Skip to content
Naksh.iq

GUIDES · PERMITS · REVIEWED 2026-06-08

Inner Line Permit + Protected Area Permit, state by state.

Six Indian regions still require a permit to enter — a holdover from pre-Independence frontier policy kept alive for strategic, environmental, and cultural reasons. Indian citizens and foreign nationals face different processes. This is the current state of all six, with official links.

Six permit regimes, state by state

Ladakh

Destinations in Ladakh →
Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indians · Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreigners
For Indian citizens
Apply online. Required for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Dah-Hanu, Hanle, Turtuk, and all areas beyond Khaltsi / Khardung La / Chang La.
For foreign nationals
PAP arranged via a registered travel agent in Leh. Usually issued same-day. Single entry, group of 2+ typically required.
Validity
Up to 21 days. Carry multiple photocopies; checkpoints retain one per post.
Note
Nominal fee + per-day environment charge. Verify current fees on the portal before travel.

Sikkim

Destinations in Sikkim →
ILP for North Sikkim for all · Nathula special permit
For Indian citizens
ILP for Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang, Gurudongmar arranged by your registered tour operator. Nathula Pass day-trip permit issued at Gangtok tourism office only on Wed / Thu / Sat / Sun, minimum 4 pax.
For foreign nationals
RAP (Restricted Area Permit) for whole state issued on arrival at Rangpo / Melli / Bagdogra counter with passport + visa copy. Separate ILP for North Sikkim via a registered operator.
Validity
RAP typically 30 days, ILP 3–5 days by region.
Note
Tso Lhamo, Chopta Valley, and Zemu Glacier are closed to foreigners.

Arunachal Pradesh

Destinations in Arunachal Pradesh →
ILP (Indians) · PAP (foreigners)
For Indian citizens
Apply online or via liaison offices (Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Shillong, Itanagar). Single-entry, multiple-destination permit.
For foreign nationals
PAP via the Ministry of Home Affairs through a registered travel agent. Minimum group of 2 typically required. Processing takes 2–4 weeks.
Validity
ILP up to 30 days. PAP up to 30 days, specific districts only.
Note
Tawang, Mechuka, Ziro, Pasighat all accessible with ILP. Some border zones need additional clearance.

Nagaland

Destinations in Nagaland →
ILP (Indians only — foreigners no longer need a permit)
For Indian citizens
Apply online at the Nagaland ILP portal or at entry points (Dimapur, Kohima). Digital permit accepted at checkpoints.
For foreign nationals
No permit required since 2011. Passport + visa sufficient. Some regions still restricted — check with local tourism office.
Validity
Up to 30 days. Renewable from within the state.

Mizoram

Destinations in Mizoram →
ILP (Indians)
For Indian citizens
Apply at Mizoram liaison offices (Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Silchar) or online. Also issued at Lengpui airport on arrival.
For foreign nationals
No separate permit currently required for foreigners in most districts, but advisory guidance changes — verify with the Home Department before travel.
Validity
15 days, extendable in Aizawl.

Manipur

Destinations in Manipur →
PAP for foreigners · No permit for Indians (since 2011)
For Indian citizens
No permit required.
For foreign nationals
PAP via the Ministry of Home Affairs through a registered travel agent. Imphal and most of the plains are accessible; some hill districts remain restricted.
Validity
Typically 10–15 days, specific districts only.
Note
Security situation is fluid — check the MEA travel advisory before planning.

Always verify with the official source

Rules change. Fees change. Validity windows change. The table above links each permit row to the authoritative state portal — visit it before you travel. We do not cache the portal's current prices; the only reliable price is the one the portal shows you today.

Next guide

How to book Indian trains as a foreigner — IRCTC, FTQ, Tatkal.

ALSO ON NAKSHIQ

Eight more rooms in the magazine.

Guides

Visa, scams, food, packing.

Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.

Blog

Field notes from the road.

Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.

Road trips

Curated multi-day routes.

Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.

Collections

Themed reading lists.

Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.

NakshIQ 100

The 100 best destination-months.

India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.

The Window

Our weekly newsletter, archived.

One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.

Skip list

What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.

Overhyped places with honest alternatives.

First trip

Planning your first time in India.

Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.