Yes, foreigners need a permit again. Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram were open to foreign tourists without a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for over a decade. That relaxation was withdrawn by India's Ministry of Home Affairs in a circular dated 17 December 2024. Since then, every foreign national needs a PAP to visit any part of these three states, including Kohima for the Hornbill Festival, Imphal and Aizawl.
The PAP is applied for online on the e-FRRO portal, with no paper permits issued. In Nagaland, foreigners must also register with the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arrival. Rules are as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The change: the PAP relaxation for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram was withdrawn by an MHA circular dated 17 December 2024.
- Who: every foreign national except citizens of Bhutan. OCI cardholders should check before travel.
- How: online on e-FRRO (indianfrro.gov.in). No physical permits are issued.
- When: at least 30 days before travel with your visa, or 15 days ahead if you are already in India.
- Extra approval: citizens of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Myanmar need prior MHA approval.
What changed and when
From about 2011, foreign tourists could visit Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram without a PAP, with only a registration on arrival. On 17 December 2024, the MHA withdrew that relaxation and brought back the Protected Area Regime under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. Reports at the time cited security concerns over movement from neighbouring countries.
Nagaland's police have repeated the rule since. A press note from the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, in February 2026 confirmed that the PAP is mandatory, that applications go through e-FRRO, and that hotels and tour operators must check that foreign guests hold valid permits. The Nagaland Assembly has asked the central government to lift the regime again, but as of October 2026 the PAP is still required.
How to apply for the PAP
- Get your Indian visa (e-Tourist visa is fine). The e-Visa does not cover protected areas by itself.
- Plan your route with a local operator: the states, towns and dates you will visit.
- Apply on the e-FRRO portal at indianfrro.gov.in for a Protected Area Permit. Many travellers let their tour operator prepare the application and sponsor details.
- Allow time: official guidance asks for 30 days before travel when applying alongside your visa, or 15 days ahead if you are already in India.
- Print the permit and carry copies with your passport.
- In Nagaland, register with the FRO within 24 hours of arrival. The FRO in Dimapur can be reached on +91 70850 65056 or 03862-225519.
State by state
| State | Foreigners | Indians |
|---|---|---|
| Nagaland | PAP on e-FRRO, plus FRO registration within 24 hours | Online Inner Line Permit since January 2025 |
| Manipur | PAP on e-FRRO | Inner Line Permit |
| Mizoram | PAP on e-FRRO | Inner Line Permit |
Nagaland and the Hornbill Festival
The Hornbill Festival at Kisama, near Kohima, runs from 1 to 10 December and attracts many foreign visitors. There is no festival exemption: foreign visitors need a PAP like any other time of year, so apply well before December. Our Hornbill Festival guide covers dates, tickets and stays, and the Dzukou Valley trek guide covers the trek near Kohima.
Manipur
Manipur needs a PAP for foreigners, just like Nagaland and Mizoram. Before planning a trip, check your government's current travel advice for Manipur, which has had periods of unrest, and confirm with a local operator that the places you want to visit are open.
Mizoram
Aizawl is now reachable by train to Sairang station, which makes Mizoram easier to add to a Northeast trip. Foreigners still need a PAP. See our Aizawl by train guide.
Who needs extra approval?
- Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and foreign nationals whose origins are in those countries, need prior MHA approval.
- Citizens of Myanmar need prior MHA approval for a PAP, according to the February 2026 Nagaland police note.
- Citizens of Bhutan are exempt from the permit system.
Indian travellers
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit, not a PAP. Nagaland moved its ILP online from 1 January 2025. Our Northeast India permit guide covers the ILP for every state.
Plan it with Breeziah
Our Hornbill Festival group trip, Kohima and Dzukou Valley trek and Mizoram by train tour can be arranged for foreign travellers. Contact us at least five weeks before travel so there is time for the PAP.
Sources
- Dimapur district administration, "Tourist Information" (dimapur.nic.in), last updated 7 November 2025: PAP mandatory for foreigners; register online on e-FRRO; no physical PAP permits; ILP online from 1 January 2025; FRO Dimapur contacts.
- The Northeast Post, "Nagaland Police reiterate mandatory Protected Area Permit for foreign nationals", 24 February 2026: MHA Circular No. 602 dated 17 December 2024; e-FRRO; FRO registration within 24 hours; Myanmar approval.
- High Commission of India, Kampala, PAP / RAP page, updated October 2026: all areas of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are protected; e-FRRO only; lead times; Bhutan exemption.
Yes. Since the MHA withdrew the relaxation in December 2024, foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Nagaland, applied for online on e-FRRO.
Yes. There is no festival exemption. Apply for the PAP well before the festival, which runs from 1 to 10 December.
No. Permits are issued only online through e-FRRO and no physical permits are issued. Apply before you travel.
Yes. Foreign visitors must register with the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arrival in Nagaland.
Yes. The December 2024 change applies to all three states: Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.