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Tawang stupas at dawn — Arunachal Pradesh requires a Protected Area Permit for foreign travellers

Travel Information · Updated 2026

Northeast India Permits for ForeignersPAP, RAP & ILP — what you actually need.

Four of India's eight Northeast states still sit under the Protected Area regime: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Sikkim needs a Restricted Area Permit. This is the working guide we use with foreign travellers in 2026 — eligibility, validity, cost, restricted zones and how Living Roots processes the paperwork on your behalf.

Quick Reference

Permit requirement by state, at a glance.

StatePermitWho needs itValidityCost
Arunachal PradeshProtected Area Permit (PAP)All foreign nationals (except Bhutan).Up to 30 days, extendable in-state once.Government fee USD 50 per person for the first 10 days, plus USD 50 per person for each additional 7-day extension. Operator processing/handling charges are additional.
NagalandProtected Area Permit (PAP)All foreign nationals (except Bhutan).Up to 30 days, extendable.Government fee USD 50 per person for up to 10 days, plus USD 50 per additional 7-day extension (standard MHA tariff). Operator processing charges are additional.
MizoramProtected Area Permit (PAP)All foreign nationals (except Bhutan).Up to 30 days.Government fee USD 50 per person for up to 10 days, plus USD 50 per additional 7-day extension. Operator processing charges are additional.
ManipurProtected Area Permit (PAP)All foreign nationals (except Bhutan).Up to 30 days.Government fee USD 50 per person for up to 10 days, plus USD 50 per additional 7-day extension. Operator processing charges are additional.
SikkimRestricted Area Permit (RAP) + Protected Area Permit (PAP) for higher zonesAll foreign nationals (except Bhutan & Nepal).RAP: 30 days, extendable twice (15 days each). PAP for Tsomgo, Nathula, Yumthang, Dzongri: 1–7 days.No central Government of India fee on the RAP itself; State-level processing charges and registered tour-operator service fees apply. Higher-altitude PAP zones (Tsomgo, Nathula, Yumthang, Dzongri) carry separate per-day permit charges via the operator.
AssamNo permit requiredForeigners with a valid Indian visa (tourist e-Visa is accepted).As per visa.—
MeghalayaNo permit requiredForeigners with a valid Indian visa (e-Visa accepted).As per visa.—
TripuraNo permit requiredForeigners with a valid Indian visa.As per visa.—

Source: Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 and Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963; Ministry of Home Affairs notifications S.O. 4565(E) and subsequent state-level orders, current as of June 2026.

01

The three permits, plainly

Protected Area Permit (PAP) — issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. Required for foreign nationals visiting Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, plus parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. Issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs or by the state government on MHA's behalf, almost always via a registered tour operator.

Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — issued under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963. Required for Sikkim and certain Himalayan border zones, and historically for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (mostly waived since 2018). Issued by Indian missions abroad with your visa, at FRROs, or at the Rangpo/Bagdogra entry points for Sikkim.

Inner Line Permit (ILP) — a colonial-era permit (Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) that applies to Indian citizens only, currently enforced in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and parts of Lakshadweep. Foreigners do not use the ILP — your PAP covers the same access.

02

How Living Roots processes your PAP

As an IATO and Government of Arunachal Pradesh / Nagaland approved Destination Management Company, Living Roots is licensed to sponsor PAPs directly. Once your itinerary is confirmed and a 25% deposit received we need, per traveller:

  • A colour scan of your passport bio-data page (must be valid for at least 180 days beyond departure).
  • A colour scan of your Indian visa page or e-Visa PDF.
  • Two recent 35×45 mm passport photographs in JPG.
  • Confirmed arrival & departure flight numbers and the entry/exit city.
  • Your full residential address.

Processing takes 5–7 working days for Arunachal and 3–5 working days for Nagaland/Mizoram/Manipur. We share the e-PAP as a PDF; carry six printed copies plus six passport photos to surrender at the state checkposts.

03

Nationalities requiring prior MHA clearance

Citizens of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Foreign Nationals of Pakistani Origin, require prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs before a PAP or RAP can be issued. Allow 6–8 weeks. Living Roots files the application via the Government of Arunachal Pradesh / Nagaland Home Department on your behalf.

For all other passports — including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, Latin America and Africa — the PAP is a state-level process and clears within a week.

04

Restricted & off-limits zones

Even with a valid PAP, certain border zones require additional defence clearance or are closed to foreigners altogether:

  • Tawang & the Bumla Pass corridor — accessible up to Tawang town with a standard PAP; Bumla and the Line of Actual Control are closed to non-Indians.
  • Dibang Valley, Mishmi Hills, Kibithoo — additional Inner Line endorsement required; we file separately.
  • Mon to Longwa (Indo-Myanmar border, Nagaland) — open with PAP; the Konyak chief's house famously straddles the border, but crossing into Myanmar is not permitted.
  • Champhai, Zokhawthar (Mizoram–Myanmar border) — open with PAP; cross-border movement is closed.
  • Loktak Lake inner phumdis & Keibul Lamjao core zone (Manipur) — boat access restricted; we book the authorised operator.
05

Visa, then permit, in that order

You cannot apply for a PAP or RAP until your Indian visa is in hand — the permit is attached to your visa number. The straightforward sequence:

  1. Apply for the Indian e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) at indianvisaonline.gov.in — 4–7 day processing, USD 25–80 depending on duration and nationality.
  2. Send Living Roots your passport + e-Visa scans and a confirmed itinerary deposit.
  3. We file the PAP / RAP and email you the approved permit 5–10 days before arrival.
  4. Carry six printed copies of the PAP and six passport photos for checkpost handovers.

For Indian Citizens — ILP Reference

Inner Line Permit, by state.

Indian nationals do not need a PAP but do need an ILP for four Northeast states. Foreign passport holders should ignore this table and use the PAP/RAP table above.

Arunachal Pradesh

Apply
https://arunachalilp.com (official Govt. portal) or any state ILP office (Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Tezpur, Shillong, Dibrugarh, Jorhat).
Fee
INR 100 (15 days, single entry).
Note
ILP is for Indian citizens only. Foreigners need a PAP (see table above).

Nagaland

Apply
https://eilp.nagaland.gov.in or ILP offices in Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Mon, Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Shillong.
Fee
INR 200 (30 days, extendable).
Note
Dimapur is exempt from ILP (no permit needed) but the rest of Nagaland requires it.

Mizoram

Apply
https://mizoramilp.gov.in or Mizoram House counters in Guwahati, Kolkata, Silchar, New Delhi.
Fee
INR 120 (15 days) or INR 220 (6 months).
Note
Issued on arrival at Lengpui airport and Vairengte/Bairabi rail gateways.

Manipur

Apply
https://manipurilponline.mn.gov.in or Manipur Bhavans in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong.
Fee
INR 100 (15 days) or INR 500 (6 months, regular visitor).
Note
Re-introduced under the ILP regime on 1 January 2020 by Presidential Order.

Frequently Asked

Permit questions, answered.

Do foreigners need a permit to visit Northeast India?

Only for four states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur require a Protected Area Permit (PAP). Sikkim needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura need no special permit — a standard Indian tourist visa (e-Visa is fine) is enough.

What is the difference between PAP, RAP and ILP?

PAP (Protected Area Permit) is for foreigners visiting protected states under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. RAP (Restricted Area Permit) is for foreigners visiting restricted areas under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963 — Sikkim is the only Northeast example. ILP (Inner Line Permit) is for Indian citizens only and applies in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur; foreigners do not use the ILP.

How long does a PAP take to process?

Through a registered Northeast tour operator like Living Roots Expeditions, 5–7 working days for most nationalities. Citizens of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and people of Pakistani origin require prior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) clearance, which takes 4–8 weeks — start 60 days before travel.

How much does a Protected Area Permit (PAP) actually cost?

The standard Government of India PAP fee is USD 50 per person for the first 10 days, plus USD 50 per person for each additional 7-day extension. The PAP is not free in any Northeast state — Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland (reimposed 17 December 2024), Mizoram (reimposed 17 December 2024) and Manipur (reimposed 17 December 2024) all attract the same MHA tariff. Tour operators charge separate processing and handling fees on top.

Can solo foreign travellers get a Protected Area Permit?

The 1958 order specifies a minimum of two foreigners per PAP, but the Ministry of Home Affairs has relaxed this for most nationalities and a registered DMC can sponsor a solo PAP into Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Living Roots regularly processes solo permits.

What documents do I need to apply for a PAP?

Scanned colour passport bio-data page, scanned Indian visa page, two recent passport-size photos, a complete day-by-day itinerary, your arrival and departure flight details, and the name of your sponsoring tour operator. We collect all of this at the time of booking.

Is the e-Visa valid for the Northeast?

Yes — the Indian e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) is valid for all eight Northeast states. You will still need a separate PAP/RAP for Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Sikkim on top of the e-Visa.

Which areas are completely off-limits to foreigners?

Tawang and the Sino-Indian border zones beyond Bumla; the Indo-Myanmar border villages east of Mon (Nagaland) and east of Vijaynagar (Arunachal); Loktak Lake's inner phumdis in Manipur; and large parts of inner Mizoram bordering Myanmar require additional defence clearance which we arrange case-by-case.

Do I need to register with the police after arrival?

Yes. Foreigners visiting Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur must report to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) at the district headquarters within 24 hours of arrival. In Arunachal Pradesh the PAP itself acts as your registration. Hotels file the C-Form on your behalf across all states.

Are there any visa nationalities that cannot get a PAP?

No nationality is outright barred, but citizens of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Foreign Nationals of Pakistani Origin, need prior MHA clearance. We process these but require a 60-day lead time.

Does the PAP cover all of Arunachal Pradesh?

Most of it. The PAP we issue covers Tawang, West Kameng, East Kameng, Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri (Ziro), Upper Siang, East Siang (Pasighat), Lohit (Tezu), Anjaw (Hayuliang), Changlang (Miao, Namdapha) and Tirap. Dibang Valley and the Mishmi Hills require an additional endorsement.

Let us file your permits

We process every PAP & RAP in-house — your only job is the visa.

Send us your itinerary brief and we'll come back with a confirmed quote, documents checklist and PAP processing schedule within 24 hours.

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