Private taxi drivers in Kyrgyzstan can now apply for operating licenses online. The new system removes the need to visit the Main Directorate for Road Traffic Safety (GUOBDD) to submit paperwork and applications in person. Drivers can apply through mobile apps, although long queues for taxi licenses have yet to ease.
According to Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev, the government introduced the digital system to create more transparent and convenient conditions for taxi and minibus drivers.
Kasymaliev said the reform frees drivers from paper bureaucracy and simplifies the licensing process.
“We have created the most convenient and transparent digital conditions. Now the task is to explain the process to every driver, including mandatory medical and technical inspections. At the same time, transport operators must clearly understand that starting from July 1 this year, taxi drivers working without proper licenses will face strict liability under the law,” he said.
The licensing change follows recent moves to tighten passenger transport regulations in Kyrgyzstan.
GUOBDD told The Times of Central Asia that around 300 people applied online on the first day of the new system, including 120 in Bishkek.
According to Nurdin Sambaev, head of the department for transport activity licensing and technical supervision at GUOBDD, drivers need to register in the app and complete identity verification before applying.
“Once the driver enters their taxpayer identification number, the system automatically requests all necessary documents from other state agencies. This includes criminal record certificates, vehicle registration documents, and other paperwork required for licensing,” Sambaev said.
Some steps still require a physical visit. Drivers must appear at the department for vehicle inspections. They must also undergo a medical examination to obtain the Form 083 certificate of professional fitness. The results of these checks will be uploaded directly into the government’s Tunduk app, where the license itself will also be displayed.
The simplified process has not yet won over all drivers. According to offline licensing officers, queues have remained long since authorities announced that fines would be imposed on drivers without licenses from July 1.
Taxi drivers interviewed by The Times of Central Asia said submitting documents in person still feels more reliable and familiar. Many also noted that other drivers can help explain the paperwork if questions arise. Some said they had not yet figured out how to use the app, while others said their online applications had failed, forcing them to return to the traditional method.
GUOBDD staff welcomed the change, saying the digital format will reduce paperwork and simplify the processing of applications.
