Ghana's DVLA Replaces Handwritten International Driving Permits with Biometric IDs

The DVLA has taken a major step toward modernizing its public services by ending the manual writing of international driving permits and licences.

Under the newly implemented system, documents will no longer be filled out by hand or collected through traditional manual workflows.

Instead, international driving permits are now printed directly from the DVLA central system, establishing a standardized process that enables seamless electronic verification across international borders.

Highlighting the necessity of this operational shift, Kotey stated:

The international driving licences and international permits will no longer be handwritten. Previously, people would write them and collect them manually. Now, the documents are printed directly from the system and can be electronically verified by the relevant authorities in foreign countries.

This digital enhancement ensures that law enforcement agencies and transport departments in foreign jurisdictions can instantly validate the authenticity of Ghanaian drivers' permits.

Kotey noted that ending handwritten permits forms a core component of broader digitisation measures aimed at improving document integrity and reducing security risks.

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Furthermore, this initiative aligns with ongoing digital reforms across the DVLA network, including decentralised licence printing and the rollout of expanded 24-hour service delivery.

The DVLA's transition away from handwritten international driving permits represents a milestone in document security, efficiency, and international compliance for Ghanaian drivers.