No More Waiting Years for a Smart Licence: Nepal Clears 2.7 Million Card Backlog

Kathmandu- After years of frustration, long queues, and endless waiting, Nepal’s smart driving licence backlog has finally been cleared.

The government has announced that all pending smart licence cards awaiting printing have now been completed, bringing an end to one of the country’s most persistent public service delays.

According to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, a total of 2.7 million smart driving licences have been printed under two separate agreements between the ministry, the Security Printing Centre, and the Department of Transport Management.

With the backlog now cleared, newly approved licences and renewals are set to be processed much faster. The Security Printing Centre said it will print and hand over smart licence cards to the Department of Transport Management within 24 hours of receiving applicants’ details.

The department currently sends details of around 3,000 to 5,000 applicants daily, including those who have passed their driving tests and paid the required fees, as well as licence renewal applicants.

Officials say the new system is already in operation and is expected to make licence distribution quicker, more efficient, and significantly more user-friendly.

The development marks a major breakthrough for thousands of service seekers who have long complained about delays in receiving their smart licences, with some applicants previously waiting months—or even years—for their cards to arrive.

For many motorists across Nepal, the era of waiting endlessly for a smart licence may finally be over.