Dear Embassy of India in Riga and CSDD Representatives,

I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a critical issue affecting Indian citizens residing in Latvia who are attempting to validate or exchange their Indian driving licenses with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD).

Recently, a significant pattern of misunderstanding has emerged during the verification process at CSDD. Multiple Indian citizens presenting self-printed e-Driving Licenses (e-DL) have faced severe complications—including accusations of presenting forged or invalid documents—due to a lack of technical awareness regarding India’s current digital licensing system.

To clarify the situation:

Digital Infrastructure: Under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), India has phased out mandatory plastic smart card printing in several states. Driver records exist as dynamic digital files within the centralized nationwide Sarathi/Parivahan database.

Self-Printed e-DLs: Citizens are legally authorized to download and print their e-DL PDFs via government platforms such as DigiLocker, mParivahan, or the Parivahan Sewa portal.

Verification via QR Code: These self-printed documents carry official legal weight under Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR). They feature a dynamic QR code designed to allow authorities to scan and verify the driver's real-time status directly against the central server.

When Indian citizens present these legitimate, government-issued e-DL printouts at CSDD customer service centers, officials often expect a traditional rigid plastic card. Unaware that paper e-DLs are standard and verifiable via QR code scanning or online portal checks, CSDD officers frequently reject the documents or categorize them as suspect.

This leads to unnecessary legal stress, delays, and reputational damage for law-abiding Indian residents in Latvia.

For the Embassy of India, Riga: We kindly request that the Diplomatic Mission issue an official note verbale or diplomatic statement to CSDD and the Latvian Ministry of Transport. This notice should formally outline India's transition to e-DLs and detail the exact verification mechanisms (such as scanning the dynamic QR code or utilizing the official Parivahan database portal).

For CSDD (Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija): We respectfully ask CSDD management to update their foreign license verification guidelines and inform front-line staff about the nature of India’s e-DL printouts. Incorporating a QR-code scanning step during document intake would allow CSDD officers to instantly verify authenticity without misinterpreting printouts as illegitimate documents.

Establishing a clear verification protocol will protect drivers from unfair accusations, streamline CSDD's administrative workflow, and ensure smooth integration for Indian professionals and students living in Latvia.

Thank you very much for your time, attention, and prompt support regarding this matter.

Sincerely,