General Directorate of Traffic

Traffic Services  -  Licensing and Testing Drivers

It supervises the issuance and renewal of driving licenses, the procedures for obtaining them under which it allows a person to drive the vehicle. The department witnessed a great development since its establishment in terms of the system for keeping data on drivers, where traditional methods were used in keeping those data which exposes them to damage. The computers system was introduced for saving data and to improve the quality of services provided to the public, as well as expand the department building to accommodate the largest number of visitors. The  license issuing procedures passed through a lot of phases to make sure that the applicant meets every legal requirements and technical standards required to obtain a driving license and we can summarize those stages as follows:

The conditions required for the granting of driver's license:

• The age requirement
• Physical fitness requirement
• Pass the driving test.
• The non-Qataris and the GCC citizens are required to obtain legal residence permit in the country
• The legal age of (18 years) for obtaining a driving license for light vehicle, or a motorcycle
• The Legal age of (21 years) for obtaining heavy driver's license, or licenses for the constructional and agricultural equipment

The procedures required for the granting a driver's license:

Firstly: Procedure for obtaining any kind of driving licenses for Qataris:

• Reach the legal age.
• ID card + copy
• Attach (3) recent color photos.
• Eye test.
• Learning insurance for a period of (3 months) for those who wish to learn on private car ( for Qataris only)

Secondly: Procedures for obtaining any kind of driving licenses for non-Qataris:

• Reach the legal age.
• Attach a letter from the sponsor with approval on the application for a new license for his employee to identify the type of license required.
• Passport + copy of the passport.
• A copy of the ID card of the sponsor if the sponsor was a (person).
• (3)  Recent color photos.
• The license applicant will be shifted to the approved driving schools in the State as per the desire of the person to choose the driving school he wants.

Third: Procedure for obtaining driving license for diplomatic delegates and international organizations:

• Letter from Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• A copy of the diplomatic card
• Bring the original license to the applicant
• (3) Recent color photos
• Free of charge by reciprocity

Fourth: The people coming to the country to work and have the residence permit:

• Holders of driver's license issued by the authority they belong to or by any authorities that accept driving licenses issued by them. They are transferred to driving schools to take the test so as to make sure of their ability to drive; where the test is performed by a success committee under the traffic Department. If passed the test successfully, they are granted the required license. If not passed, another opportunity is granted for test, and then he is shifted for a full learning course through the school.
   

Fifth: The people with disabilities and impairments:

• They will be transferred as per the letter referred by the Traffic Department to the Medical Services Department after specifying the type of disability if it is visible. As per the medical report, they are given the license required by the conditions recorded in the report the license, as well as putting clear labels displayed on the driver's license and the type of car which they are permitted to drive in addition to labelling the car with special label... etc.
• The person will get the license after the medical report if it was fit for driving or not fit because of a disability.

Sixth: tourists and visitors who hold international driving licenses and are residents of the GCC:

• Holders of valid international driving license and which is in the possession of every visitor or foreign tourist who enters the country, they are permitted to drive using those licenses provided that the driving duration shall not exceed a period of more than six months. After the expiry of this period, he is required to approach the licensing authority for approval.
• The valid driving licenses issued by the GCC countries which will be in the possession of any foreigner residing in one of the GCC countries and entered the State on a visit or tour, the holders of such licenses are granted permission to drive using the same license for a period not exceeding three months.
• It is confirmed from the passport of the tourist or the visitor to determine the date of entry into the country.