Sikkim Permits
Which ones you need, where they apply, and what goes wrong.
Most Sikkim trips that go wrong, go wrong here. This is everything in one place — what the permits are, which places need them, what ID is accepted, and how far in advance to apply.
A4 · printable · for offline use on the road
2
permits exist in Sikkim — RAP and PAP
0
times Aadhaar is accepted at a check post
1 day
ahead is when you should apply
01
There are only two permits in Sikkim.
Everything else people call "the Nathula permit" or "the North Sikkim permit" is one of these two, issued for a particular area.
RAP / ILP
Restricted Area Permit
What it's for
Entering Sikkim at all
Who needs it
Foreign nationals and OCI card holders only
PAP
Protected Area Permit
What it's for
Specific border and high-altitude areas inside Sikkim
Who needs it
Everyone — Indian and foreign
What this means for you
You need no permit at all to enter Sikkim.
Staying in Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi and nearby — simply travel there.
Going to Tsomgo, Nathula, Zuluk or North Sikkim — a PAP for those areas only.
02
A Protected Area Permit is required here — and only here.
East Sikkim
- Tsomgo (Changu) Lake
- Baba Mandir
- Nathula PassIndians only
- Zuluk, Kupup, Gnathang (Old Silk Route)Indians only
North Sikkim
- Lachen
- Lachung
- Yumthang Valley
- Zero Point (Yumesamdong)
- Thangu & Chopta Valley
- Gurudongmar LakeIndians only
- Dzongu
Treks
- Dzongri and Goecha La
- Singalila
Where you need nothing
Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi and most of the state. There are no protected areas in South Sikkim. Foreign nationals still need their RAP to be anywhere in Sikkim, but no PAP for these towns.
Closed to foreign nationals
No permit exists for foreign visitors to these. Worth checking before you plan a trip for a mixed group.
03
Bring the right ID — or lose the day.
Aadhaar and PAN are not accepted
This is the single most common reason people are turned back at a check post. Aadhaar has not been accepted for Protected Area Permits since 2019, and PAN cards are not accepted either.
Indian nationals
Voter ID
Most commonly used
Passport
Driving licence
Aadhaar
Not accepted since 2019
PAN card
Not accepted
Also carry
Two passport-size photographs, printed. A photo on your phone is not enough.
Photocopies of your ID — check posts keep a copy.
Foreign nationals & OCI holders
- Passport and visa — originals plus copies
- Two passport photographs
- A copy of your valid RAP
- Travel itinerary and the details of your registered operator
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Plan a day ahead, through an operator.
Indian nationals
01
Go through a registered Sikkim tour operator
You cannot arrange North Sikkim permits independently.
02
Send your documents ahead
If your operator has scanned copies before you arrive, the permit can be ready when you get there.
03
Apply a day in advance
A morning application is usually issued late the same afternoon, or the next day.
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Fees are nominal
Nathula is commonly around ₹200 per person. Others vary.
Foreign nationals: physical permits have been discontinued.
Sikkim no longer issues physical or on-arrival RAP and PAP to foreign nationals. All applications must now be made online through the e-FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in), after arriving in India but before entering Sikkim.
Approval typically takes 24–48 hours
Also keep in mind
A group of at least two is normally required — solo foreign applicants are generally not approved.
Travel must be booked through a government-registered operator with a certified guide.
Nationals of certain countries require prior clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs before applying.
Where permits are issued
Tsomgo & Baba Mandir
Police Check Post
Nathula Pass
Police Check Post or Sikkim Tourism Department
Zuluk
Rongli SDPO office, Gangtok Tourism Office, or 3rd Mile Check Post
North Sikkim
Mangan District Administrative Centre, or a registered operator
Treks
Adventure Cell, Sikkim Tourism Department, via trek operators
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Six ways a Sikkim trip loses a day.
1
Carrying only Aadhaar
The most common one. People arrive with Aadhaar, are refused, and lose the day.
2
Photos only on the phone
You need printed passport photos. There is nowhere convenient to get them once you're past Gangtok.
3
Leaving it to the morning of travel
Permits are processed a day ahead. In peak weeks they go quickly.
4
Assuming you can sort it on arrival
North Sikkim permits have to go through a registered operator. There is no counter you can walk up to.
5
Not checking current access
Roads and permits in North Sikkim change with weather and landslides. Gurudongmar and Lachen in particular have been closed for extended periods in recent years.
6
Mixed-nationality groups
If anyone in your group is a foreign national, Nathula, Gurudongmar and Zuluk are out for them. Plan around it early.
No queues, no forms, no surprises at a check post.
Please note: permit rules in Sikkim change — sometimes at short notice, and often with weather and road conditions. This guide reflects the position as of October 2026 and is intended as general information, not official guidance. Always confirm current requirements with the Sikkim Tourism Department or your operator before you travel.
