How and Where to Obtain an Inner Line Permit 2023?

Inner Line Permit or ILP is a travel document issued by the Government of India. It is required by Indian citizens to visit protected or/and restricted areas within the country. This permit is valid for a limited period of time. Its main purpose is to monitor the activity of tourists. Also, the inflow of people in certain areas that are close to international borders or are remote and are a cultural minority. 

The three states that require Indian citizens to obtain an Inner Line Permit are Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Apart from these, many other regions within some other states also require Indian Citizens to have a permit before they enter. Some of the most famous among them are parts of the Leh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The current blog deals with the first kind of Permit i.e a permit for travelers. The concerns of visitors about the ‘how’ and ‘where’ to obtain an ILP for Leh Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland will be addressed in the current writing piece.

India is home to a number of culturally sensitive regions, as well as those that require special security due to a number of reasons. In India, most travel destinations located close to the international border require an inner line permit to enter.

Inner Line Permit (ILP)

The main purpose of an Inner line permit for travelers is to regulate the movement of visitors into sensitive regions. This may be either for security purposes or for protecting the cultural ethos of a specific region.

The ILP can be of two types. One is when a person wishes to stay in the region for a small period of time. This includes ILPs for tourists. The other is required for longer periods of stay like in the case of education or employment.

In India, most travel destinations located close to the international border require an inner line permit to enter.

Here are a few important details about the Inner Line Permit for travelers.

Inner Line Permit for Leh-Ladakh

Leh Ladakh needs no introduction. The land of golden plains, tall mountains and crystal clear blue waters attracts thousands of travelers every year. However, in order to visit certain parts of this cold desert, you need a permit.

With effect from 1 June 2017, it is mandatory for Indian Citizens to obtain an Inner Line Permit for visiting certain areas in Leh. Along with the inner line permit fee, you are now also required to pay an additional environment fee of 400 INR. The good news is that now you also apply for these permits online. 

If a foreign national or a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) wants to visit the Ladakh region, she/he can do so by obtaining the Protected Area Permit or PAP.

PAP is a travel document issued by the Government of India to foreign nationals or NRIs, who wish to visit the protected or restricted areas in certain states of the country.

This permit cannot be obtained directly by an individual or a group. PAP is only issued only through a registered travel agent.

Inner Line Permit for Leh Ladakh: Highlights

Here are a few important highlights of the Inner line permit for Leh that a traveler must know about before planning a visit to the region. 

Who Needs an Inner Line Permit in Leh-Ladakh?

An India Citizen who does not belong to Ladakh and wishes to visit the protected or restricted areas of Leh- Ladakh region is required to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP).

Residents of Ladakh and children below the age of 12 can enter without a permit and by just displaying their valid Photo ID.

Foreign Nationals visiting the region must obtain the Ladakh Protected Area Permit (PAP) before entering it.

What is the Validity of an Inner Line Permit Leh-Ladakh?

The Inner Line Permit is effective for a period of 3 weeks for Indians and 1 week for foreigners. However, there is no limit on the number of times you visit a place within the valid period as long as you carry the necessary permits.

If you wish to prolong your stay you have to obtain a new Inner Line Permit.

You cannot use the same permit. The checking and rules are very strict in the region. So, get a new Inner Line Permit before the expiry of the previous one. 

Which areas in Leh-Ladakh Need an Inner Line Permit?

The areas that require an Inner Line Permit in Leh region include the following places.

In order to visit many of Ladakh’s beautiful gems, it is important that you have an ILP with you at all times. It would be a shame to miss out on Ladakh’s pretty places just because you don’t have an Inner Line Permit. It’s just not worth it.

How to Apply for an Inner Line Permit Leh 2022?

The Inner Line Permit can be obtained both online and offline. You can get the permit once you reach Leh or can apply for it online on the government portal.

Although you can get an inner line permit online, you still have to get it signed and pay the fee once you are in Leh.

The details of both the procedures are given below:

Obtaining the Inner Line Permit Offline:

If you plan on applying for the permits once you reach Leh, you can apply for them at the Tourist Information Office (TIC) office.

The office is open on all working days, except for government holidays. All applications for inner line permit are accepted between 09:00 AM to 03.00 PM.

Besides this, you also need to write an application addressed to the DC of Leh – Ladakh district for the approval of your Inner Line Permit.

Here, you need to mention your travel dates along with your interest to visit the places you wish to cover during your Leh- Ladakh trip.

10 Steps for Obtaining the Inner Line Permit Online

Obtaining the Inner Line Permit has become fairly easy and convenient since it was moved to the official government portal.

In order to obtain the Inner Line Permit online, there are 10 steps that you must follow.

Now that you know how to obtain an ILP online, you should also have knowledge about the essential documents that you require for procuring a permit.

What Documents to Carry for getting an Inner Line Permit 2022?

You need to carry the following documents for obtaining the Inner Line Permit for Ladakh.

Inner Line Permit for Visiting Leh Ladakh- A Summary

Before ending the segment on Inner line permit for Leh Ladakh, here is a quick summary of all the important information.

Ladakh has one of the most unique landscapes in the country and you can experience the magic of this land only when you see it yourself.

Always carry photocopies of your Inner Line Permit as you might need to submit them at some check posts during your trip.

Arunachal Pradesh literally translates to ‘land of the dawn-lit mountains’ and is also known as the ‘Orchid State of India.’ Blessed with a wide variety of flora and fauna, Arunachal Pradesh has a lot to offer to nature lovers and travelers.

Arunachal Pradesh is bounded by international borders. With Bhutan in the west, China in the north & northeast, and Myanmar in the east, the state shares a major portion of its boundary with other countries.

This makes the location of the state strategic and sensitive. Therefore, an inner line permit is required by non-residents to enter the state.

How to Apply ILP for Arunachal Pradesh?

All domestic travelers are required to obtain permits for Arunachal Pradesh. It is called an Inner Line Permit or ILP. Once you have it, you can enter the state through any of the entry points.

Indian citizens can obtain Inner Line Permit or ILP for Arunachal Pradesh either online or offline or at arrival. There are two ways of obtaining a permit- online and offline.

Before I proceed further here is a summary of Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh

Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh: Highlights

Here is a quick overview of the Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is an extremely serene and picturesque locale. The fact that it shares its border with China, Bhutan and Myanmar makes it a vulnerable target. Therefore obtaining an ILP for Arunachal Pradesh is a must if you want to explore this little paradise of northeastern India. All the efforts will seem worth it when you are treated to beautiful sights like these! 

How to Apply ILP for Arunachal Pradesh online?

You can apply for an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh online. The price for Inner line Permit is 100 INR for solo travelers and 100 INR per person for group travelers.

You can also apply for an instant inner line Permit online for 400 INR. You will get it within a few hours.

The detailed steps for applying for an ILP in Arunachal Pradesh are as follows.

Who can be the local reference for Arunachal ILP?

The local reference asked on the inner line permit for Arunachal Pradesh does not necessarily have to be a resident of Arunachal Pradesh. It can be anyone you know, from any of the states in India.

How many days does it take to get ILP for Arunachal online?

It takes not more than 24 hours for the inner line permit application to be processed. Sometimes it may delay, but not for more than a few days.

After you upload the documents it may take another 24 hours for processing. They will either accept or reject your application.

If it is accepted, you need to pay the amount online.  After this, you can download your ILP Arunachal Pradesh without a delay.

If your application is rejected, you can reapply instantly. Just rectify the cause of the rejection mentioned.

How to Apply ILP for Arunachal Pradesh Offline?

Indian citizens can also apply for an inner line permit for Arunachal Pradesh offline. You can even get the inner line permit in some selected cities across India.

The details are given below.

How many days does it take to get ILP for Arunachal offline?

It takes about one day from the time of application to get the inner line permit, except for the holidays of course. Try to apply for the permit in the morning by 12 pm. A lot of offices do not accept the applications after lunch.

Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh: Additional Permissions for Border Areas

The ILP Arunachal Pradesh entitles you to travel everywhere in the state as mentioned on the inner line permit, except few places near India- China Border or India-Myanmar Border.

The popular destinations that require additional permissions are –

The process of obtaining the online as well as the offline permit for Nagaland is fairly simple, and one shouldn’t miss out on this beautiful location just because of preconceived notions related t permits.

Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh: A Summary

Here’s a quick summary of all the important details of ILP for Arunachal Pradesh

Inner Line Permit for Nagaland

An unexplored region of the North East of India is the land of Nagas – Nagaland. The land of folklore and mysticism, Nagaland is blessed with exquisite landscapes, and lush and green flora, something that every traveler must explore.

An Inner Line Permit is required for visiting Nagaland under the Inner Line Permit (ILP) Regulation Act (Section III of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act of 1873). This has been done to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people of Nagaland from exploitation by outsiders.

An Inner Line Permit for Nagaland is required if you wish to visit a place in Nagaland other than Dimapur.

You can apply for the permit both online and offline. An important thing you need to remember is that the Inner Line Permit needs to be obtained individually for each person, even if you are travelling in a group.

Inner Line Permit for Nagaland- Highlights

Before going into the details of ILP for Nagaland, here are a few things you must know.

Nagaland is home to more than 15 tribes and a whole lot of native heritage. It needs to be protected and hence an ILP is a must for the region. The culture here is as diverse and rich as its flora and fauna. Don’t you want to explore this wonderland?

How to apply for ILP Nagaland Online?

You can apply for inner line permit for Nagaland on the official website. The steps for applying for the permit online are:

How to apply for ILP Nagaland Offline?

The process of applying for Inner line Permit offline is very simple.

Just take your documents including Government issued ID proof, passport size photo and address proof. Fill out the complete form and after submitting wait for the DC (Deputy Commissioner) to sign it.

Once it is done, you are all set to visit Nagaland.

1.      Inner Line Permits at Nagaland House

If you wish to apply for an inner line permit offline, you can visit at one of the Nagaland houses in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Shillong.

2.  Inner Line Permit in Nagaland

You can also apply for Inner Line Permit at the Deputy Commissioner’s offices located in the following towns/ Cities of Nagaland. Here is a list of towns and cities where the inner line permit can be obtained.

Although obtaining the permit may sound easy, I would suggest you apply for it offline. This method is completely full proof.

Inner Line Permit for Nagaland: A summary

Here’s a brief summary of the Inner line permit for Nagaland.

Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Leh Ladakh are some of the most beautiful regions in the country.

Although, sometimes you may feel that it’s a hassle to obtain a permit to visit these regions, the trouble (if at all any!) is totally worth it.

Plan a visit to these parts of the country soon and be astounded by their beauty and culture. Places like these are what truly make India incredible.

Happy Wayfaring 🙂