Driving Licence Renewal Services Resume : 5 Urgent Updates

The driving licence update process at the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has finally regained movement after nearly two months of paralysis. This development brings relief to thousands of drivers across the country. In this article, we break down the situation, explain what you need to do, and highlight the key steps for both renewal and new licences.

What happened? The disruption and its impact

Arson, data-centre damage & halted services

In early September 2025, during the Gen Z protests in Nepal, the DoTM headquarters in Minbhawan, Kathmandu, were set ablaze. The blaze destroyed key infrastructure:

• Licence-printing machines and the embossed number plate plant.
• The central data-centre serving electronic driving licence records and the Nagarik App verification system.
• Thousands of pre-printed driving licences and embossed plates ready for distribution.

Nationwide halt of services

With infrastructure down, all 42 transport offices across Nepal suspended new driving licence applications, renewals and printing. The DoTM’s internal notice confirmed total service shutdown until further notice. According to reports, about 6,000-7,000 new licence applications and 4,000-5,000 trial tests had been processed daily prior to the halt.

What the disruption means for you

• If your licence expired or is near expiry, you may have to wait or rush for renewal.
• New applicants cannot currently apply until full service restoration.
• Digital verification via the Nagarik App was off-line, meaning you may need to carry physical documents.

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What has resumed and where?

Renewal services back in partial mode

As of early November 2025, the DoTM has restarted renewal and related driving licence update services in 21 out of 42 Transport Management Offices (TMOs) nationwide. Five additional offices are “in the process” of resuming.

Still limited and gradual

The director Keshav Khatiwada of the DoTM clarified that only “partial services” have begun. Some locations-such as Pokhara, Itahari, Lahan, Butwal, Dhangadhi, Dang and Chitwan-are still severely damaged and thus excluded from the first wave of resumption.

Printing backlog & urgent licences

• Before the fire, approximately 2.5 million driving licences were pending printing. Khabarhub
• The DoTM signed an agreement to print 1.2 million of these within six months with the Security Printing Centre.
• For urgent cases (e.g., foreign employment), priority printing has been arranged directly with the Printing Centre.

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New driving licence applications: the hold-up

While renewal services (driving licence update) are resuming, new driving licence applications remain suspended.

Why the hold-up?

• The core server and digital systems were destroyed and need full restoration.
• The printing machines for new licences were damaged beyond repair.
• The DoTM has stated that new applications will be accepted only after all offices are operational and the system is stable.

What to expect

• The DoTM plans to open applications province-wise and will set specific timelines.
• Until then, applicants should monitor the DoTM site (e.g., dotm.gov.np) or local TMO notices for reopening.
• Carry extra patience: reopening may take several weeks or months depending on infrastructure repair.

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How to proceed with your driving licence update or renewal

Step-by-step for renewal (driving licence update)

1. Check your local TMO: Visit your provincial Transport Management Office website or contact them to confirm whether renewal services are available.
2. Gather necessary documents:
   • Existing driving licence
   • Identification (citizenship, passport)
   • Recent photograph (if required)
   • Medical fitness certificate (if applicable)
3. Visit the service centre: Since digital services are still patchy, you may need to apply in person at the TMO branch that has been reopened.
4. Complete the renewal form: Ask for a driving licence renewal form (or online version via dotm.gov.np when available) and fill in the details.
5. Pay applicable fee: Make the payment as per DoTM fee schedule, get the receipt.
6. Await processing & printing: Given the backlog, it could take longer. For urgent cases (foreign employment, etc.) mention your priority case.
7. Collect your renewed licence: Once printed and ready, collect your renewed driving licence.

Key tips

• Expect delays: Given the backlog of 2.5 million licences and damaged machines, processing will be slower.
• Go early morning: When renewal offices reopen, arrive early to avoid long queues.
• Digital check: Use the Nagarik App (once service restored) to verify your renewal and license status.

What this means for digital services, apps and the future

The disruption caused by the fire highlights several lessons and upcoming changes for the transport sector:

• A shift to QR-code based smart driving licences via the Printing Centre, replacing older chip-based cards.
• An opportunity for the DoTM to bolster disaster-recovery systems, decentralise data and build resilience into the digital driving licence and vehicle-registration infrastructure.
• For citizens: an incentive to familiarise themselves with digital platforms like the Nagarik App and keep digital/physical duplicates of their driving licence and vehicle registration.
• For renewal and new driving licence applicants: when services fully resume, expect improved online workflows enabled by modernised data management and printing systems.

FAQ : Driving License Service Resumes