KATHMANDU: Printing of driving licenses has been suspended for nearly six weeks after most provincial governments failed to sign agreements with the Department of Printing and Security Printing Center.
The printing work has been halted since August 14, 2026, after the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) handed over responsibility for printing licenses to the provinces from July 17, 2026.
Under Nepal’s constitutional system, provinces are responsible for matters related to vehicle registration and driving licenses. However, the DoTM had continued printing licenses on behalf of the provinces.
DoTM Director Keshav Khatiwada said the printing stopped because the provinces failed to complete the required agreements on time.
According to him, six provinces, excluding Madhesh, have not yet signed agreements with the Security Printing Center. Most have cited budget-related issues for the delay. Around 250,000 driving licenses issued since August 14, are still awaiting printing.
“The provinces are responsible for all license-related work under the Constitution. However, the department had been printing licenses on their behalf. We printed and distributed around 2.75 million licenses over the past year,” Khatiwada said.
He said the department has requested permission from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to resume printing temporarily until the provinces complete their agreements.
“We cannot leave service seekers in trouble because the provinces have not started printing. We have requested the ministry to allow the department to print licenses temporarily. Printing will resume as soon as the ministry gets approval from the Finance Ministry,” he said.
Service seekers affected
The prolonged suspension has particularly affected people traveling abroad for employment, study and peacekeeping missions.
Before the suspension, the department provided licenses within 24 hours under an emergency service for people with urgent travel requirements. That service has also been suspended, while provincial transport offices have not introduced an alternative arrangement.
Hundreds of applicants are visiting the DoTM and transport offices every day to ask when their licenses will be available. However, officials have been unable to provide a clear timeline.
The government had announced that driving licenses would be available within 24 hours from Shrawan. However, delays in transferring the printing responsibility to the provinces have disrupted the plan.
Provinces cite different reasons
Provincial governments have cited budget shortages, staff shortages and problems with the department’s new EDLVRS online system as reasons for the delay.
In Bagmati Province, Senior Branch Officer Khagendra Poudel said the province had not allocated a separate budget for license printing and has now requested funds from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
He also said technical problems in the new EDLVRS system, including printing-related errors, had delayed the agreement process.
Sudurpashchim Province has also been unable to proceed because its current fiscal year budget has not yet been passed. Physical Infrastructure Development Ministry Secretary Bishnu Bhandari said the agreement would be signed once the budget is approved.
Koshi Province, however, has started the process. Internal Affairs and Law Ministry Deputy Secretary Bhojraj Dahal said the province had asked the Security Printing Center to provide its printing rate. The province has allocated Rs 20 million for license printing.
Gandaki Province has also started its procurement process. Ministry spokesperson Muna Adhikari said the province has requested the required rates and specifications and plans to complete the agreement soon. The province has allocated Rs 50 million for license printing this fiscal year.
