Last updated: 26 August 2026
Quick Answer: Download your learner's licence from the Sarathi portal by selecting your state and entering your application number with your date of birth. Once issued, it can also be pulled into DigiLocker. If it has not appeared yet, your RTO has most likely not uploaded the test result.
Many people use the same terminology in discussing the learning licence and the full driving licence download, but, in reality, the two tasks are very different. Full driving licence relates to a licence number, whereas a learning licence refers to your application record.
Overview: Learning Licence Download at a Glance
| Detail | What applies |
|---|---|
| Where from | Sarathi portal, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways |
| First step | Select your state |
| What you need | Application number and date of birth |
| Also available in | DigiLocker, once issued |
| Cost | Free |
| Format | PDF you can save and print |
Where Is a Learner's Licence Issued and Downloaded From?
Your learner's licence is issued by your state RTO and made available through Sarathi, the national portal run by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Since each transport department has its own site, it will ask you to input the name of your state.
Why Does State Selection Matter So Much?
That state-first design is worth knowing. If you select the wrong state, your record simply will not be found, and it looks identical to a licence that has not been issued.
How Do You Download Your Learner's Licence by Application Number?
The application number route is the reliable one, because it works from the moment your licence is issued.
- Open the Sarathi portal and select the state where you applied.
- Go to the learning licence services and choose the print or download option.
- Enter your application number and your date of birth exactly as they appear on your application.
- Submit and check the details shown against your record.
- Download the PDF and save it. Print a copy if you'll be carrying it.
Where Do You Find Your Application Number?
Your acknowledgment slips and payment receipts would have the application number displayed on them. Hence, keep this number secure as it is very important to the processing your application.
Can You Download It With Only Your Mobile Number?
Not directly. Retrieval works from your application number with your date of birth, so a mobile number alone will not pull up a learner's licence.
What Is Your Mobile Number Used For?
The number you provide using your mobile phone is very important because it will be used for confirmation codes and one-time passwords needed by this system. Thanks to the online platform, users can change their mobile phone numbers without personally going to the RTO, however, it is advisable to do it beforehand rather than later.
What If You Have Lost It Entirely?
If by chance you lose your application number, your regional transport office (RTO) will help you retrieve it, given that you can present proper identification.
Once Issued, Can You Get It From DigiLocker?
Certainly. Once you are granted a license, it can easily be entered into the DigiLocker system, where it will be secure together with other documents. In this way, you will not need to keep your PDF on your mobile phone if the need arises.
How Does the DigiLocker Pull Work?
DigiLocker is a pull service, so the document has to exist on the issuing system first. That means it will not appear there any earlier than it appears on Sarathi, and it is no help if the underlying record has not been generated yet. The same principle holds good for full driving license, so you may check our downloading your driving licence online manual for further information on this rather than repeating it here.
Why Is Your Learner's Licence Not Available to Download Yet?
Because the record has not been generated, and in most cases that means your RTO has not yet uploaded your test result. And please note that passing the examination and making your license available online can be carried out at different times and separated by several days.
What Should You Check First?
Work through these in order before assuming something is broken.
- Wrong state selected. The commonest cause, and the easiest to fix.
- Result not uploaded. Give it a few working days after the test before escalating.
- Date of birth format. Enter it exactly as recorded on your application, not as you would normally write it.
- Wrong number used. The application number is not the same as a fee receipt or transaction number.
- Application still pending. If any step of your application is incomplete, no licence exists to download.
When Should You Contact the RTO?
In case it has crossed a span of a week from the date of your exam itself, kindly connect with the RTO which conducted your test.
Is the Downloaded Learner's Licence Valid to Carry?
Certainly, the PDF obtained via the government website isn't merely a copy but an actual learner's driving licence. It is what you carry while driving under learner conditions.
How Long Is It Valid?
Print it if you prefer paper, and take it with you to your driving test appointment along with your other originals. The paper permit will be valid for six months from the date of issuance, thus you will need to apply for the permanent license within this time, as indicated on your paper. The time restrictions are explained in the instruction on applying for a driving licence after your learner's licence.
Where to Get Help
The learner's licence is issued by your state transport department under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and downloading it from Sarathi is free. Nobody should charge you for the download itself.
Where Does Jaagruk Bharat Fit In?
If you have not applied yet, or your application has stalled somewhere in the process, Jaagruk Bharat can help you with a learner's licence application and see it through to issue.
