Sikkim Permit Guide for Indian Tourists (2026): Tsomgo, Nathu La, North Sikkim and Zuluk

Indian tourists do not need a permit to enter Sikkim or to visit Gangtok, Pelling, Namchi, Ravangla and most of South and West Sikkim. You do need a permit for the high, border-side areas: Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La in East Sikkim, Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen and Gurudongmar in North Sikkim, and the Zuluk / Old Silk Route circuit.

You cannot apply for these permits yourself. A Sikkim-registered travel agent or taxi operator applies for you, usually as part of your cab booking, and it normally takes a day. This guide lists every permit area, the documents to carry and the mistakes that get people turned back at check posts. Rules are as of October 2026.

Which places in Sikkim need a permit?

The permit areas are all close to the borders with China, Tibet and Bhutan, which is why the army and police check every vehicle. The rest of Sikkim is open like any other Indian state.

How do you get a Sikkim permit?

Permits for Tsomgo, Nathu La, North Sikkim and Zuluk are processed by the Sikkim Tourism and Police departments, but applications go through registered Sikkim travel agents and taxi operators. Individual tourists cannot walk in and apply.

1. Book your cab or package with a registered operator. Taxis from outside Sikkim are not allowed into the permit areas, so you will hire a local taxi anyway.
2. Send your documents in advance. Most operators ask for a scan or photo of each traveller's ID and a passport photo when you book.
3. The operator applies. For Tsomgo and Nathu La this is usually done the day before. For North Sikkim and Zuluk, it is often done a day or two ahead.
4. Hand over originals if asked. On the day, the driver carries the permit and you carry your original ID.

Sikkim has discussed moving to an online permit system run through registered operators. At a stakeholder meeting in August 2026 the plan had no launch date, so the existing process still applies.

Documents to carry

• Original photo ID for every adult: voter ID, passport or driving licence. Many operators say an Aadhaar card on its own is not accepted for Nathu La, Gurudongmar and Zuluk, so carry one of the others to be safe.
• Photocopies of the same ID, two or three each.
• Passport-size photos, 2 to 4 per person.
• Children: a birth certificate or school ID card.
• Your Gangtok hotel booking, which some operators ask for.

East Sikkim: Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu La

Tsomgo Lake (about 12,300 ft) and Baba Mandir are the most common permit trip, done as a day trip from Gangtok. Nathu La (about 14,100 ft) is added on the same day for Indian citizens only. It is usually closed to tourists on some weekdays and after heavy snow, so check the open days when you book. Our Nathu La permit guide covers it in detail.

• Children and seniors: the altitude is high. Read our Sikkim altitude and safety tips before you go.
• Snow: the road closes after heavy snowfall, often in January and February. See where to see snow in Sikkim.

North Sikkim: Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen and Gurudongmar

All of North Sikkim beyond Chungthang is a permit area. Most trips split into two circuits:

• Lachung circuit: Lachung village, Yumthang Valley and, with an extra fee, Zero Point (Yumesamdong). See things to do in Lachung.
• Lachen circuit: Lachen village and Gurudongmar Lake (about 17,800 ft). See things to do in Lachen.

North Sikkim permits are issued for a fixed route and fixed nights, so your stay in Lachung or Lachen must match the permit. Landslides in the monsoon can close the roads at short notice, and permits are sometimes suspended until the road reopens.

Zuluk and the Old Silk Route

The Zuluk, Nathang Valley and Kupup circuit in East Sikkim needs a permit issued through the Rongli sub-division, again arranged by a registered operator. Most people do it as a 2 or 3 night trip with homestays. Our Old Silk Route guide covers the route.

Common mistakes that get you turned back

• Only carrying Aadhaar. Carry a voter ID, passport or driving licence too.
• Booking a cab from Siliguri for Tsomgo or North Sikkim. Non-Sikkim taxis and private cars are stopped. Switch to a local taxi in Gangtok.
• Changing the route after the permit is issued. The permit names the places and dates. Ask your operator before changing anything.
• Leaving it to the last evening. Nathu La and North Sikkim slots fill up in peak season (April to June, October and late December).

Foreign visitors

Foreign nationals need a separate Restricted Area Permit for all of Sikkim and cannot visit Nathu La. The rules are different, so read our Northeast India permit guide, which has a section for foreign travellers.

Plan it with Breeziah

Our North Sikkim tour, Gangtok, Lachung and Yumthang package and Old Silk Route tour include every permit, so you only send us your ID once.

Sources

• Outlook Traveller, "Planning a Sikkim trip? Tourist permits could soon go digital", updated 21 August 2026, on the proposed online system and the role of registered operators.
• Permit areas, documents and process: published guidance from Sikkim-registered tour operators, checked October 2026. Rules change often, so confirm with your operator before you travel.