From Monday, October 19, 2026, you can no longer walk into the Faizabad traffic office or a police Khidmat Markaz to apply for a learner permit in Islamabad. Islamabad Traffic Police has moved learner permits, licence renewals and duplicate licences to an online portal, and the in-person counters for those three services close on that date.
If you have never applied online before, this guide walks you through it: what to prepare, how the application works, what it costs, and what to do once the permit is in your hands. We are Makkah Driving School, and we teach new drivers in Islamabad every week, so we also cover the part that comes after the permit, which is learning to drive well enough to pass your test.
What changes on October 19
Until now you could choose between the portal and a counter. After October 19, the portal is the only route for these three services. The traffic police announced it at dlims.islamabadpolice.gov.pk, and that is the only website you should use to apply. Do not pay anyone who offers to “arrange” a permit for you outside it.
The chief traffic officer asked applicants to enter their full name, a complete home address and an active mobile number. She said renewed and duplicate licences will be delivered to your door by courier, and that a wrong address can delay delivery. The announcement did not say how a learner permit itself is issued, so check the portal after you pay to see whether you download it or receive it another way.
What to prepare before you open the portal
You will upload documents in the middle of the application, so gather them first.
You need a recent photograph and clear photos of the front and back of your CNIC. You also need a medical certificate. The form for it is on the Islamabad Police website, and it must be attested by a government hospital. The certificate has to be uploaded when you submit, so get it done before you start, not after. This is the step that holds most people up, because the hospital visit takes time.
Have a mobile wallet ready too. The fee can be paid through Easypaisa or JazzCash. Keep an email address handy as well, since you register with one.
One more check: several published guides say your CNIC should show an Islamabad address. If yours shows another city, confirm with the traffic police before you pay anything.
How to apply, step by step
The steps below follow the traffic police’s online learner permit process as published when it launched in September 2025. The portal may look slightly different now, so follow its on-screen prompts if anything has moved.
- Open the portal and click “Apply for Learner.”
- Register with your name, CNIC number, email address and a password.
- Fill in your personal details on the page that opens. Match them exactly to your CNIC.
- Upload your photograph, the front and back of your CNIC, and the attested medical certificate.
- Select your licence category, for example motorcycle or car (if you plan to ride a scooty, see our scooty riding course below), then click “Submit Application.” The system generates a fee slip.
- Pay the fee slip through Easypaisa or JazzCash. Once payment goes through, your application is processed and the permit is issued.
Keep the fee slip and your login details somewhere safe. You will need the same account later for a permanent licence, a renewal or a duplicate.
What a learner permit costs
Islamabad’s learner permit fee has been Rs1,000 per category since the fee revision of May 2024, which is about $3.60 at the rate of roughly Rs277 to the dollar in early October. If you apply for two categories, expect to pay for each. Your fee slip will show the exact amount, including any tax, so treat the slip as the final word. The police have not said whether the online fee will change after October 19.
How long the permit lasts and what it lets you do
A learner permit lets you practise driving on public roads before you hold a full licence. Guides on the Islamabad system say the permit is valid for six months and that you must hold it for at least 42 days before applying for a permanent licence. That gap is useful, because it is your practice window.
The October 19 announcement covers learner permits, renewals and duplicates only. It does not say how driving tests for a permanent licence will be booked or held, so ask the traffic police or check the portal when you are ready to book one.
After you have your permit: learning to drive in Islamabad
A permit is permission to practise, not a skill. Most new drivers in the capital are nervous about the same things: traffic around markets, parking, reversing and the first time on a faster road. We train on real roads from the first class, with at least 4 km of driving in every lesson.
Our 12-day course at Rs12,000 is the one most beginners choose. If you already have some experience, the 7-day manual course is Rs7,000. If you want more time and a slower build-up, the 22-day course is Rs22,000. Fees are the same for manual car driving and automatic cars, and automatic lessons are available as 12 or 22-day courses on our automatic car driving course page.
Women and girls can book ladies-only lessons with a female instructor. If you ride rather than drive, our scooty course runs 10 days at Rs20,000. We also run a Sunday Long Class, a full-day drive of 40 km or more on hills, in heavy traffic and on highways, for students who want to practise beyond the city grid.
Our Islamabad branch is on Mir Chakar Khan Road, Markaz I-8, and is open from 8 AM to 8 PM. We have branches outside the capital too, in Abbottabad and Mansehra, if you are applying from there or travelling. Our pick and drop service can bring you to class from home, an office or a university. You can see every course and its current fee on the courses page, or message us on WhatsApp to choose a start date that fits your permit window.
We are a driving school, not the traffic police, so we do not issue permits. We can tell you how we plan to help students with the new online process, and the branch will answer that when you call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still apply for a learner permit at Faizabad after October 19? According to the traffic police announcement, no. Learner permits, renewals and duplicates move to the online portal on that date, and those counters stop offering them.
Do I need a driving school to get a learner permit? No. You apply through the traffic police portal, not through a school. A school helps with the next part, which is learning to drive and getting ready for your test.
How much does the application cost? The learner permit fee has been Rs1,000 per category under the 2024 schedule. Your fee slip shows the exact amount you pay.
What if I make a mistake on the form? Enter your name and address exactly as they appear on your CNIC and re-read them before you submit. For anything the portal will not let you correct, contact the Islamabad Traffic Police helpline at 1915.
Can I start driving lessons before my permit arrives? Ask the branch before you book. Lessons are normally planned around when your permit is in hand, and the school can explain how that works.
What about renewals and lost licences? Both move to the same portal on October 19, and renewed or replacement licences are meant to arrive by courier. Make sure your address is complete when you apply.
Ready to start?
Apply for your permit on the official portal, then book your first class. If you would like help picking a course or a start date, call or message our Islamabad team on WhatsApp and tell us your experience level, and we will suggest where to begin.
More guides and courses
Read more driving guides on the Makkah Driving School blog, compare every course on the driving courses page, or head back to the Makkah Driving School home page to see all three branches.
