The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is set to discontinue the handwritten issuance of international driving permits as part of efforts to modernise its licensing services.

Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said international driving permits and related documents would instead be generated and printed directly from the Authority’s system.

He made the disclosure at the commissioning of the DVLA Ultra Centre at the Tema Port on Friday, September 18, 2026.

According to him, the new system would allow the documents to be electronically verified by relevant authorities in other countries.

“The international driving licences and international permits will no longer be handwritten. Previously, people would write them and collect them manually. Now, the documents are printed directly from the system and can be electronically verified by the relevant authorities in foreign countries,” he said.

Kotey said the change was part of broader measures to digitise DVLA services and improve the integrity and verification of documents issued by the Authority.

The announcement formed part of a wider presentation on reforms being implemented by the DVLA to improve access to its services.

The newly commissioned Tema Port Ultra Centre is expected to provide a range of driver and vehicle licensing services to motorists and businesses operating in the port and surrounding areas. The facility has also been designated to handle the registration of excavators arriving through the port.

Kotey said the Authority was seeking additional security support to allow the Tema Port facility to operate for extended hours, with 24-hour operations being considered as part of its wider push to support a 24-hour service culture.

The DVLA has been pursuing wider digital reforms, including decentralised licence printing and expanded 24-hour service delivery across its network.