What are the kinds of permits required in Northeast India?
There are 3 different kinds of permits as defined by the authorities to enter some parts of Northeast India.
a. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is for domestic travelers – those with a citizenship of India. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the concerned state government allowing inward travel of a domestic traveler into a protected area for a limited period. This is mandatory to obtain for those who are not residents of these protected states. Such a permit is referred to as an 'inner line permit' as it grants entry to areas lying between the international boundary and the so-called ‘Inner Line’ of the country. The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.
b. Protected Area Permit (PAP) is for non-citizens or foreign nationals to enter these same states for the same purposes as an ILP. Normally a travel agent will take care of obtaining these permits for the tourists. The need for a PAP was first laid down in 1958 as part of the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order. Some of the general rules to procure a PAP are as follows:
- Tourists have to travel in groups of at least 2
- They have to travel with a registered travel agent
- In some areas only certain entry/exit points are allowed i.e. certain areas are fully closed off for non-Indians
- Citizens of Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar can get the PAP only with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs
c. Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is for non-citizens or foreign nationals to enter specific regions within these states which hold the status of ‘restricted’ areas. The need for RAP was first laid down in 1963 as part of the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order. Since 2009, RAP are required for parts of the state of Sikkim. Unlike PAP, RAP is generally available for individual travelers and can be issued by overseas embassies. In some cases, they can also be issued on the spot, at the location of visit. Indian citizens do not need special permission to visit restricted areas.
Which Northeastern states mandate a permit?
Four of the eight Northeastern states, at the moment, require a permit to enter their borders. Each of the states mandating an ILP/PAP, now, has a permit-on-arrival system which can be obtained at any of the entry points of the state. Each of the permits is issued by the respective state government authorities.
1. Arunachal pradesh : ILP/ PAP is required for entering the state through any of the check gates across the interstate border with Assam or Nagaland. You obtain it from Delhi, Tezpur, Shillong, Kolkata amongst other places. You can also apply for it online for your dates of visit at https://arunachalilp.com/index.jsp
2. Mizoram : It is required for entering the state through any of the check gates across inter-state borders. If you are arriving by air, an ILP can be obtained on arrival at Lengpui Airport in Aizawl. Inner Line Pass can also be obtained from Liaison Officer, Government of Mizoram from the cities of Kolkata, Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati and New Delhi. You can apply for an eILP for your dates of visit at https://ilp.mizoram.gov.in/
3. Nagaland : It is required for entering the state through any of the check gates across inter-state borders. You can apply for an eILP for your dates of visit at https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/
4. Manipur : The Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime was extended to Manipur on 11 December 2019. You can apply for an eILP for your dates of visit at https://manipurilponline.mn.gov.in/
5. Sikkim : While an ILP/PAP is not required to enter the borders of Sikkim, certain areas are restricted to foreigners and official permits are needed to visit them. Since Sikkim falls along the border with China, the Indian Army has control over a large part of the state, as it is a sensitive border area. Information about which areas are accessible to foreigners and areas requiring a PAP can be found on https://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Public/TravellerEssentials/pap
Please Note: In an attempt to promote tourism, the North East states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have done away with the requirement for Foreign Visitors to apply for a Protected Area Permit (RAP, PAP) on the 1st Jan 2011. So, for travel to Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, permits are not required for foreign passport holders. However, they are required to register with the Foreigner’s Registration Officer (FRO) of the District they visit or the nearest Police Station within 24 hours of their arrival.
What is the duration of the permit?
For tourist purposes, an ILP is generally issued for the duration of 15 days with a possibility of getting an extension on the number of days depending on state regulations. A PAP, for tourist purposes, is generally issued for a period of 10 days with a possibility of getting an extension for 7 additional days.
When was the ILP mandated and what have been the changes over time?
The history of the Inner Line Permit indicates that it was put in place to safeguard the interests of indigenous people and tribal communities in order to protect them from exploitation.
Since it is an ancient regulation, a lot of the states are rethinking the requirement of such a practice. For the purpose of promoting tourism, there is continued debate on the need for ILP. A lot of the states have tried different methods which has over time resulted in doing away with the requirement of the ILP in some states. For example: An ILP was previously required for certain parts of the Leh district in Ladakh. This requirement was abolished from 1 May 2014, although foreign nationals are still required to get a Protected Area Permit for this region. The ILP was implemented again in 2017 only to be removed again in 2021.
Similarly for Northeastern states, there has been a certain back and forth on these requirements which might change in times to come. But for now, 4 out of 8 states mandate ILP for inward travelers.
Where does one obtain the permit?
If you have a travel/ tour agent, normally they obtain all the permits for you. However, if you are travelling alone, getting these permits yourself is not so difficult either. Luckily the government has eased the process to obtain ILP to promote tourism to the Northeast. You can apply for your ILP online on the state websites as stated above. In case you have not been able to pre-apply for ILP, you can also apply for it offline at any of the ILP booths/ counters at the entry point into each state.
What documents do I need?
A government ID like an Aadhar Card and a passport sized photo are all you need to get an ILP. Some states even ask for a pre-booking of a hotel/ name of your host before issuing the ILP to you. Hence, it is a good idea to pre-book your accommodation.
Is there a fee attached to obtaining ILP?
Yes, there is a fee to obtain an ILP. The fee will vary based on the state you choose to visit. Information on the fee in available on the website portals as listed above.
Is it a lengthy process?
Not really. If the government websites are working just fine, it takes 10 minutes to fill up the form. Even to get an ILP offline at one of the ILP booths, it takes about 15 minutes to finish the process.
We hope that article this answered some of your questions on the permits required for visiting the Northeastern states. If you have any more questions or concerns, drop us a comment below and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
