How to Renew a Driving License via Nagarik App

Standing in a queue at the Transport Management Office (TMO) used to be the only way to renew a Nepali driving license. Today, most of that process can be started — and often finished almost entirely — from your phone using the Nagarik App, the Government of Nepal's official citizen services app. This guide walks through eligibility, documents, the exact renewal steps inside the app, digital fee payment, when a biometric visit is still required, and how to track and collect your new smart card.

Eligibility and Renewal Window Before Expiry

Before you open the app, check where you stand:

• Validity period: A standard (non-professional) driving license in Nepal is valid for 5 years. Professional licenses (taxi, bus, truck) typically require renewal every 2 years.
• Early renewal window: You can apply for renewal up to 6 months before your printed expiry date. Renewing early does not cost you any validity — your new license period begins from your original expiry date, not from the day you renew.
• Grace period after expiry: Transport offices generally allow a grace window after expiry (commonly cited as around 35 days, though this has varied) during which you can renew without a late penalty. After that, a late fee of roughly NPR 200 per year of delay is added.
• Long-expired licenses: If your license has been expired for more than 5 years, you may be required to re-sit the written exam as though applying fresh — so don't let a renewal slide for too long.

Because exact grace-period figures and late fees are revised periodically by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), check the figure shown against your own license inside the app before assuming a deadline.

Documents Required for Renewal

Keep these ready before you start the online application — scanned or clearly photographed, ideally under 1 MB per file:

• Original citizenship certificate (front and back), or National ID / passport where applicable.
• Your existing (old) driving license — the physical smart card or its number and details.
• A recent passport-size photograph, if the app prompts for a fresh one.
• A mobile number registered in your own name, since this is linked to your OTP verification and appears on your license record.
• A basic medical certificate or in-app medical self-declaration, required for certain categories or age groups.
• Blood group information, if not already on file.

Applicants currently abroad can still start the process, but note that DoTM generally does not accept embassy-notarized or purely digitally signed documents for this step — original document verification typically still needs a physical visit, whether by you or a trusted person on your behalf.

Step-by-Step: Applying for Renewal on Nagarik App

1. Open the Nagarik App and make sure it is updated to the latest version (older versions may be missing recent driving-license features).
2. Log in with your registered mobile number and MPIN, or set one up if this is your first time using the app for this service.
3. Go to the Driving License section from the services menu.
4. Select Renewal and enter your existing license number along with your date of birth exactly as printed on your card.
5. Review your pre-filled personal details pulled from citizenship records; correct any mismatched fields before continuing, since incorrect details can cause the application to be rejected later.
6. Upload the required documents (citizenship, photo, medical declaration) in the requested format and size.
7. Choose your nearest or preferred Transport Management Office for record purposes, even if a physical visit isn't strictly required for your case.
8. Submit the application and note the reference or application number shown — you'll need it to track status later.

Paying the Renewal Fee Digitally

Once your application is accepted for processing, the app will prompt you to pay the government fee. Renewal fees vary by vehicle category:

Vehicle Category	Approx. Renewal Fee
Two-wheeler (Category A)	NPR 1,500
Light vehicle / car (Category B)	NPR 2,000
Medium vehicle	NPR 2,500
Heavy vehicle	NPR 3,000

Payment can be made directly through the app using eSewa, Khalti, or connected bank transfer options. Save the digital payment receipt — you will need to present it, along with your old license, when you eventually collect the new smart card at your Transport Office. Late renewals add a penalty of roughly NPR 200 per year of delay on top of the base fee, so confirm the total shown in the app before paying.

Booking an Appointment or Biometric Update If Required

Many straightforward renewals — where your photo, signature, and fingerprints on file are still current and valid — can be completed without a fresh biometric capture. However, a physical TMO visit is generally still required if:

• Your license has been expired for an extended period and biometric records need refreshing.
• The system flags a document mismatch or missing verification that can only be resolved in person.
• You are updating your photograph, signature, or address on the new smart card.
• Your license category requires a fresh medical checkup at this renewal cycle.

If a visit is needed, the app or the linked DoTM portal will let you select an available appointment slot at your chosen office. Arrive with your original citizenship document and old license; TMOs typically process biometric verification and document checks on specific weekdays, so booking early avoids being pushed into the next available cycle.

Tracking Renewal Status and Collecting the New License

After submission and payment, you can track progress directly inside the Nagarik App's Driving License section. Once the Department of Transport Management dispatches your smart card for printing, the app sends an in-app notification stating that your license has been printed and is ready for collection at your concerned office — this print-status check feature is one of the more recent additions to the app.

When you go to collect your renewed smart card:

• Bring your original revenue payment receipt (digital or printed).
• Bring your old license card — it is cancelled and typically retained by the office once the new one is issued.
• Until you physically collect the new card, the digital license shown in the Nagarik App (or your payment receipt) can generally serve as temporary proof that renewal is in progress.

FAQs

Can I renew if I'm currently outside Nepal?

Yes, the online application can be started from abroad, but original document verification generally still requires a physical visit by you or a trusted representative in Nepal.

Do I lose validity if I renew a few months early?

No. Your new validity period is calculated from your original expiry date, not from your renewal date, so renewing early costs you nothing.

Is the written or practical exam required again for renewal?

Generally no, for renewals completed within the standard window. If your license has lapsed for an extended period (commonly cited around 5 years), a written exam may be required again.

What if my license has already expired?

You can still renew within the grace period with a smaller or no late fee; beyond that window, a late fee accrues per year of delay, and driving on an expired license — even during the grace period — is technically not permitted under Nepali traffic law.

Can I use a National ID instead of a citizenship certificate?

A National ID number is accepted for several government digital services and may be usable during application, though your original citizenship document is still commonly requested at the verification stage.

Key Takeaways

• Renew up to 6 months before expiry through the Nagarik App — you never lose validity by renewing early.
• Keep your citizenship document, old license, and photo ready and correctly sized before starting the application.
• Pay the fee digitally through eSewa, Khalti, or bank transfer directly in the app, and save the receipt.
• A physical TMO visit is only required for biometric refresh, document mismatches, or photo/signature updates.
• Track your print status inside the app and bring your old license plus payment receipt when collecting the new smart card.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. Renewal fees, grace periods, and required documents are set and periodically revised by the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Please confirm the current figures and process directly in the Nagarik App or at dotm.gov.np before relying on any specific fee or deadline mentioned here.