September 2, 2019 anshul akhoury

Everything you need to know about ILP – Inner line Permit procedure around India

ILP - Inner line Permit

India shares its borders with multiple countries on different sides. Because of this, many areas are sensitive and require special permits. At a lot of places, foreigners require special permits to visit these areas and at times, the domestic tourists also require an ILP – Inner line Permit. This is important, not only in North East India but in the regions of Ladakh and Kashmir as well. Here are a few details on ways to obtain ILP – Inner line Permit while traveling –

Arunachal Pradesh

For Indian tourists

One can obtain an ILP – Inner line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh by applying online through eILP portal. During normal circumstances, the ILP is granted within a single working day. But during the peak tourist seasons like Ziro Music Festival and Tawang Festival, obtaining it online becomes a little tough.

Offline ILP is available through which the travelers are allowed to choose multiple districts. Arunachal ILP is granted for a period of 30 days at a time. Arunachal Tourism Department has listed multiple places from where you can apply for ILP offline. The most convenient ones are present in New Delhi, Guwahati, and Naharlagun.

Arunachal Pradesh administration is very strict about ILP – Inner line Permitand there are checking on various places. Always carry your papers and show whenever asked for.

Papers required:

  • Any proof of identity like PAN Card / Voter ID Card / DL / Passport
  • Passport size photograph

Fees: INR 100 per person

Fees: INR 400 (same day) and INR 200 (next day)

For Foreigners

PAP or Protected Area Permit is required for all foreign tourists entering Arunachal Pradesh. Protected Area Permit can be obtained from

  • All Indian Missions abroad
  • All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai, Home Ministry, Govt. of India
  • Home Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar.

It takes 2 to 5 working days to process the permit. The PAP is valid for thirty days and is provided to a group of a minimum of two travelers or more.

Papers required

  • Name
  • Copy of the Passport
  • A copy of your Indian visa and entry stamp
  • The filled in application form (the form can be obtained from the office)
  • Passport size photographs
  • Visitors are needed to provide all the details regarding the place of the birth, profession, proposed duration of stay and purpose of visit.
  • The fee for the permit is USD 50 per head and is needed to be paid in Indian currency.
  • Applications for PAP can be submitted from Monday to Friday until 2 PM.

Nagaland

Unlike Arunachal, Nagaland ILP – Inner line Permit is a little tough to obtain. Their online portal doesn’t work and hasn’t been updated for a long time. The only way to obtain an ILP is by visiting the permit office in Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkata or Dimapur.

Like Arunachal Pradesh, always carry your papers with you because one can check the permits at random spots.

Papers required

  • Any proof of identity like PAN Card / Voter ID Card / Adhar Card (Mandatory) and DL, Passport, Bank Passbook, Ration Card (Non-mandatory)
  • Passport size photograph.

Fees: INR 50 (from Nagaland House in Delhi) INR 140 (from Dimapur DC Office)

For Foreign Tourists

There is no Protected Area Permit for Nagaland for the foreigners. But there are supposed to register themselves at the local Foreigner Registration Office (FRO) of the districts within 24 hours of arrival. The citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are still banned from visiting the PAP restricted area.

Mizoram

For Indian tourists

There is no online portal to apply for Mizoram ILP – Inner line Permit but the facility is available at Mizoram house in Delhi, Kolkata, Shillong, Guwahati, and Silchar. ILP can also be obtained from Lengpui Airport at Aizawl, Mizoram for tourists coming in by flight.

Papers required

  • Any proof of identity including PAN Card / Voter ID Card / Adhar Card or DL, Passport, Bank Passbook, Ration Card (Non-mandatory)
  • 2 to 3 Passport size photographs.
  • ILP is valid for 15 days and can be extended for another 15 days.

Fees: INR 140 (INR 20 for the application form and INR 120 as processing fees)

For Foreign Tourists

There is no Protected Area Permit for Mizoram for the foreigners. But there are supposed to register themselves at the local Foreigner Registration Office (FRO) of the districts within 24 hours of arrival. The citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are still banned from visiting the PAP restricted area.

Sikkim

Sikkim has certain places where an ILP – Inner line Permit is required. This permit is only to be prepared by a registered travel agent. The places that are only accessible via a permit are –

East Sikkim

Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, and Nathula Pass

Kupup and Menmecho Lake

West Sikkim

Dzongri and Goechela Trek – Permits can be obtained from Adventure Cell of Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department. Trek operators can get permits.

Singalila area – Here too permits are obtained from the Adventure Cell of Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department.

North Sikkim

Yumthang, Yumesamdong, Thangu and Chopta Valley. The permit is issued by Police check post for Domestic Tourists.

Gurudongmar Lake, Cholamu Lake.

Dzongu Reserve Area

South Sikkim

No permits are required

For Foreigners

ILP is mandatory for tourists coming from foreign countries. It is available easily at Melli and Rangpo border-crossing checkpoint between 8 AM to 7.30 PM. The duration of the ILP – Inner line Permit is 15 days.

Papers required

  • Photocopies of passport
  • Indian visa
  • Two passport-sized photos.

They can apply online here.

Protected Area Permits (PAP) is also required for the foreigners for visiting the interior areas and for trekking. They are also needed to travel with a registered travel agent in Sikkim in order to get a PAP.

PAP is needed for the following destinations:

East Sikkim

Tsomgo Lake – Permit is issued by Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department. Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass are restricted to foreigners.

West Sikkim

Dzongri and Goechela Trek – Adventure Cell of Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department provide the permit and is usually obtained by trek operators.

Singalila Trek –Adventure Cell of Sikkim Tourism & Civil Aviation Department issues the permit.

North Sikkim

Yumthang, Yumesamdong, Thangu/Chopta Valley – Tourism Department issues the permit

Gurudongmar Lake – Gurudongmar Lake is restricted to foreigners. PAP is issued only till Thangu.

South Sikkim

South Sikkim can be explored with an ILP – Inner line Permit

Ladakh

Apart from North East India states, exploring the border areas of Ladakh also requires a permit.

Both Indian and foreigner tourists are required to have Ladakh Inner Line Permits (ILP) is required for Indians and Ladakh Protected Area Permits (PAP) is mandatory for foreigners. Visitors can travel to Nubra Valley, Khardung La, Pangong Tso, Turtuk, Tyakshi, Chusul, Hanle, Loma Bend, Digger La, Tangyar, Tso Moriri, Dah, Hanu Villages, Man, Merak, and Nyoma. There are no permits required to visit Manali Leh Highway or Srinagar Leh Highway or Zanskar Valley.

Protected Area Permits (PAP) and Inner Line Permits (ILP) are available on the official website of Leh Administration www.lahdclehpermit.in

One needs to pay

  • INR 300 as environment fee
  • INR 100 for Red Cross Fund fee
  • INR 20 per day for the inner line permit fee

Papers required

  • Valid photo ID proof
  • Passport size photo
  • Travel plan

Hope this detailed guide to obtain ILP in any part of India helped you. Now you can plan your trip in a better and efficient way.

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