Lebanon Resumes Biometric Driver’s Licenses Nationwide From October 10

Lebanon’s Traffic Management Organization has resumed nationwide issuance of biometric driver’s licenses, confirming that any license transaction completed on or after October 10, 2025, will be issued as a biometric credential. The announcement marks the first full restoration of the program since production interruptions and vendor disputes halted card distribution several years ago.

License processing resumed gradually earlier this year after the traffic authority reopened its online scheduling platform for renewals and replacements. This is Beirut reported that the agency had begun limited operations in August, preparing for a nationwide restart once new card supplies were available. The October rollout extends coverage across all branches and restores the use of biometric credentials as the national standard for driver identification.

Lebanon initially launched its biometric driver’s license initiative in 2018 through a partnership between local security printing firm Inkript and Portuguese biometrics provider Vision-Box, whose technologies were integrated into the country’s identity infrastructure. The program formed part of Lebanon’s broader digital identity modernization efforts, which also included biometric passports and national ID cards. However, recurring supply shortages and administrative delays disrupted issuance, leaving many citizens with expired or temporary documents.

The return of biometric licensing suggests that those logistical challenges have eased. The Traffic Management Organization has not specified whether previously submitted applications will be upgraded to biometric credentials or processed using remaining non-biometric stock. Past tenders referenced secure chip cards and automated enrollment systems, features expected to remain in use under the revived program.

Lebanon’s renewed activity in biometric documentation follows similar restarts in other national identity programs. The move positions the country to rejoin broader discussions on cross-border verification and secure credential standards as neighboring states continue to expand their use of biometric systems.

Both Inkript and Vision-Box have maintained a presence in regional identity deployments, including border control, airport, and government service projects. Their earlier collaboration on Lebanon’s identity framework remains one of the region’s notable public-private initiatives, reflecting long-term efforts to integrate biometric verification into essential civil processes.

Sources: LBCI, This is Beirut

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By Ji-seo Kim