Nepal to Extend Driving License Validity to 10 Years

Kathmandu: In a major legal reform, Nepal’s Parliament has approved a bill to extend the validity of driving licenses from five to ten years. This change comes through the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Bill, which modifies provisions of the Transport Management Act, 2049 (1992 AD).

What Has Changed?

The current law—Clause 54, Sub-clause 3 of the Transport Management Act—states that a driver’s license remains valid for five years. The new amendment replaces “five years” with “ten years,” officially doubling the license period.

As per the approved bill, license renewals will also now be valid for ten years, ensuring longer validity periods both for new and renewed licenses.

This bill was originally introduced by former Law Minister Dhanraj Gurung during the previous government. It was registered in the House of Representatives on May 9, 2023 (26 Baisakh 2080 BS) and forwarded to the relevant committee on September 15, 2023 (29 Bhadra 2080 BS). After committee approval, it returned to Parliament on April 26, 2025 (14 Baisakh 2081 BS) and was passed on April 29, 2025.

What Happens Next?

The bill will now be forwarded to the National Assembly. After its passage there, it will return to the House of Representatives for final approval, then proceed to the President of Nepal for certification. Once endorsed, the new 10-year license rule will become official law.

This update is expected to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency in license processing, and benefit millions of Nepali drivers.