Apply for a provisional driving licence online

Before you learn to drive, you must apply for a provisional driving licence.

Before you start

You can’t use this service if you already hold a valid full driving licence and want to add a provisional entitlement to your existing licence. For that, you need to fill in a driving licence application form. DL1 and DL2 forms are available in Post Offices.

To apply online for a provisional driving licence you’ll need:

a nidirect account with your identity verified, for more details see Identity assurance - If you already have an existing nidirect account, for example if you created one for a Covid certificate or another government service, or if you need to create a new nidirect account, you can log in to the service using the green button below
a digital photo or photo code – see rules for digital photos before applying
to upload your identity document – see rules for providing proof of identity before applying
to upload your signature – download and print the pro forma document when you're applying, if you can’t print, draw a box on plain paper and follow the instructions
certifier details – you'll need to give the email address of an authorised person who can certify your photo - they need to know they've been nominated before your application is submitted – see rules for who can sign your photo before applying
a credit or debit card

Apply for a provisional driving licence online

Apply by post

You can also apply for your provisional licence by post, by filling in and returning a driving licence application form (DL1) – this form is available from Post Offices. For more information see: Applying for a provisional driving licence

You can see guidance notes for filling out the DL1 form online at:

Guidance notes for your DL1 driving licence application

Linking your driving licence

Once you have received your provisional driving licence you can link your licence to your nidirect account to view your licence information online and/ or share your licence information. You will also receive updates on your application, such as when it has been processed.

Instructions on how to link your driving licence

You can find out how any personal information you send to the Department for Infrastructure (Driver & Vehicle Agency) when using this service will be handled by viewing its privacy notice.

For queries

For queries about applying for a provisional driving licence online, contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) driver licensing at the link below:

Driver & Vehicle Agency - driver licensing

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

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If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

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Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

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For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

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Apply for a provisional driving licence online

Before you start

Apply by post

Linking your driving licence

For queries

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment