The Minister of State in Charge of Transport, Alexis Nzahabwanimana, has issued a new ministerial order that puts in place criteria for renewal of national driving licenses.

The order determines the validity, and requirements for renewal of driving licenses considering the age categories. Previously the law provided for five years validity to all driving license holders regardless of age.

Now, it provides a more practical guide for traffic control and facilitates Rwanda National Police (RNP) to closely monitor the condition of road users and their ability to drive.

Under the new order, qualified drivers aged 45 years and below will get their Licenses valid for ten years.

Those between 45 and 50 years will have their licenses renewed with  validity equal to the remaining years to turn 55,  while persons aged between 50 and 68 will be renewed up to a period of five years.

Qualified individuals over the age of 68 but below 70 will get four years renewal, while those above 70 will be required to renew their driving licenses every three years. 

"The new ministerial order provides authority for and how  the national driving licenses  will be renewed. Previously there was no legal frame  to renew expired licenses, but now we can offer this service to all qualified road users,” Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, spokesperson for traffic and road safety, said.

"This now answers the questions the public has been asking, especially those whose permits had expired and at times faced challenges when they drive across borders to other countries,” said CIP Kabanda.

"The new guidelines are very clear, even to ages that are supposed to acquire a driver’s licence, the requirements and those who don’t qualify. We are now able to evaluate the capacity of individuals and authorize them to drive for a specific period of time, and this will contribute further prevention of road accidents.”

The renewal for a driver’s licence will cost candidate Rwf 5,000. The payment receipt will however be accompanied by medical certificate issued by a registered doctor. 

CIP Kabanda highlighted that RNP is in the process of upgrading its systems for production of the Driver’s License to conform to the new ministerial order, will soon announce the day when those in need of renewing their driving licenses can start submitting their applications.

According to the new order, expired national driving licenses must be renewed within six months from the time of commencement of the order. This means that all those with expired driver’s licence have up to October to have acquired new ones as per the new order.