Published 21 September 2026 (5 Asoj 2083). Compiled from the Security Printing Centre’s official driving licence page, the Department of Transport Management’s own notices, and Nepali media reporting from Shrawan–Asoj 2083. Dates and rules can change — confirm with your transport office.
Quick answer: If your smart licence card has not been printed for a month or more, you are not being singled out. Printing has been stalled since Shrawan 1, 2083 (17 July 2026) — more than two months — while responsibility for printing moves from the federal Department of Transport Management to the provincial governments, which had not started printing as of mid-Asoj. On top of that, the printing quota under the last contract ran out, leaving 1,52,747 cards unprinted. Meanwhile, the digital licence in the Nagarik App is legally accepted by traffic police, which is the practical answer for most people still waiting.
Why printing stopped: three things at once
1. The printing quota ran out
Cards were printed by the Security Printing Centre under two contracts with the department:
| Contract | Signed | Deadline | Target | Printed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Kartik 12, 2082 | Kartik 12, 2083 | 12,00,000 | 12,00,000 |
| Second | Baishakh 4, 2083 | Ashar 32, 2083 | 17,00,000 | 15,47,253 |
| Total | — | — | 29,00,000 | 27,47,253 |
The gap — 1,52,747 cards — was not printed. In a notice issued on 6 Bhadra 2083, department director Keshav Raj Khatiwal said licences with less than one year of validity remaining would not be printed; those holders are pushed towards renewal instead, and renewed licences now carry 10-year validity.
2. Printing is being handed to the provinces
Under the federal structure, licence printing moves from the department to the seven provincial governments. The handover took effect around Shrawan 1, 2083, but provinces had not begun printing — so new cards simply stopped coming out. The department’s own website shows the pattern clearly: its daily “licences ready for distribution” notices stop after Ashar 8, 2083.
3. The new online system had its own problems
Licence services (application, renewal, revenue payment) moved fully online from Shrawan 1, 2083, with separate provincial portals. Renewal and vehicle registration services were disrupted for weeks afterwards because of technical problems in the new centralised system — leaving people who could not renew on time exposed to late fees through no fault of their own. The department recommended that provincial transport ministries waive fines for the affected period.
What this means if you are waiting
- A one-month wait is now normal, and longer is common. Applicants who passed their trial well before Ashar are still waiting for cards.
- Your licence still exists. Passing the trial and paying the fee creates the licence record; the card is only the physical token.
- The card matters most for travel. A physical smart card is required when you need an International Driving Permit or when a foreign authority wants to see the licence itself.
Do this now: five practical steps
- Check your print status in the Nagarik App. The department added print status to the app (version 2.0.95, Android first): open the सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र section. If it is printed, you get a notice telling you to collect it from the office; if nothing appears, it is not printed yet.
- Link your licence to the Nagarik App if you have not. The digital licence has been officially accepted by traffic police since the department supplied QR-reading devices (Asoj 18, 2081) and the e-chalan system went live. Roughly 21.65 lakh of more than 40 lakh licence holders have linked records — mismatched old data is the usual reason linking fails, so fix it at your transport office.
- Carry your payment receipt and a photo ID along with the digital licence while you wait.
- If your licence is expiring, renew rather than wait for a reprint. Cards with under a year of validity are not being printed; renewal gives a 10-year licence. Renewal within 90 days of expiry costs the fee only — after that, penalties climb steeply, and a licence left unrenewed for more than five years is cancelled outright.
- Ask your own transport office for the district’s position, since provinces are now the printing authority and timelines will differ province to province.
What is coming next
- Home delivery: DoTM says its address selection system is ready and an agreement with Nepal Post is being finalised — Rs 40 standard, Rs 70 express. Details in our report on driving licence home delivery.
- Provincial printing: the backlog clears only when provinces actually start printing. Watch your province’s transport ministry notices.
Related reading: EDLVRS licence FAQ · renewal fines explained · International Driving Permit guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Why has my smart licence not been printed for months?
Printing has been stalled since Shrawan 1, 2083 while printing authority moves to the provinces, and the previous printing quota was exhausted with 1,52,747 cards left unprinted.
Can I drive legally without the physical card?
The digital licence in the Nagarik App is officially recognised by traffic police, and e-chalan works with it. Keep your payment receipt and ID with you as well, and confirm locally if you are unsure.
How do I check whether my licence is printed?
Open the Nagarik App’s सवारी चालक अनुमतिपत्र section. A notice appears only when the card has been printed, asking you to collect it from the office.
My licence expires soon and the card was never printed. What now?
Renew it. Licences with less than a year of validity are not being reprinted, and renewed licences are issued with 10-year validity. Renewing within 90 days of expiry avoids penalties.
Do I need the physical card for an International Driving Permit?
Yes — the physical smart card is required for IDP and for showing your licence abroad, which is why the backlog hurts people travelling for work or study the most.
When will printing restart?
No public restart date had been announced at the time of writing. It depends on provinces beginning printing under the new arrangement.
The bottom line
This is a system handover problem, not your application’s problem. Until provinces start printing, the realistic plan is: link the Nagarik App and use the digital licence, keep your receipt, renew early if your validity is short, and check the app rather than queuing at the office. We will update this article when printing resumes or the postal delivery agreement is signed.
Sources & disclaimer: Security Printing Centre driving licence printing page; DoTM notices and the department’s published distribution lists; reporting by TechPana, DigitalKhabar and People’s Review, Shrawan–Asoj 2083. Digital Solution Pvt. Ltd. is an independent publisher with no affiliation to DoTM; we cannot print, release or expedite any licence. Always confirm current rules with your transport office.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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