India has a number of protected areas. These include some regions in the northeast of the country, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. Foreigners who want to travel to these regions require a special permit. Here you can read about what you need to arrange before travelling to these special areas in India.
Restricted Areas: Andamans, Nicobars and Sikkim
A series of areas in India have a Restricted Area status.These include the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands and part of Sikkim. Travellers must apply for a so-called Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit this regions.
A RAP is also mandatory for travel to any part of Sikkim. Tourist areas in Sikkim covered under this scheme are Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Remayangtse. Travellers can apply for this permit from the embassy in their home country or from various offices in India, e.g. a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the police office in Gangtok, Sikkim. If you want to travel to a different part of Sikkim, you will need a Protected Area Permit (PAP.
Protected areas: Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland
Certain regions in India, like Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have a Protected Area-status. Since December 2024, you must apply for a Protected Area Permit (PAP) in order to travel to these regions. Citizens of Afghanistan, China or Pakistan need a permission from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs to travel to these regions.
Other protected Areas in India
India has a number of Protected Areas in the Northeast of the country. These areas along the border with Bhutan, China, and Myanmar are protected to prevent conflicts between the different ethnic groups in these border areas. In addition to a vast cultural wealth, these areas also have a very attractive landscape, with pristine nature and beautiful mountain ranges. The Indian government wants to promote tourism in these regions without threatening the safety of the indigenous people. To visit the areas, visitors with Indian passports must apply for an Inner Line Permit, and foreign visitors need a Protected Area Permit (PAP).
Travelling to Protected Areas in India
The following regions in Northeast India require international travellers to obtain aProtected Area Permit:
- All of Arunachal Pradesh
- Parts of Himachal Pradesh
- Parts of Jammu and Kashmir
- All of Manipur
- All of Mizoram
- All of Nagaland
- Parts of Rajasthan
- All of Sikkim (partially Protected Area and partially Restricted Area)
- Parts of Uttarakhand
If you want to travel to these areas, you should know that, in principle, tourist travel is allowed, but it requires some preparation. You must arrive in the area by aeroplane. The largest international airport in the region is Guwahati (Dispur) Airport. Generally, it is recommended to book the trip through a registered tour company, as it is very difficult for individual travellers to obtain a permit. If you book the trip through a travel organization, the organization has the responsibility of obtaining the proper permits.
Do you still want to travel individually and/or have a travel purpose that is not touristy? Then you can apply for a PAP at the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. You are advised to do this well in advance of your departure, preferably immediately after you have submitted your visa application for India. The exact rules vary by state. In general, only travel groups of at least 2 or 4 people are allowed that already have a clear travel plan. You must also specify an arrival and departure location. These plans may not be changed at a later date.