Vehicle Registration Center to issue driving licenses for the first time in more than a year

BEIRUT — The Vehicle Registration Center (Nafaa) will resume issuing private driving licenses starting on June 11, following a suspension of over a year, the National News Agency reported, citing a statement from the Nafaa issued on Thursday. 

The issuance of new driver's licenses has been interrupted since November 2022 after more than a hundred Vehicle Registration Center employees, including Road Traffic Department chief Hoda Salloum, were arrested over suspected corruption. State Security raided the Vehicle Registration Center in Dekwaneh, just east of Beirut, and seized fake car insurance papers. The raid was part of an investigation by Lebanese authorities, which revealed embezzlement by some officials who were selling driving licenses without requiring candidates to take exams.

The resumed services are geared toward candidates who successfully passed both theoretical and practical driving exams in 2022. The affected departments include Nabatiyeh, Sidon, Zahle, Tripoli, and the branches of Ouzai, Aley, and Jounieh.

To facilitate this process, the Nafaa has requested that eligible individuals either attend in person or coordinate through their respective driving schools. They must visit the specified centers according to the dates and times listed in the attached schedules. Candidates are required to present the following documents in addition to paying the required fees:

• A copy of the candidate's ID

• A certified passport photo

• A valid residence permit for foreigners

Furthermore, candidates who previously submitted their applications in the Ouzai and Aley branches and successfully passed their exams in 2022 are instructed to visit the main center in Dekwaneh. They can attend in person or through the relevant driving schools, ensuring they bring the necessary documents mentioned above.