The Hell of Getting a Taxi License in Serbia: 25 Years of Waiting and a Mountain of Paperwork!
Imagine wanting to become a taxi driver in Serbia and waiting for 25 years! Yes, you read that right — a quarter of a century! Vladimir Jovanović is one of those dreaming of driving a taxi, but the bureaucratic machine won’t give him peace. Why? Because getting a taxi license in Serbia is a real nightmare.
A Mountain of Paperwork and Deadlines
To get a license, you need to collect at least six different documents, each with its own validity period — from 15 days to three years. You must have no criminal record, hold a professional driver’s license, have a certificate of city knowledge, and more. And that certificate? It’s not just about knowing the streets; you must know the history behind street names, landmarks like Avala and Tašmajdan.
Why Is This Important?
Aleksandar Bjelić, president of the Serbian Taxi Associations Union, says knowing the city is crucial because cities are full of tourists, and taxi drivers should be true ambassadors. Yet, in the last two years, only about 2 taxi drivers have received licenses, while many others are still waiting.
Not Enough Spots for Everyone
Although there is room for new taxi drivers, the number of licenses isn’t increasing because a study by the Traffic Faculty dictates how many taxis a city can have. Taxi work has dropped by 50% in the past year, so there’s no need for many new licenses. But that doesn’t mean the process is easy — bureaucracy and document deadlines create real drama.
Individual Problems and Systemic Chaos
Vladimir says his case is individual but supports control because otherwise, taxis would lose their meaning. Still, the question is whether the system is too complicated and if it’s time for reform. Can someone who wants to work and meets the requirements wait decades because of paperwork and deadlines?
Conclusion
While Serbia struggles with bureaucracy, people like Vladimir remain stuck in a system that doesn’t work. Is this the right way to regulate taxi transport? Or is it time to simplify things and let people work without endless waiting and piles of paperwork?
If you’ve ever waited for a taxi and thought how hard it must be to be a taxi driver, now you know why! Got similar stories about bureaucracy? Or know someone who waited years for a permit? Share your stories so we can all laugh or cry together about this Serbian reality!
