Nagaland Permits Explained: ILP for Indians, PAP for Foreigners (2026)

Short answer: If you are an Indian visitor and not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland, you need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). You can get it online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in, and a domestic tourist ILP costs Rs 200 for 30 days. If you are a foreign national, you need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) through the government's e-FRRO portal as well as a foreign tourist ILP, and you must register with the Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arriving. The PAP rule for foreigners came back on 17 December 2024. The Nagaland Cabinet and Assembly have since asked the Centre to lift it, but as of 13 October 2026 it is still in force.

Key takeaways

• Indian visitors: apply for an ILP on ilp.nagaland.gov.in. The domestic tourist ILP is Rs 200 for 30 days, plus payment gateway charges. You don't need a guarantor.
• Foreign visitors: you need a PAP (apply on e-FRRO) and a foreign tourist ILP (Rs 500 for 30 days). You must register with the FRO within 24 hours of arrival.
• RAP is not the Nagaland permit. A Restricted Area Permit covers places such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and part of Sikkim. Nagaland is a Protected Area, so foreigners need a PAP.
• Since December 2024: the whole of Nagaland is back under the Protected Area regime. All PAP/RAP applications go through e-FRRO only, and no paper permits are issued.
• 2025 Hornbill exception: the Centre relaxed the PAP for the ten festival days only (1 to 10 December 2025). We have found no relaxation announced for 2026.
• Use official sites only: ilp.nagaland.gov.in for the ILP, indianfrro.gov.in for the PAP.

Last checked: 13 October 2026. Rules can change at short notice. Check the official portals before you travel.

By Editor, Hornbill AI Studio

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Two different permits, from two different rules

People often mix these two up, so here is the difference.

• ILP (Inner Line Permit) is issued by the Government of Nagaland under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The ILP portal says anyone, Indian or foreign, who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland needs an ILP to enter the state for a limited period.
• PAP (Protected Area Permit) is a Government of India rule for foreign nationals, made under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) lists the whole of Nagaland as a Protected Area.
• RAP (Restricted Area Permit) is the matching permit for "Restricted Areas" under a separate 1963 order. The MHA lists these as the whole of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and part of Sikkim. Nagaland is not one of them.

In practice, Indians need the ILP only. Foreigners need the PAP and the ILP.

If you are only planning the Hornbill Festival, our shorter Nagaland ILP guide for Hornbill Festival 2026 covers the festival-week basics.

ILP for Indian visitors

Who needs it

Any Indian visitor who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland needs one, whether you are heading to Kohima, the Hornbill Festival at Kisama, or a village homestay.

Since a state notification of 20 September 2024, the ILP also covers Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts. The same notification says travellers who are only passing through these three districts in transit, with a valid ticket, do not need an ILP.

What it costs and how long it lasts

Payment gateway charges are extra. The portal also has categories for workers, traders, teachers, students and others, each with its own fee and validity. See the official fees page.

Documents for a domestic tourist ILP

• A recent passport-size photo
• One of these: Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, bank passbook or ration card
• If you are from Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Karimganj or Hailakandi, the portal also asks for your NRC document (in English)

Upload files as JPG or PNG, each no larger than 300 KB. The portal rejects incomplete applications.

Tourists do not need a local guarantor, but the form asks for a local contact.

How to apply, step by step

1. Open ilp.nagaland.gov.in and read the documents checklist.
2. Go to ILP Services → Apply New ILP and pick your category (for most visitors, Tourist).
3. Verify your phone number with the OTP. Foreign tourists verify by email instead.
4. Fill in your details, upload your documents, check the preview and submit. You will get an Application ID.
5. Wait for approval. The portal says a tourist ILP applied for during working hours may be approved within about four hours. Applications made outside working hours may be approved within the first three hours of the next working day.
6. Once approved, you get an SMS. Go to Fee Payment and enter your Application ID and date of birth to pay.
7. Download your ILP card. Carry a printout or digital copy along with an original government photo ID, and show them when asked.

You can check progress any time under Application Status. If you'd rather not apply online, the portal says you can also get an ILP from the Nagaland Houses in New Delhi, Kolkata, Shillong and Guwahati, or from the Deputy Commissioner's office of the district concerned.

PAP for foreign visitors

What the rule says now

On 17 December 2024 the MHA withdrew, with immediate effect, a relaxation that had kept Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland outside the Protected Area regime since 2011. That relaxation had been due to run until 31 December 2027. The ministry cited "growing security concerns in border areas" of these states.

What it means for a foreign visitor to Nagaland today:

• A PAP is mandatory. The whole state is a Protected Area again.
• It is online only. All PAP and RAP applications are processed on the e-FRRO portal, and no physical permits are issued.
• Register within 24 hours. All foreigners must register with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the state or district they visit within 24 hours of arrival.
• Some nationalities need prior MHA approval. This applies to citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, foreign nationals with origins in those countries, and, according to Dimapur Police, citizens of Myanmar.
• Hosts must check. In February 2026, the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur reminded travel agents, tour operators and accommodation providers to confirm that foreign guests hold a valid PAP before hosting them.

How to apply for a PAP

1. Make sure you have a valid Indian visa. The High Commission of India in Dhaka says ordinary passport holders with a valid visa can apply on e-FRRO once they reach India, or at the FRROs in major cities or the Resident Commissioner of the state in New Delhi.
2. Apply on the e-FRRO portal: indianfrro.gov.in/efrro/home. Give your exact places, route, entry and exit points, and arrival and departure dates.
3. Apply early. The Embassy of India in Bogotá advises applying at least 15 days ahead if you are already in India, and making sure approvals are in place at least 30 days ahead if you are planning a visit.
4. Keep copies of your permit. The permit is valid only for the route and entry and exit points it names, and you may have to hand over a copy at each point. Do not stay after it expires.

Besides e-FRRO, the permit-issuing authorities for Nagaland named by Dimapur Police include the MHA, Indian missions abroad, FRROs, the Home Commissioner of Nagaland, the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi and the Secretary of Tourism, Nagaland.

Then get your foreign tourist ILP

On ilp.nagaland.gov.in, choose Tourist (Foreigner). It costs Rs 500 and is valid for 30 days. You will need:

• A recent photo
• Both sides of your passport
• Your visa or PAP

No guarantor is needed.

After you arrive

Register with the FRO within 24 hours. MHA guidance also says hotels, guest houses and individual hosts must tell the local police within 24 hours when a foreigner stays with them, so your homestay may ask for your documents.

What has changed since December 2024

• 17 December 2024: MHA Circular No. 602 puts all of Nagaland back under the Protected Area regime and moves PAP/RAP to e-FRRO only.
• 6 January 2025: the Nagaland Cabinet decides to ask the MHA to revoke the PAP regime in the state, according to state minister C L John, speaking to PTI.
• 1 September 2025: new consolidated ILP guidelines (Home Department notification of 14 August 2025) take effect. They revise ILP categories, fees and validity. They also require hotels, guest houses, resorts and homestays to inform the nearest police station when guests from other states arrive, and say only authorised government agencies may check ILPs.
• 29 November 2025: the MHA approves a relaxation of the PAP regime for the 10-day Hornbill Festival (1 to 10 December 2025), after repeated requests from the state. It lasts only until midnight on 10 December.
• 24 February 2026: Dimapur Police reiterate that foreign nationals must hold a PAP to enter Nagaland.
• 3 September 2026: the Nagaland Legislative Assembly unanimously adopts a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the PAP regime and restore the earlier relaxation. The resolution says the state can put modern systems in place to register and monitor foreign visitors.
• 10 October 2026: the Nagaland Cabinet renews its appeal to the Centre to lift the PAP regime, saying its reimposition in December 2024 has hurt tourism and investment.

Where things stand: as of 13 October 2026, the Centre has not lifted the PAP regime for Nagaland, and we found no official relaxation announced for Hornbill Festival 2026. Plan as if foreign visitors need a PAP.

If you are coming for the Hornbill Festival

The Directorate of Tourism's event calendar lists the Hornbill Festival for 1 to 10 December at Kisama, Kohima. Sort out your ILP (and PAP, if you are a foreign national) before you book anything you can't cancel. Then plan the rest:

• Hornbill Festival 2026: a first-timer's planning guide
• How to reach Kisama from Dimapur and Kohima
• Best time to visit Nagaland, month by month

Quick questions

Is the ILP enough for a foreign tourist? No. Foreign nationals also need a PAP through e-FRRO and must register with the FRO within 24 hours of arrival.

Do I need an ILP just to pass through Dimapur? No, as long as you are a transit passenger with a valid ticket. That is what the state notification of 20 September 2024 says for Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland.

Has the PAP been lifted? Not as of 13 October 2026. The state has asked, most recently on 10 October 2026, but the decision rests with the Centre.

Where do I get help with the ILP portal? The portal lists a support email, support.ilp-ngl@gov.in, and helpline numbers on its home page. They are open on government working days only.

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Drawn from public sources, written and checked with AI assistance. Spot a mistake? Tell us at hornbillaistudio@gmail.com.