What is Inner Line Permit?

Inner Line Permit (ILP), Protected Area Permit (PAP), Restricted Area Permit (RAP)


Inner Line Permit (ILP)

It is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state.

Despite the fact that the ILP was originally created by the British to safeguard their commercial interests, it continues to be used in India, officially to protect tribal cultures in northeastern India. There are different kinds of ILP's, one for tourists and others for people who intend to stay for long-term periods, often for employment purposes.


States requiring ILP

  1. Arunachal Pradesh
  2. Nagaland and
  3. Mizoram
  4. Manipur (From Dec. 2019)


There are also ongoing demands for the introduction of ILP in Assam, Meghalaya and Andaman & Nicobar Islands to regulate entry of outsiders into the state.



Protected Area Permit (PAP)

The Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 states that a Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required for foreigners to visit certain areas in India (mainly in the North-East). Certain requirements have to be fulfilled in order to get this permit. Indian citizens who are not resident in these areas need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter these places. The Inner Line Permit is significantly easier to get.

PAP is required in

  • All of Sikkim
  • All of Arunachal Pradesh
  • Parts of Himachal Pradesh
  • Parts of Jammu and Kashmir
  • Parts of Rajasthan
  • Parts of Uttarakhand
  • Parts of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland.


Restricted Area Permit (RAP)

In addition, the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order 1963 states that a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required for foreigners to visit certain areas in India. As of 2009, RAP are required for all visits to the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the state of Sikkim. Unlike PAP, RAP are generally available for individual travelers and can be issued by overseas embassies or even, in some cases such as Port Blair's Vir Savarkar Airport, on the spot. Indian citizens do not need special permission to visit Restricted Areas.


RAP is required in

  • All of Andaman and Nicobar
  • Parts of Sikkim

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