Entry to Restricted/Protected Areas
Foreigners are not normally allowed to visit a Protected/Restricted Area in India until unless there are extraordinary reasons to justify such a visit. Foreigners who intend to visit the following places in India are required to obtain a Restricted/Protected Area Permit
- Whole of Arunachal Pradesh
- Parts of Himachal Pradesh
- Parts of Jammu & Kashmir
- Whole of Manipur
- Whole of Mizoram
- Whole of Nagaland
- Parts of Rajasthan
- Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area)
- Parts of Uttarakhand
- Entire Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Parts of Sikkim
*RAP/PAP shall be required for all such places as notified by the Government of India from time to time.
How to obtain a RAP/PAP?
If the foreigner is residing outside India, he/she has to apply for the RAP/PAP permit through the concerned Indian mission at least 30 days in advance.
If the foreigner is residing/entered India, he/she has to apply for the RAP/PAP permit to the jurisdictional FRRO at least 15 days in advance.
Keep in mind!
- Obtaining RAP/PAP permit does not give the foreigner full right-/-access to that Restricted/Protected area, if it requires special permission from the additional in-charge of that particular establishment / installation / national park / island.
- If any foreigner is found visiting a Restricted/Protected area without the Restricted/Protected Area Permit, action shall be taken under the relevant provisions of the Foreigners Act.
