 8 Nov. 2002). A licence will not be renewed if it has been suspended for some reason or if the holder has not paid in full any fines incurred (ibid.).

No other information could be found on the process for renewal of a driver's licence among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Article 19 of the Código de Tránsito de Colombia lists the conditions for obtaining a driver's licence for the first time: being able to read and write, being at least 16 years of age, passing a theoretical and practical exam or producing a driving aptitude certificate obtained in a recognized driving school and presenting a mental and physical health certificate issued by a recognized doctor (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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Colombia. 27 January 2006. Embassy of Colombia in Canada. Written communication from a consular official.
_____. 8 November 2002. "Título II – Régimen Nacional de Tránsito. Capítulo II – Licencias de Conducción." Código de Tránsito de Colombia. <http://www.colombia.com/noticias/codigotransito/t2c2.asp> [Accessed 14 Dec. 2005]
_____. 2001. Ministerio de Transporte. "¿Cuáles son los requisitos para la expedición y vigencia de la licencia de conducción?" <http://www.mintransporte.gov.co/FAQ/9.htm> [Accessed 12 Jan. 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: ConducirColombia.com, Factiva, Portal del Estado Colombiano, Rama Judicial de Colombia, Secretaría de Tránsito y Transporte de Bogotá, Semana, Servicios Especializados en Trámites de Tránsito de Bogotá.