A learner's licence in Ghana is the first stage of the DVLA process: it is the permit you hold while you train and prepare for the driving tests. To get one you need a Ghana Card, an online application with a paid invoice, an eye test at a designated clinic, a physical examination and biometric capture. In return DVLA issues the learner's permit, an L-plate, the learner syllabus and the Highway Code. The steps are simple once you know their order. Details below come from DVLA's own services page unless stated otherwise.
What the learner's licence is for
Think of the learner's permit as proof that DVLA has registered you as someone in training. It lets you practise under supervision, and it is the starting point for the later stages: certified driver training, the theory test, the in-traffic test and, finally, the licence itself. You cannot sensibly skip it. The overall route is laid out in our guide to getting a driver's licence in Ghana.
Requirements listed by DVLA
DVLA's services page lists these requirements for the learner stage:
- A Ghana Card, with you attending in person.
- Ability to read English or understand one of the Ghanaian languages DVLA names: Dagbani, Ewe, Ga, Hausa, Nzema or Twi.
- Basic ability to use a computer or touchscreen, because parts of the process are digital.
- An eye test at a designated clinic.
- A physical examination.
- An online application that generates an invoice, which you then pay.
The minimum age is 18 for classes A and B and 21 for class E, according to the same page. Commercial licences have their own age rules, so check before you book anything if that is what you are aiming for.
Step by step
- Complete the online application. Use the DVLA online portal. Validation of your Ghana Card details happens here.
- Pay the invoice. Keep the receipt; you may be asked for it at the office.
- Do the physical examination and the eye test. The eye test is done at a designated clinic. Ask DVLA or the clinic itself whether the clinic is on the approved list before paying.
- Have your biometrics captured. This means a photograph and fingerprints, taken at a DVLA office.
- Collect your permit and materials. You should leave with a learner's permit, an L-plate, the syllabus and the Highway Code.
What happens next
With the permit in hand, the next requirement is evidence of training. DVLA says it will not schedule the theory test without proof from a certified driver training institution. That is why choosing a school matters more than it first appears: if the school's paperwork is not accepted, you may have to repeat it. Our pages on choosing a driving school and the 48-hour training rule explain what to look for.
How long does a learner's permit last?
DVLA's public pages do not state a validity period, and the figures quoted by third-party guides vary so widely that we do not repeat them. What is clear is that DVLA offers a separate learner's licence renewal service, so the permit does expire. Look at the date printed on yours and renew before it lapses if your training is not finished.
Fees: what DVLA lists
For a new licence, DVLA's online fee list prices the learner application by class (GHS 642.25 for class B on Regular service when we checked in October 2026) and shows the later licence stage at GHS 0.00. That suggests the learner stage and the full licence are billed in a single payment, although you should confirm this when you generate your invoice. The same list showed these charges for other learner services:
| Service | Regular class | Premium class |
|---|---|---|
| Learner's licence renewal | GHS 121.25 | GHS 202.25 |
| Learners License Replacement Service | GHS 121.25 | GHS 202.25 |
| Missing Learners License Service | GHS 152.25 | GHS 242.25 |
Fees are reviewed from time to time, so see the full fees page and the DVLA fee portal for the current figure before you pay.
Practising safely on a learner's permit
Practise with a qualified instructor, or with whoever the regulations allow to supervise you, and display the L-plate. If a parent or friend offers to teach you in a private car, check what the 2026 regulations require of a supervising driver first, because older advice was written for the 2012 rules. Keep early sessions to quiet roads, away from the busiest junctions, and build up to dense traffic gradually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a learner's licence before I can take the driving test?
Yes. The learner's permit is the first stage, and the training evidence, theory test and in-traffic test all follow it.
Where do I take the eye test?
At a designated eye clinic, not at the DVLA counter. DVLA's services page describes the test as taking place at a designated clinic, so confirm that your chosen clinic is accepted.
What do I receive once the learner stage is complete?
A learner's permit, an L-plate, the learner syllabus and the Highway Code, according to DVLA's services page.
Can I apply for a learner's licence under 18?
DVLA lists 18 as the minimum age for classes A and B. If you are younger, wait until you reach it rather than relying on unofficial advice.
What if I lose my learner's permit?
A lost permit appears to fall under DVLA's "Missing Learners License" service (GHS 152.25 on Regular service in October 2026); a separate "Learners License Replacement" service costs GHS 121.25. Check the service name on your invoice.