From Monday, June 29, 2015, the Department of Road Transport will proceed with the issuance of new driving licenses of type and dimensions of "credit card".
In the meantime, paper-type driving licenses will cease to be issued from next Monday, while they will be gradually withdrawn from circulation. Speaking at a press conference, on the occasion of issuing driving licenses in plastic form, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Marios Dimitriadis said that the European model of driving license, which will be issued in the Republic of Cyprus, "will be a plastic card similar to the credit card, which provides greater protection against counterfeiting". As Mr. Dimitriadis noted, the new driving license will be replaced at regular intervals to ensure that the information contained in the holder is updated ", adding that" updating the holder's details and standardizing the new driving license at a pan-European level will facilitate cross-border enforcement ". With regard to driving licenses issued before 19 January 2013, the Minister of Transport said that he would continue to be valid throughout the European Union and be in circulation until 19 January 2033. “The work of issuing the new driving license in plastic form is practical proof that the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works remains committed to fighting bureaucracy, in the modernization of the offered services and in the service of the citizen ", said Mr. Dimitriadis. The Director of the Road Transport Department, Sotiris Koletas, said that from January 19, 2013 all the new driving licenses issued throughout the European Union are of the type "Credit card", with a standard European format and security features. He also said that the new European license will gradually replace the more than 110 different paper and plastic models currently used by more than 300 million drivers across the European Union. "All new driving licenses", he noted, "will be issued with the new credit card type, with a photo of the holder and standard information, which will be easily identifiable throughout the European Union. ”Mr. Koletas explained that the new driving license includes security features set out in Directive 2006/126 / EC which are able to prevent counterfeiting, noting that its renewal ensures that the details of the license remain up to date. Regarding the driving licenses issued before January 19, 2013, Mr. Koletas said that their holders have not the obligation to replace them, because they remain valid until 19/01/2033, except in cases that expire earlier. However, he said that those who wish can replace the paper driving license they hold, with the payment of a fee of 40 euros.Source: KYPE