Sikkim Permit Guide 2026 — ILP, PAP & Nathula

Permit rules in Sikkim change often and are enforced strictly at checkposts. Treat this guide as a starting point and confirm current rules with your tour operator or the Sikkim Tourism Department before you travel. Road and permit status changes daily — see the live road status.

Quick answer: who needs which permit?

Place	Indian citizens	Foreign nationals
Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi, Yuksom	No permit needed	ILP / RAP required (applies to all of Sikkim)
Tsomgo (Changu) Lake	Protected Area Permit	PAP — 1-day visit, group of 2+, via registered agency
Nathula Pass	Protected Area Permit (Indians only)	Not permitted
Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point	Protected Area Permit	PAP — group of 2+, via registered agency
Lachen, Thangu, Gurudongmar Lake	Protected Area Permit	Lachen/Thangu listed for PAP; Gurudongmar widely reported as not open to foreigners — confirm
Zuluk & Old Silk Route (Zuluk–Kupup)	Protected Area Permit	Widely reported as not open to foreigners — confirm
Dzongu	Permit required (issued at Mangan)	Listed for PAP (max 5 days) — confirm current status
Dzongri / Goechala trek (Kanchenjunga NP)	PAP + park entry permit at Yuksom	PAP (group of 2+) + park entry permit at Yuksom

Permits for Indian travellers

Indian citizens do not need any permit for Gangtok, Pelling, Ravangla, Namchi, Yuksom and most of South and West Sikkim. A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is needed for border and high-altitude areas:

Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass — East Sikkim
Zuluk and Kupup on the Old Silk Route
Lachung, Yumthang Valley, Zero Point (Yumesamdong), Lachen, Thangu and Gurudongmar Lake — North Sikkim
Dzongu
Kanchenjunga National Park treks such as Dzongri and Goechala

Where permits are issued

Permits are issued by the Permit Cell in Gangtok, District Tourism Offices (Rongli for Zuluk, Mangan for North Sikkim and Dzongu, Namchi, Soreng and Pelling) and online through government-registered travel agencies. In practice, most travellers to North Sikkim, Tsomgo–Nathula and Zuluk get their permits through a registered Sikkim tour operator, who also provides the permitted vehicle and driver.

Documents to carry

Original and photocopies of a photo ID that proves citizenship — Voter ID, passport or driving licence
Birth certificate for children
At least 2 passport-size photos (carry a few extra)
Aadhaar is not accepted as proof of nationality for protected-area permits

Bikes and own vehicles

Indians can get a two-wheeler pass for protected areas for up to 7 days, applied one day before travel; hired bikes go through registered operators, and riders must carry the RC, driving licence, insurance and PUC. Rules for private cars and out-of-state vehicles on protected routes vary and are under review (a proposal to allow only Sikkim-registered vehicles was discussed in August 2026 but is not in force) — check with the Permit Cell or your operator before planning a self-drive. Renting a bike in Sikkim? See verified bike rental operators.

Inner Line Permit (ILP / RAP) for foreign nationals

Every foreign passport holder needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP), commonly called the Inner Line Permit, to enter any part of Sikkim — including Gangtok. Bhutanese nationals are exempt.

Online only since January 2026. Paper permits are no longer issued at Rangpo, Melli, airports or district offices. Apply on the government e-FRRO portal after arriving in India and before entering Sikkim.
Documents: passport and Indian visa copies, and 2 passport-size photos.
The Tourism Department lists the RAP as valid for 30 days, extendable once by 30 days.
Nationals of Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Myanmar need prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs / Ministry of External Affairs.

Protected areas for foreigners

Foreigners visiting protected areas need a PAP on top of the RAP, and must travel in a group of at least two, through a government-registered travel agency, with a certified guide. Nathula Pass is open to Indian citizens only. Gurudongmar Lake and Zuluk are widely reported as off-limits to foreigners, and recent reports list Tsomgo Lake, Yumthang and Zero Point as the main areas open to them — confirm the current list with your agency when booking.

Nathula Pass permit

Indian citizens only; permits are issued for a one-day excursion from Gangtok.
Monday is closed ("No Nathula Day"). Many operators also report Tuesday as closed — check the open days for your dates when booking.
An environmental fee is paid at State Bank of Sikkim as part of the permit; your operator will tell you the current amount.
Carry the same documents as for other protected areas (no Aadhaar as nationality proof; birth certificate for children).
The pass closes without notice for snow, landslides or security reasons.

North Sikkim: Lachung, Yumthang, Lachen and Gurudongmar

North Sikkim reopened in stages after the October 2023 Teesta flood and later landslides. Lachung, Yumthang and Zero Point reopened in September 2025. Permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake resumed in March 2026, were suspended after an April 2026 landslide, and resumed again in September 2026 once the road was restored.

Under a District Magistrate (Mangan) order, all vehicles must cross the Toong checkpost by 4 PM in both directions; night driving is not allowed.
Permits are often cancelled at short notice after heavy rain or snow — keep a buffer day in your plan.
Check the live road status before you go.

Dzongu and Kanchenjunga treks

Dzongu, the Lepcha reserve in North Sikkim, needs a permit for the whole area, issued at Mangan — homestays usually help arrange it. Treks into Kanchenjunga National Park (Dzongri, Goechala) need a PAP arranged through a registered agency plus a park entry permit at the Yuksom checkpost, where entry and camping fees are paid.

Tourist fee and other rules

Since March 2025, overnight tourists pay a ₹50 Tourism Sustainable Development fee, collected by your hotel or homestay. It is valid for 30 days or until you leave Sikkim; children under 5 are exempt.
Plastic carry bags have been banned in Sikkim since 1998 — carry a reusable bag and water bottle.
Coming soon: the state has announced an online permit system for protected areas (August 2026), with no launch date yet. We'll update this page when it goes live.

Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a permit to visit Gangtok?

No. Indian citizens need permits only for protected areas such as Nathula, Tsomgo Lake, North Sikkim, Zuluk and Dzongu.

Is Aadhaar accepted for Sikkim permits?

Not as proof of nationality. Carry a Voter ID, passport or driving licence, plus passport-size photos.

Can foreigners visit Nathula Pass?

No. Nathula is open to Indian citizens only.

How do foreigners get the Sikkim ILP in 2026?

Online through the e-FRRO portal, after arriving in India and before entering Sikkim. Paper permits at the border were stopped in January 2026.

Can I get a North Sikkim permit myself?

Permits are issued through the Permit Cell, district offices and registered agencies, but in practice almost all North Sikkim trips are arranged by a registered tour operator with a permitted vehicle.

Let a registered operator handle your permits

Share your dates — government-registered Sikkim tour operators send you quotes that include permits and vehicles.

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Sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something outdated? Tell us.

Sikkim permit guide 2026: ILP, PAP and Nathula permits