Why the North East has permits
Permits in the North East have two roots. The Inner Line, created under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873, was designed to control movement into tribal hill areas and protect their land and cultures. It still applies to Indian citizens from outside those states. The second layer, the Protected and Restricted Area regimes, applies to foreign nationals and reflects the region's long international borders with China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
For travellers, the result is a patchwork. Each state sets its own rules, fees and portals, and those rules change more often than anywhere else in India. In the past two years alone, Arunachal Pradesh rewrote its permit guidelines, the central government reimposed the Protected Area regime in three states, and Meghalaya introduced mandatory guest registration. Everything below is our understanding as of autumn 2026; check current status before you travel.
The good news is that permits are rarely difficult. For Indians, most are issued online within hours. For foreigners, a registered tour operator handles the application, and as long as you apply early and travel as planned, the process is routine. The mistake to avoid is arriving at a border gate without the right document, which can end a trip on the spot.
State by state at a glance
The table summarises the rules for the states we cover and their neighbours. Fees are approximate and paid online unless noted. Your operator will confirm exact requirements for your itinerary.
| State | Indian citizens | Foreign nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Assam | No permit | No permit |
| Meghalaya | No permit; hotels register guests | No permit; hotels file Form C |
| Arunachal Pradesh | eILP, about ₹300–500 | Protected Area Permit, USD 30–50 royalty |
| Nagaland | ILP, about ₹200 for 30 days | PAP plus ILP of about ₹500 |
| Sikkim | Permits only for Tsomgo, Nathu La, North Sikkim | Restricted Area Permit, plus extra permits for protected zones |
| Mizoram | ILP, online or at Lengpui airport | PAP in advance, police registration within 24 hours |
| Manipur | ILP, online or at entry counters | PAP; check advisories first |
Arunachal Pradesh: eILP and PAP
Arunachal published new Inner Line Permit guidelines in March 2026. Tourists now receive a temporary ILP, applied for online at the state's eILP portal with Aadhaar authentication, valid for 15 days from the proposed entry date and covering the whole state. The schedule lists ₹300 for 15 days, while some older portal pages and tourist sites still quote ₹100 or ₹300 to ₹500 by duration. Pay whatever the portal shows on the day. Groups of up to 50 can apply through a registered tour operator.
Permits are checked at gates on the Assam border: Bhalukpong for the Tawang road, Banderdewa and Kimin for Itanagar and Ziro, Seijosa for Pakke and others further east. Carry the eILP on paper or your phone with original photo ID. Breaking the conditions carries a fine and can lead to a ban on future permits.
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, applied for through an approved tour operator, the Ministry of Home Affairs, foreigners' registration offices, Indian missions or the Arunachal authorities. Permits are usually issued to groups of two or more on a fixed itinerary, though solo travel has been reported as allowed for Tawang, Bomdila and Ziro. The royalty is quoted at USD 30 to 50 per person, and validity is usually 30 days. Citizens of a few countries need prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Foreigners cannot visit Bum La pass near Tawang under any permit.
Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur
In December 2024 the central government reimposed the Protected Area regime in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, ending a relaxation that had applied to foreign tourists since 2011. Foreign visitors now need a PAP in advance for all three. For the Hornbill Festival in 2025 the requirement was relaxed, and Nagaland's Assembly has since sought its withdrawal, so this rule is one to watch closely.
Nagaland's ILP is applied for online only, with approval usually within a few working hours. It costs about ₹200 for 30 days for domestic tourists and about ₹500 for foreigners, on top of the PAP. Mizoram issues temporary ILPs online and at a counter at Lengpui airport, and foreigners must register with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Both Nagaland and Mizoram are dry states.
Manipur issues ILPs online and at counters such as Imphal airport and Mao Gate. We do not currently plan journeys to Manipur because of the security situation, and we suggest that anyone considering it reads their government's travel advisory first.
Sikkim: the Restricted Area Permit
Indian citizens can visit Gangtok, Pelling and most of south and west Sikkim freely. Foreign nationals need a Sikkim Restricted Area Permit, which is free and issued at the Rangpo checkpost on the state border, at Bagdogra airport, through Indian missions abroad or online. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended.
Beyond that, protected zones need separate permits for everyone, arranged through registered tour operators in Gangtok, usually a day in advance with photographs and ID:
- Tsomgo Lake: open to Indians and foreigners with a permit; foreigners usually in groups of two or more.
- Nathu La: Indian citizens only, on set days of the week.
- North Sikkim, including Lachung and Yumthang: Indians and foreigners with permits, travelling in locally registered vehicles; some areas further north are closed to foreigners.
- Treks beyond Yuksom towards Dzongri and Goecha La: separate trekking permits.
Meghalaya and Assam: no permit, some rules
Neither Assam nor Meghalaya requires an Inner Line Permit or Protected Area Permit. Meghalaya, however, introduced new rules in 2025. Every hotel, homestay and resort must register guests on the state tourism system, and renting private vehicles to tourists for self-drive is prohibited. The state has also announced plans for visitor registration at entry points, with facilitation centres being built. No fee has been announced.
In practice this means carrying the same photo ID you booked with and travelling with a licensed driver. Village-level rules also matter: Mawlynnong bars day visitors on Sundays, the Nongriat root bridge trail is reported to close on Sundays, and registered guides are required for treks in East Khasi Hills.
Permits for common itineraries
Most of our journeys fall into a few patterns, and the permit needs follow from them. A Meghalaya and Assam journey, covering Shillong, Sohra, Dawki, Kaziranga and the tea gardens, needs no permit for anyone, only photo ID for hotel registration. Adding Majuli or a Brahmaputra river cruise changes nothing, since both are in Assam.
A Tawang or Ziro journey needs an Arunachal eILP for Indian citizens and a Protected Area Permit for foreigners, applied for before you reach Bhalukpong or Banderdewa. Indian travellers who want Bum La need a further permit from the Deputy Commissioner in Tawang, stamped by the Army the day before. A Hornbill Festival journey needs a Nagaland ILP for Indians and, unless relaxed again, a PAP for foreigners.
A Sikkim journey needs the Restricted Area Permit for foreigners on entry at Rangpo or Bagdogra, plus day permits for Tsomgo Lake and two-day permits for North Sikkim through a Gangtok operator. Indian citizens need only the last two. If North Sikkim is closed by landslides, as it has been for long periods since 2023, the permit cannot be issued, and we switch to an alternative plan.
How to apply without stress
Apply at least two weeks ahead for Indian ILPs and four to six weeks ahead for foreign PAPs, especially around Hornbill, the Ziro Festival and Durga Puja, when demand rises. Make sure the dates and entry points on your permit match your plan, and carry several printed copies as well as the digital version. Phone signal is often weak at border gates.
When you travel with us, we arrange every permit as part of the journey, check the documents before you leave home, and brief your driver on each checkpoint. If rules change between booking and travel, we tell you straight away and adjust the plan.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Which North East states need an Inner Line Permit?
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur require an Inner Line Permit for Indian citizens from outside those states. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim do not, though Sikkim requires permits for protected zones such as Tsomgo Lake and North Sikkim. Check current status before you travel.
How much does an Arunachal ILP cost?
About ₹300 to ₹500 per person for a tourist eILP, depending on duration and the portal's current schedule. The 2026 guidelines list ₹300 for a 15-day temporary permit. Pay whatever the official portal shows on the day you apply. Check current status before you travel.
Can foreigners visit Arunachal Pradesh?
Yes, with a Protected Area Permit arranged through an approved tour operator or the authorities. Permits are usually for groups of two or more on a fixed itinerary, with a royalty of about USD 30 to 50 per person. Foreigners cannot visit Bum La pass.
Do foreigners need a permit for Nagaland?
Yes. Since December 2024, foreign nationals again need a Protected Area Permit for Nagaland, as well as an ILP of about ₹500. The requirement was relaxed for Hornbill 2025, and its future is under discussion. Check current status before you travel.
Do Indians need a permit for Sikkim?
Not for Gangtok, Pelling or most of the state. Indians need permits only for protected zones: Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and North Sikkim, arranged through registered tour operators. Foreign nationals need a Restricted Area Permit for the whole state.
How long does it take to get an ILP?
Arunachal's tourist eILP is auto-approved after Aadhaar authentication in most cases. Nagaland's ILP is usually approved within a few working hours. Foreign PAPs take longer and should be applied for four to six weeks ahead through an operator.
Is Meghalaya permit-free?
Yes. Meghalaya requires no ILP or PAP. Since 2025, hotels must register every guest with the state, and self-drive car rental for tourists is banned. Visitor registration at entry points has been planned. Check current status before you travel.
What happens if I travel without a permit?
You will be stopped at the check gate and turned back, and you may be fined. In Arunachal, breaking ILP conditions carries a fine and can lead to a ban on future permits. For foreigners, travelling without a PAP is a serious offence. Always carry permits and original ID.
Can I get a permit on arrival?
Sometimes. Mizoram issues temporary ILPs at Lengpui airport, Manipur has counters at Imphal airport and Mao Gate, and Arunachal has facilitation counters at some stations and airports. Sikkim's foreigner RAP is issued at Rangpo and Bagdogra. Applying in advance is safer.
