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 and had your identity verified, for more details see: Identity assurance . If you already have an account, for example if you created one for a Covid certificate or other government service, or you need to create an 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 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:

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.

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:

Renew, exchange or apply for a driving licence

• Apply for a provisional driving licence online
• Applying for a provisional driving licence
• Driving licence application DL1 - guidance notes
• Driving licence application DL2 - guidance notes
• Exchanging your foreign driving licence
• Identity documents and photographs
• Keeping your driving licence up-to-date
• Older drivers – deciding when to stop driving
• Renew your driving licence
• Renew your driving licence at 70 plus
• Renewing your vocational licence
• Replacing your driving licence
• The cost of a driving licence
• The photocard driving licence explained