The licence process in Nepal is online-booked and in-person tested. The written exam is memorisation; the trial is the part that fails people.
The Department of Transport Management runs licensing through an online application followed by two in-person stages. Category A is motorcycle; Category B is car, jeep and van. Most people apply for both at once, which saves a full round of appointments.
Step 1 - the online application
Apply through the DoTM online portal. You will need:
- Citizenship certificate, or passport and visa for foreign applicants
- A blood group report
- A recent photograph meeting the portal's format
- A working mobile number - the appointment notification comes by SMS
The system assigns you a biometric appointment date at a specified office. Appointment availability is the main constraint; dates several weeks out are normal.
Step 2 - biometric registration
Attend on your date with the printed form and original documents. Fingerprints, photograph and signature are captured, and your documents verified. You receive a receipt and, in due course, an SMS with your written exam date.
Foreign applicants should bring the passport, valid visa, and a recommendation or address confirmation. Some offices additionally ask for a translated copy of an existing foreign licence if you are converting.
Step 3 - the written test
Multiple choice, drawn from a published syllabus covering traffic signs, road rules, basic mechanics and first aid. The question bank is available in Nepali and English, and the exam draws directly from it.
This stage is pure memorisation. Work through the full official question set twice and you will pass.
Results are posted the same day or the next, with your trial date.
Step 4 - the trial
This is where most failures happen.
Category A (motorcycle) - a marked course requiring you to ride a figure-eight or a narrow curved lane without putting a foot down, crossing a line, or stalling. It tests low-speed balance, which is not the same skill as riding on a road.
Category B (car) - a course with a parallel park, a reverse into a marked bay, and an uphill start on a ramp without rolling back. The ramp start fails people who have only driven automatics.
Both trials are pass or fail on strict criteria. Practise on an actual trial ground - several private grounds near the testing centres rent time and are worth the money for one or two sessions.
If you fail, you rebook the trial only, not the whole process.
Step 5 - collection
The smart-card licence is printed and either collected in person or posted. Between the pass and the card you are issued a temporary receipt which is accepted by traffic police.
Costs
| Item | Approximate cost (NPR) |
|---|---|
| Application fee, Category A | 1,500 |
| Application fee, Category B | 2,500 |
| Both categories together | 3,000 - 4,000 |
| Trial ground practice, per session | 500 - 1,500 |
| Renewal | 1,500 - 2,000 |
Fees are paid at the office counter or through the portal. There is no legitimate fast-track fee.
Converting a foreign licence
Holders of a valid foreign licence may apply for conversion rather than sitting the full process, subject to verification of the original licence and, in some cases, a written test. The rules vary by issuing country and are applied at the discretion of the office, so go in person and ask before assuming either outcome.
An International Driving Permit is valid in Nepal for short-term visitors but is not a substitute for a Nepali licence once you are resident.
Driving here
Traffic moves on the left. Horns are used as a signal of presence rather than aggression. Lane discipline is loose, and the practical rule is that the larger vehicle takes the space. Helmets are mandatory for riders and pillion passengers, and enforcement is real.
Carry the licence, the bluebook and proof of insurance. Checkpoints ask for all three.
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