KATHMANDU: Nepal has introduced a fully online system for driving license services, allowing applicants to submit applications, renew licenses and pay fees digitally. At the same time, the government has announced that the four-year backlog of smart license printing has been cleared.
The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) said the new online platform is now operational. Applicants can use the QR code on their National Identity Card or the Nagarik App to automatically fill in personal details on the application form. The auto-fill feature is expected to reduce errors and save time.
License application fees and renewal charges can also be paid online, eliminating the need to visit banks for revenue payments.
Under the new system, applicants will only need to visit the transport office for the mandatory medical examination. The department said it is also working to integrate medical reports into the online platform. Separate web portals have been developed for all seven provinces to simplify access to online services.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced that the printing of 2.7 million smart driving licenses has been completed, ending a backlog that had persisted for four years.
The licenses were printed under two agreements between the Security Printing Center and the Department of Transport Management. The first phase covered 1.2 million licenses, while the second phase added another 1.5 million.
With the backlog cleared, the ministry said newly approved licenses will now be printed and handed over to the department within 24 hours of receiving applicant details. The Security Printing Center is currently printing between 3,000 and 5,000 smart licenses each day for applicants who have passed the driving test or renewed their licenses.
The government is also preparing to coordinate with all seven provincial governments for future smart license printing. In addition, the Security Printing Center plans to produce other secure documents, including citizenship certificates, National Identity Cards, excise stickers, postage stamps and land ownership certificates within Nepal, reducing dependence on foreign printing and strengthening domestic public services.
