Driving licence printing stalled for six weeks as provinces miss agreement deadline

Driving licence smart card printing across Nepal has been stopped since 14 August 2026, leaving a fresh backlog of around 250,000 licences waiting for cards.

How the halt started

From 17 July 2026 (1 Shrawan 2083), responsibility for licence printing shifted from the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) to the provinces. Under the Constitution, provinces handle vehicle registration and licences. DoTM had still been printing cards on their behalf and says it printed about 2.75 million cards in the past year before handing over.

DoTM Director Keshav Khatiwada said printing stopped because most provinces did not sign the required agreements with the Security Printing Center in time. Six provinces, except Madhesh, are yet to finalise their contracts, with many citing budget issues.

Impact on licence seekers

Since 14 August, new licence holders receive only their paper slip. Smart cards are not being printed.

People travelling abroad for jobs, study or peacekeeping are the worst hit. The earlier emergency window, which issued licences within 24 hours for urgent travel, is also suspended. Provincial transport offices have not put any replacement system in place.

Applicants are visiting DoTM and provincial offices daily, but officials say they cannot give a clear date for when printing will restart.

What provinces are doing

Provinces have given three main reasons for the delay:

• Budget shortages
• Staff shortages
• Technical issues in the new EDLVRS online licence system, including printing errors

In Bagmati Province, Senior Branch Officer Khagendra Poudel said no separate budget had been set aside for printing, so the province has now asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs for funds. He also pointed to EDLVRS technical problems slowing the agreement.

Sudurpashchim Province is stuck because its 2026/27 fiscal budget has not yet passed. Secretary Bishnu Bhandari at the Physical Infrastructure Development Ministry said the province will sign the printing agreement once the budget is approved.

Some provinces have moved ahead:

• Koshi Province has started the process and asked the Security Printing Center for its printing rate. It has set aside Rs 20 million for licence printing.
• Gandaki Province is in procurement. Spokesperson Muna Adhikari said the province has requested rates and technical specifications and plans to sign soon. Gandaki has allocated Rs 50 million for licence printing this fiscal year.

Will DoTM restart printing?

DoTM has requested permission from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to resume printing temporarily until all provinces complete their agreements. The department says it "cannot leave service seekers in trouble" because provincial printing has not started.

Officials say printing can restart once the ministry secures approval from the Finance Ministry.

For now, Nepali licence applicants should expect delays in getting their smart cards, even if they have passed trials and paid fees — and urgent travellers who once relied on 24-hour cards have lost that option. Until provinces fix budgets and sign printing deals, the licence card queue will keep growing.