The Seven Sisters has a sibling now, they are not seven anymore. The government of India added Sikkim to the list and now Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura are collectively known as Ashta Lakshmi States (Ashta meaning eight). 

The North-Eastern part of India caught my fancy when I was in school, I studied in a hostel and had many friends from Nagaland and Manipur. I was always intrigued by their food choices, the clothes they used to bring from Dimapur and how lovely they looked with flawless skin and lustrous hair.

This year for my summer break I decided to venture into this unknown paradise, called the Land of Eight Sisters. While I was planning, I came to know about the Inner Line Permit (ILP) that every traveler should get. It’s an official permission required even by Indians to visit Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram. Manipur has been trying to get a separate Inner Line Permit for itself and this has led to many agitations in the state, the Centre is assisting on this matter now.

It took me days to figure out how to go about the whole process of applying for ILP, so for the benefit of others I am jotting down pointers to make this easy peasy.

What is an Inner Line Permit?

Inner Line Permit is issued to any domestic tourist visiting Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram. It is a routine document that can be applied both offline and online.

Where can I apply offline/online for ILP?

1. Passport size photograph
2. ID proof
3. Address proof

What should be the photo specifications?

1. Colored photograph
2. Light background
3. No border
4. 35 mm X 45 mm and should be between 15 kb to 400 kb for Arunachal
5. 30 kb to 50 kb for Nagaland
6. .jpeg or .png format
7. No headgear, sunglasses or religious background
8. Recent photograph

What should be the specifications for uploading the documents?

1. You should have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and download the online ILP form
2. Documents should be scanned
3. Documents should be between 50kb to 100kb

What is the procedure for online application?

1. Fill the online form
2. Upload all the required documents with passport size photograph
3. Submit your form
4. You will get an SMS and email once your form is submitted
5. You can also check the status of your application online
6. It will take at least a week for verification.
7. Once they verify your documents, an SMS intimidation will be sent to your registered mobile no.
8. Make the payment online

What is the procedure for offline application?

1. Visit any of the listed offices and fill up the form
2. Attach required documents with two passport size photographs
3. Make the payment
4. Issuance of Permit

What if I get error while submitting the form?

1. Check the specifications of your documents and photograph.
2. To solve this problem, you can resize the scanned documents and photograph as per the specifications mentioned on the website.
3. In Arunachal Pradesh online form, give reference of anybody who is not traveling with you at the time. Their name with address in the  reference section is a must. 
4. Fill `Travel` in purpose of visit and `tourist` in category of ILP

What are the charges for issuing an ILP?

1. 400/- for Arunachal Pradesh ILP [offline – same day], 200/- [Offline – next day]
2. 100/- For Arunachal Pradesh [Online]
3. 50/- For Nagaland [Offline from Nagaland House in Delhi]
4. 140/- For Nagaland [Offline from Dimapur DC office]
5. 120/- for Mizoram [offline] + 20/- for application form

My experience:

I got my ILP for Arunachal Pradesh from Arunachal Bhawan in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It took me around an hour to get it done. They just asked me what districts I want to visit and if I want it on the same day, the charges were different for the next day.  Along with the ILP, they also gave me a map and two magazines which gives out a lot of information that is unavailable online. It was worth going there and getting it done.

One of my friend got it done online but she was getting error repeatedly, the form was not getting submitted. After doing everything from scanning all the documents to resizing them, still the result was the same. Later we came to know that the error was due to the `reference section`, she was writing local reference from Dirang but it asks for the any third party reference address [for e.g. she wrote her in-laws address].

For Nagaland, due to lack of time I filled the application online. It was simple and took only a few minutes to fill the form. But, it never came. Nagaland House in Delhi didnt even know that there is an online provision for ILP and the same happened at Old DC`s office at Dimapur. Nobody knew which office does the online process, Nagaland house told us that Dimapur does it, Dimapur told us Kohima does it. Also, I failed to understand why there is a discrepancy in ILP fees at different places?

And, nobody checks your ILP in Nagaland. There are quite lenient in this regard whereas at every checkpost at Arunachal Pradesh our ILP was checked.

Protected Area Permit and Restricted Area Permit for Foreign Tourists

Arunachal Pradesh

For Foreign tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh, they need to apply for Protection Area Permit [PAP] which can be obtained from :
1. All Indian Missions abroad,
2. All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai, Home Ministry, Govt. of India and
3. Home Commissioner, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar.

The Permit will be for a period of 10 (ten) days for a group consisting of four or more persons. The applicants should provide the following details:
1. Name,
2. Passport number,
3. Its issuing authority and the expiry date,
4. Place of birth,
5. Profession,
6. Proposed duration of stay and
7. The purpose of visit

The above information should be furnished:
– To The Home Commissioner Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar (0360-212339) or
– To The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi-110001.
Foreign Tourists visiting Arunachal Pradesh on their own arrangement will have to pay US $ 50 per head to Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Nagaland and Mizoram

Nagaland and Mizoram has scrapped the provsision for PAP for foreign tourists in order to promote tourism in the state.  Only citizens of Pakistan and China still need the permit to visit Nagaland. Other international tourists only have to register themselves at the local police station upon arrival in Nagaland and Mizoram.

Sikkim

To visit Sikkim foreigners must obtain Restricted Area Permit (RAP) previously known as Inner
Line Permit from Sikkim Tourism Officers on the strength of valid Indian Visa.

Protected Area Permit (PAP) for various places in Sikkim are issued as follows:-
East District:-
1) Tsongo –Baba Mandir-permit are issued by Police Check Post for Domestic Tourist.
Foreign tourist are allowed till Tsongo Lake, permit is issued by Tourism & Civil Aviation
Department and Police check post.
2) Nathula Pass – Permit is issued by Tourism Department and Police Check Post for domestic tourist.

West District:-
1) Dzongri Trek – Permit is issued by Adventure Cell of Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Govt. of Sikkim
2) Singalila Trek – Permit is issued by Adventure cell of Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, Govt. of Sikkim

North District:-
1) Yumthang – Permit is issued by Police check post for Domestic Tourist and for foreigners permit is issued by Tourism Department and Police Check Post
2) Yumesamdong – Permit is issued by Police check post for Domestic Tourist and for foreigners permit is issued by Tourism Department and Police Check Post
3) Thangu-Chopta Valley – Permit is issued by Police Check post for Domestic Tourist and for Foreigners permit is issued by Tourism Department and Police check post. Foreigners must apply through a Sikkim Tourism registered Travel Agent in groups of two people or more for visiting these areas.
4) Gurudongmar – Permit is issued by Police check post for domestic tourist and for foreigners permit is issued by Tourism Department till Thangu.
5) Green Lake Trekking Permit is issued by Tourism Department after obtaining a valid permit from Ministry of Home Department, New Delhi.

South District:-
Restricted Area Permit is a valid permit for trekking anywhere in the South District for Foreign Tourist. Alpine Mountaineering Expedition permit is issued by Tourism Department after obtaining valid permit from Home Department , Government of Sikkim , Gangtok, for the following peaks:

• Tinchenkhang 5603 metres ( West Sikkim)
• Jopuno 5935m (West Sikkim)
• Freys peak 5830m(West Sikkim)
• Lama Angden 5868m( North Sikkim )
• Brum Khangse 5433m ( North Sikkim )

National park and Wildlife Sanctuary entry permits is issued by Forest Department at Gangtok.

I have tried summarising all the required information in this article, if you still have doubts then leave a comment below.