1.2 Million QR Code Licenses Ready for Printing in Nepal
QR Code Smart Licenses
30th October 2025, Kathmandu
The long-standing frustration of service-seekers carrying paper slips as temporary driving licenses is finally nearing its end.
QR Code Smart Licenses
The Security Printing Center (SPC), in collaboration with the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), is fully preparing to start the mass printing of new, enhanced QR Code Smart Licenses. This initiative is a major relief for the estimated 1.2 million individuals urgently waiting for their permanent cards.
This major printing drive focuses on addressing the substantial backlog that accumulated after the DoTM’s printing machine was destroyed during the recent Gen-Z protests. The immediate plan targets the printing of 1.2 million cards for those needing them most, including citizens preparing for foreign employment and others with urgent requirements.
Moving from Chip to QR Code Technology
The new smart driving licenses will feature a significant technological change. Previously, licenses printed by the DoTM were embedded with an electronic chip.
However, the new smart cards printed by the SPC will instead utilize an integrated QR Code Smart Licenses system. Gopal Raj Timilsina, Deputy Secretary at the Security Printing Center, confirmed that the center is completely prepared for the change.
He explained that the card retains its smart features but replaces the chip with a QR code for data storage and security. This shift addresses issues of chip quality and compatibility with the SPC’s existing printing infrastructure in Banepa.
The 1.2 Million Card Printing Strategy
Director Narahari Tiwari of the DoTM indicated that the SPC would initially print 1.2 million of the estimated 2.5 million licenses currently in the backlog. The agreement mandates the SPC to print and hand over these 1.2 million cards to the DoTM within three to six months.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing this agreement was signed on Wednesday by Rajiv Pokhrel, Director General of the DoTM, and Devraj Dhungana, Executive Director of the SPC.
The SPC has confirmed that all necessary equipment for printing has been ready and installed in Banepa for several years. The printing process awaits only the immediate transfer of required data from the DoTM. Officials expect the printing work to begin very soon, possibly within a week, once this technical step is completed.
Priority for Urgent Requirements
This development brings significant relief to service-seekers who have been severely affected by the delays, especially after the DoTM’s Minbhawan office suffered extensive damage and arson during the protests on September 8 and 9.
The destruction of the only license printing machine halted the service indefinitely, particularly impacting migrant workers. The DoTM plans to prioritize both urgent applicants, such as those traveling abroad, and those who have been on the long-term waiting list.
In the initial phase, the SPC has agreed to print 500 licenses daily for those with immediate needs. Subsequently, the DoTM will develop its own distribution mechanism for the remaining cards. The department plans to start with a smaller volume and gradually increase the daily printing capacity.
Cost and Technical Details
The destruction of the DoTM’s infrastructure, including the printing machine, servers, and other technical systems, created an unprecedented crisis in license issuance. The shift to the SPC and the QR code system is a vital step toward restoring normal service.
The estimated cost of printing one QR Code Smart Licenses card, excluding taxes, is approximately Rs. 195.17. The Security Printing Center Board determined this cost.
Under the agreement, the DoTM will supply the budget required for the printing operation, emphasizing that the SPC operates purely on a cost-reimbursement basis for the agency requesting the service. This new printing phase promises to eliminate the lengthy wait and provide service-seekers with a robust, technologically updated, and durable license card.
For more: QR Code Smart Licenses
