Northeast India Permits for Foreigners, State by State (2026)
Quick take: With a valid Indian visa, Assam and Meghalaya need no extra permit. Arunachal Pradesh needs a Protected Area Permit (PAP), applied for through an approved local tour operator, with a royalty of about US$30 per person. Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram need a PAP too since December 2024, when India's Home Ministry brought the permit back for those states. Plan the permit before you set off: it's checked at the state border. We can help arrange the Arunachal or Nagaland permit for our customers on request.
At a glance
| State | Permit for foreign visitors | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assam | None | Guwahati, Kaziranga, Majuli, Pobitora: just your passport and visa |
| Meghalaya | None | Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki: no permit |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Protected Area Permit (PAP) | Through an approved tour operator; about US$30 royalty per person |
| Nagaland | Protected Area Permit (PAP) | Brought back in December 2024; affects the Hornbill Festival |
| Manipur, Mizoram | Protected Area Permit (PAP) | Brought back in December 2024 |
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) instead for Arunachal and Nagaland; that's a different, simpler online permit, covered in our ILP guide. The ILP isn't open to foreign nationals.
Assam and Meghalaya: no permit
These two states are the easiest start to the Northeast. Fly into Guwahati, then drive or ride to Shillong, Cherrapunji, Dawki, Kaziranga or Majuli with only your passport and visa. Hotels register foreign guests as usual, so keep your passport with you.
Arunachal Pradesh: the Protected Area Permit
The whole of Arunachal is a protected area for foreign nationals, so you need a PAP for Tawang, Ziro, Bomdila, Dirang and everywhere else in the state.
- How to apply: Arunachal Tourism says PAP applications go through an approved local tour operator, who files them with the state. You can't apply on the online ILP portal.
- Cost: a royalty of about US$30 per person to the state government, plus the operator's fee.
- What you need: a passport valid for the trip, your Indian visa, passport photos, and your route and dates. The permit names the places you can visit, so plan the route first.
- Time: allow a few working days. Apply before you travel to Guwahati if you can.
- Where it's checked: at the state border, for example at Bhalukpong on the road to Tawang, and at hotels.
Renting from us? We can help arrange the PAP through an operator when you book. Tell us your route and dates early.
Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram
India relaxed the permit for these three states for years, and in December 2024 the Home Ministry brought it back. Foreign visitors now need a PAP for them as well. Nagaland's government has asked for it to be relaxed again, so check the current rule when you plan.
This matters most for the Hornbill Festival at Kohima (1–10 December). Apply early: December is the busiest time for permits in Nagaland.
Planning a road trip around the permits
- Start in Assam and Meghalaya. No permit is needed, so you can arrive, pick up a vehicle and set off the next morning.
- Leave room for the PAP. If Arunachal is on the plan, make it the second half of the trip so the permit has time to come through.
- Carry printed copies of the permit and your passport's photo and visa pages. Phone signal can be weak at the border posts.
- Stick to the route on the permit. Places not named on it may turn you back.
Our 10-day and 2-week Northeast itinerary is built around these rules.
FAQs
Do foreigners need a permit for Meghalaya? No. Meghalaya needs no permit for foreign visitors; your passport and Indian visa are enough.
Do foreigners need a permit for Assam? No. Assam needs no extra permit.
How do I get a PAP for Arunachal Pradesh? Through an approved local tour operator, who applies for you. Expect a royalty of about US$30 per person plus the operator's fee, and allow a few working days.
Do foreigners need a permit for the Hornbill Festival? Yes. Since December 2024, foreign visitors need a Protected Area Permit for Nagaland. Check the current rule and apply early.
Can foreigners use the Inner Line Permit? No. The ILP is for Indian citizens only; foreign visitors need the PAP.
Contact / Book
Visiting from abroad? Message us on WhatsApp with your route and dates. We'll tell you which permits it needs, help arrange the PAP on request, and keep a vehicle for you in Guwahati.
