Northeast India for Foreigners: Which Permits You Need, State by State (2026)

Foreign tourists need a permit for five of the eight northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram need a Protected Area Permit (PAP), and Sikkim needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, and Darjeeling and Kalimpong, need no permit, only a valid Indian visa.

In 2026 every PAP and RAP is issued online through the e-FRRO portal, and no paper permits are given at borders or airports. Apply at least 30 days before you travel. This guide gives the rules for every state and a planning checklist. Rules are as of October 2026.

Key takeaways

• No permit: Assam (Guwahati, Kaziranga, Majuli), Meghalaya (Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki), Tripura, and Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal.
• PAP: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The PAP returned to the last three in December 2024.
• RAP: Sikkim, with extra permits for Tsomgo Lake, North Sikkim and treks.
• How: online on e-FRRO, usually prepared by a local tour operator. Arunachal applications must go through an approved operator.
• Lead time: 30 days with your visa, or 15 days if you are already in India.

Permits for foreigners at a glance

Which states need no permit?

Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura are open to foreign tourists with an Indian visa and nothing else. That covers many of the region's best-known sights: Guwahati and Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga's rhinos, Majuli island, Shillong, the living root bridges near Cherrapunji, and the clear water at Dawki. Hotels will register you using your passport and visa, as they do everywhere in India.

Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal also need no permit. Our Darjeeling and Sandakphu permit guide covers the one exception, the Singalila National Park entry permit for Sandakphu.

Sikkim: Restricted Area Permit

All of Sikkim needs a RAP, even Gangtok. Since early 2026 it is issued only online, so you cannot get it at the Rangpo check post any more. Tsomgo Lake, Lachung and Yumthang need an extra permit arranged through a registered Sikkim operator, usually for two or more travellers. Nathu La, Gurudongmar and Zuluk are closed to foreigners. Full details: Sikkim RAP for foreigners.

Arunachal Pradesh: Protected Area Permit

All of Arunachal is a protected area. Applications go through an approved Arunachal tour operator and are filed on e-FRRO. Foreign tourists pay a USD 30 royalty per person. The permit lists the places you may visit, such as Tawang, Dirang, Ziro and Pasighat. Bum La Pass is not open to foreigners. Full details: Arunachal PAP for foreigners.

Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram: PAP is back

These three states dropped the PAP for foreigners around 2011, but the Ministry of Home Affairs brought it back in a circular dated 17 December 2024. You now need a PAP for Kohima and the Hornbill Festival, Imphal and Loktak Lake, and Aizawl. In Nagaland you must also register with the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arrival. Full details: Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram PAP guide.

How e-FRRO works for PAP and RAP

1. Get your Indian visa. The e-Tourist visa is fine, but it does not cover protected or restricted areas on its own. See our e-Visa guide for Northeast India.
2. Fix your route with a local operator, including the places and dates in each permit state.
3. Apply on e-FRRO (indianfrro.gov.in). Your operator can prepare the itinerary and sponsor details.
4. Allow 30 days, or 15 days if you are already in India.
5. Carry printed copies of every permit with your passport.

Who needs extra approval?

• Citizens of Bhutan are exempt from the PAP and RAP system.
• Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and foreign nationals whose origins are in those countries, need prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Citizens of Myanmar need prior MHA approval for a PAP in Nagaland, according to Nagaland police.
• OCI cardholders are foreign nationals for permit purposes, so plan to apply. Confirm on e-FRRO.

A sample route that mixes permit and no-permit states

Start with the no-permit states while your permits are processed: Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki and Kaziranga in Assam and Meghalaya. Then continue to Tawang in Arunachal on your PAP, or fly to Bagdogra for Darjeeling and on to Sikkim on your RAP. Our Best of Northeast India tour follows this pattern.

Plan it with Breeziah

We plan trips for foreign travellers across the Northeast, including the Meghalaya with Kaziranga tour, which needs no permits at all, and permit routes in Arunachal, Sikkim and Nagaland. Send us your nationality and dates and we will tell you exactly which permits your route needs.

Sources

• High Commission of India, Kampala, "Protected Area Permit (PAP) / Restricted Area Permit (RAP)", updated October 2026: protected and restricted areas; e-FRRO only; no physical permits; 30-day and 15-day lead times; Bhutan exemption.
• Arunachal Pradesh Tourism, Protected Area Permit page: USD 30 royalty; approved operators only. Retrieved 19 October 2026.
• Dimapur district administration, Tourist Information (last updated 7 November 2025), and The Northeast Post, 24 February 2026: Nagaland PAP, e-FRRO and FRO registration.
• Indian e-Visa portal: e-Visa not valid for protected or restricted areas without prior permission. Retrieved 19 October 2026.