You can apply for a learner driving permit in Punjab from your phone, using the Dastak app. You fill in a form, upload your CNIC and photo, pay Rs500 for each vehicle category, and the permit is issued online. You still have to take the driving test in person later. Here are the steps, the age limits, the documents and what the sources do not agree on.
What Changed in 2026
Punjab Traffic Police announced on 13 June 2026 that driving licence services are available on the Dastak app, according to ARY News. The Nation (15 June 2026) says officials announced that people can apply for a learner licence from home on the app. The services link to the Driving License Information Management System (DLIMS). The Dastak helpline is 1202, according to ARY.
Who Can Apply? Age Limits
GoPunjab, an independent guide updated 11 October 2026, gives these minimum ages:
- Motorcycle or car: 18 years.
- LTV, rickshaw, taxi or commercial tractor: 21 years.
- HTV (heavy transport): 22 years.
- Juvenile permit (16 to 18): For motorcycles and scooters up to 125cc. It needs a B-Form or smart card, written consent from a parent or guardian, and passing a sign test and a road test.
Another guide, PK Portals (October 2026), says 23 for HTV. The sources differ, so check the age on the Dastak service page before you apply.
Documents You Need
- Clear photos of the front and back of your original CNIC.
- A live photo of your face on a white background.
- A medical certificate signed by a government doctor, if you are 50 or older or applying for an LTV licence, according to GoPunjab.
- A mobile number, an email address and a password to register.
Keep your original CNIC. GoPunjab says you need it at the licensing centre later.
Step-by-Step: Apply on Dastak
- Download the Dastak app from the Google Play Store or App Store, or open dastak.punjab.gov.pk. Type the address yourself.
- Register with your mobile number, CNIC, email and a password. If you already had a DLIMS account, GoPunjab says to link it after you log in.
- Under Services, open DLIMS Services and choose Learner Driving License.
- Fill in the form, choose your vehicle category, and upload your documents and photo.
- Submit the form to generate a PSID, which is a payment slip number.
- Pay the PSID through an ATM, online banking or a mobile banking app.
- Download or print your permit when payment is confirmed.
GoPunjab and PK Portals give these steps. I could not open the app, so I could not check the screens.
Fee
The Nation (15 June 2026) says the learner licence fee is Rs500 for each vehicle category. GoPunjab and PK Portals say the same. DrivePK, a blog, says it is “around Rs600.” Pakistan Era says the DLIMS fee page lists no learner fee, and that the amount appears on your PSID. Pay the amount on your own PSID and nothing more.
The app covers motorcycles, cars, jeeps, LTVs and HTVs, according to The Nation.
How Long Does It Take?
- GoPunjab says the DLIMS help page says the permit is issued once payment goes through, while Dastak’s service page says about 2 working days.
- PK Portals says it is available instantly once the form and payment are done.
The timing is not confirmed. Keep your payment receipt until you have the permit. PSID payments can take time to show, so check the status before you pay again.
Validity and the Waiting Period
- Validity: GoPunjab says a learner permit is valid for 6 months. Other guides do not state this.
- Waiting period: GoPunjab says you must hold the permit for at least 42 days before the driving test. PK Portals also mentions 42 days and says to confirm the current rule with your licensing centre.
The Driving Test Is Still in Person
GoPunjab says the sign test and the road driving test are taken in person at a traffic police licensing centre. First-time applicants attend for biometric verification, photographs, video recording and the driving test. Bring your learner permit and original CNIC. A failed candidate may retry after about two weeks under a 2024 rule, according to GoPunjab. DrivePK says there is a theory test after applying online, but no other source says this.
No source describes an online way to book a test slot. Ask the licensing centre. The traffic police list of licensing offices is at trafficpolice.punjab.gov.pk/licensing_offices, according to GoPunjab.
Common Reasons for Delay
- Your name or date of birth does not match your CNIC record.
- Blurred or oversized photos.
- An incomplete form or an unpaid PSID.
Pakistan Era names a mismatch with CNIC records and oversized uploads as the usual causes.
Beware of Fake Sites and Agents
- Apply only through the official Dastak app or dastak.punjab.gov.pk. GoPunjab says the traffic police warned in January 2026 that dastakpunjab.online has no link with the Punjab government.
- You cannot get a first licence without a test. Ignore agents or ads that promise one for extra money.
- Never share your OTP or password, and pay only against your own PSID.
After the Permit
When you pass the test, you can apply for a regular licence. You can also follow its progress. See our guide on how to check a driving licence renewal application status.
What I Could Not Confirm
- The exact screens in the Dastak app. I could not open it.
- The HTV age (22 or 23) and the learner fee (Rs500 or about Rs600).
- How fast the permit is issued.
- The 6-month validity and the 42-day wait, which come from one guide each and are not from an official page.
- Whether any theory test applies.
- How to book the test.
Pakistan Era’s guide does not mention Dastak and was last updated 6 November 2026, so its steps may use older wording. This is general information, not an official notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I apply for a learner permit in Punjab?
On the Dastak app, under DLIMS Services, according to The Nation and GoPunjab.
How much does it cost?
Rs500 per vehicle category, according to The Nation. Confirm it on your PSID.
What is the minimum age?
18 for a motorcycle or car, 21 for LTV or rickshaw, and 22 for HTV, according to GoPunjab.
Do I need a medical certificate?
If you are 50 or older or applying for an LTV licence, according to GoPunjab.
Can I take the driving test online?
No. The sign and road tests are taken in person, according to GoPunjab.
How long is the permit valid?
6 months, according to GoPunjab.
Register on the official Dastak app, pay only your own PSID and book your driving test at a licensing centre.
