Restricted Areas, Protected Areas: India

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Restricted Areas, Protected Areas: India

General Provisions

All areas falling between the ‘Inner Line’ as defined in the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 and the International Border of the State come under the Protected Area

‘Protected’ Areas: a list

Whole of Arunachal Pradesh

Parts of Himachal Pradesh

Parts of Jammu & Kashmir

Parts of Rajasthan

Whole of Sikkim (partly in Protected Area and partly in Restricted Area)

Parts of Uttarakhand

‘Restricted Areas’: a list

Following areas declared as ‘Restricted Areas’ under the Foreigners (Restricted) Areas Order, 1963:

Andaman & Nicobar islands

Sikkim ( Part of the State )

How does a foreign citizen visit one of these areas?

All foreigners, except a citizen of Bhutan, require a special permit to enter and stay in a Protected or Restricted Area

Some areas opened for tourism can be visited after obtaining a special permit

Powers delegated to various authorities to issue special permit

Prior approval of Ministry of Home Affairs required for grant of special permit to citizens of Afghanistan, China & Pakistan and foreign nationals of Pakistan origin

Procedure for grant of Protected/ Restricted Area Permit

Applications can be submitted to:

Indian Mission concerned - by foreign nationals coming as Group Tourists

Any of the authorities to whom powers delegated for issue of special permit – by those already in India

For individuals, prior clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs required

Do’s and don’ts while visiting a Protected/ Restricted Area

Permit is valid for specific tourist circuit/ route and specific entry/ exit point

Permit holder must keep sufficient number of copies of the permit

Permit holder shall not stay in the Protected/ Restricted Area after the expiry of the Permit

A foreigner must enter/ exit the North Eastern States only by air

Travel within the North Eastern States can be through the National Highways or by air. While travelling by road, the tour should be undertaken largely through the National Highways

Main entry/exit point for the North Eastern States is the Guwahati (Dispur) Airport

Protected / Restricted Areas in North Eastern India

Whole of Arunachal Pradesh

Whole of Sikkim - Areas between the West Bengal – Sikkim border and the ‘Inner Line’ come under Restricted Area. Remaining areas falling between the ‘Inner Line’ and the International Border come under the Protected Area

Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have been excluded from the Protected Area Regime till 31.12.2013

However, prior approval of Ministry of Home Affairs required for – (a) citizens of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries and (b) citizens of Myanmar visiting beyond 16 Kms from the Indo-Myanmar border

All foreigners have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer of the District they visit within 24 hours of arrival.

Circuits opened for tourism in AP and Sikkim

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Along, Deporijo, Itanagar, Pasighat, Ziro

Mia, Namdapha, , Sejus (Puki) , Sejus (Puki), Tipi

Bhalukpong

Pasighat-Jengging-Yingkiong-Tuting

Bhalukpong-Bomdilla-Tawang

Roing-Mayodila-Anini

Tezu-Hayuling

Along-Mechukha

Deporijo-Nacho circuit via Taliha and Sayum

Ziro-Palin-Nyapin-Sangram-Kaloriang

Doimukh-Sagalee-Pakke Kasang-Seppa

(1) Foreign tourists in a group of two or more, duly sponsored by a recognized travel agency in India and with a pre-drawn itinerary; and

(2) A foreigner married to an Indian national belonging to Arunachal Pradesh visiting on a Tourist Visa -

are permitted to visit the above places for a period of 30 days after obtaining the Protected Area Permit

Authorities delegated powers to issue Protected Area Permit

Ministry of Home Affairs

All Indian Missions abroad

FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Bangalore

Home Commissioner, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar

Resident Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh at Delhi; and

Secretary (Tourism), Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs required for grant of PAP to a citizen of Myanmar

SIKKIM

Some places in Protected Areas opened for tourism can be visited for a specified duration after obtaining the Protected Area Permit

Places of tourist interest falling in the Restricted Area of Sikkim i.e. Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Pemayangtse can also be visited by individual foreign tourists for a period up to 15 days after obtaining Restricted Area Permit

Prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs necessary for grant of a RAP/PAP to a citizen of Myanmar

Authorities delegated powers to issue a Restricted Area Permit

(1)Ministry of Home Affairs

(2)All Indian Missions abroad

(3)FRROs at Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Amritsar, Hyderabad and Bangalore

(4)Immigration Officer at the Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai airports

(5)Chief Secretary / Home Secretary / Secretary (Tourism) to the Government of Sikkim, Gangtok

(6)I.G Police, Sikkim, Gangtok

(7) Assistant Director, Government of Sikkim, Siliguri

(8)Deputy Director (Tourism), Government of Sikkim, New Delhi

(9)Resident Commissioner, Government. of Sikkim, New Delhi

(10)Assistant Resident Commissioner, Government of Sikkim, Kolkata

(11)Tourist Officer, Rengpo

(12)Deputy Commissioner, Darjeeling

(13)Deputy Secretary / Under Secretary, Home Department, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata