Over 2.7 Million Smart Licenses Sent to Offices for Distribution

Kathmandu — The Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has completed the printing of driving licenses (smart cards) that had been stalled for the past four years and has accelerated the distribution process. Issuing a press release, the department informed that licenses stuck for a long time due to issues related to printing machinery, manpower management, software, and resources have recently been printed and sent to the respective transport offices.

In accordance with the agreement between the department and the Security Printing Center, all remaining licenses to be printed up to mid-July 2026 (Asar end, 2083 BS) have been prepared. According to available details, as of July 23 (Saun 7), 2,747,253 card units have been dispatched via postal service to respective transport management offices across the country for distribution. The department also expressed its gratitude to service seekers for demonstrating patience despite long delays and waiting periods.

However, the department clarified that licenses with less than one year of validity remaining have not been printed. Under current provisions, a license with a 10-year validity period can be obtained upon renewal; therefore, the department has requested service seekers whose licenses have less than a year remaining to visit a convenient office and proceed with the renewal process.

To make the licensing system more modern and hassle-free, the department has also introduced several new improvements. Details from the National Identity Card (NID) will now be utilized for new license applications and renewals, and system enhancements now allow revenue payments to be made directly online. Additionally, provisions have been made so that typographical or detail errors on licenses can be corrected immediately at the respective local offices, while a special fast-track printing and distribution mechanism has been set up for individuals going abroad for foreign employment.