In a major digitisation push, the Government of Sikkim has abolished the paper-based Protected/Restricted Area Permit (PAP/RAP) system for foreign travellers. With immediate effect, all visitors who are not Indian citizens must obtain their permits exclusively through the Ministry of Home Affairs’ e-FRRO portal on the Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking (IVFRT) platform. The move follows a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to tighten tracking of inbound foreigners while reducing queues at entry checkpoints.
Under the revised procedure, travellers will apply online after arriving in India but before entering Sikkim. Tour operators and hotels have been instructed to educate guests and verify that digital permits have been issued before transporting them to the state. Physical permits—previously issued at Rangpo or Melli check-posts—will no longer be accepted, eliminating on-arrival issuance entirely.
The online system limits access to three popular tourist zones—Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, Yumthang Valley and Zero Point—each of which still requires individual clearance. Authorities maintain that the e-process allows instant verification against national security watch-lists and promises quicker turnaround times than the manual system, which could take several hours.
![Sikkim scraps physical permits for foreigners, makes online clearance mandatory]()
Travellers who prefer professional assistance with the new digital application can turn to VisaHQ, which already supports e-FRRO submissions and offers step-by-step guidance for Indian permits. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets users upload documents, track approval status in real time, and receive timely alerts, helping ensure visitors reach Sikkim without unexpected border delays.
For travel companies, the change means updating booking flows, ensuring clients apply in time, and retaining digital copies of permits for checkpoints. Corporates sending expatriates to project sites in Sikkim must likewise adapt their mobility policies. Failure to comply could see visitors turned back at the border, resulting in missed meetings and extra travel costs.
While industry bodies welcomed the clarity and transparency of a single portal, they cautioned that bandwidth in remote areas is patchy; contingency plans such as printing QR-coded permits in hotel lobbies may be needed. The Tourism Department said it would run awareness campaigns for at least a month before imposing fines on operators who arrive without valid e-permits.(traveltradejournal.com)
Under the revised procedure, travellers will apply online after arriving in India but before entering Sikkim. Tour operators and hotels have been instructed to educate guests and verify that digital permits have been issued before transporting them to the state. Physical permits—previously issued at Rangpo or Melli check-posts—will no longer be accepted, eliminating on-arrival issuance entirely.
The online system limits access to three popular tourist zones—Tsomgo (Changu) Lake, Yumthang Valley and Zero Point—each of which still requires individual clearance. Authorities maintain that the e-process allows instant verification against national security watch-lists and promises quicker turnaround times than the manual system, which could take several hours.
Travellers who prefer professional assistance with the new digital application can turn to VisaHQ, which already supports e-FRRO submissions and offers step-by-step guidance for Indian permits. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets users upload documents, track approval status in real time, and receive timely alerts, helping ensure visitors reach Sikkim without unexpected border delays.
For travel companies, the change means updating booking flows, ensuring clients apply in time, and retaining digital copies of permits for checkpoints. Corporates sending expatriates to project sites in Sikkim must likewise adapt their mobility policies. Failure to comply could see visitors turned back at the border, resulting in missed meetings and extra travel costs.
While industry bodies welcomed the clarity and transparency of a single portal, they cautioned that bandwidth in remote areas is patchy; contingency plans such as printing QR-coded permits in hotel lobbies may be needed. The Tourism Department said it would run awareness campaigns for at least a month before imposing fines on operators who arrive without valid e-permits.(traveltradejournal.com)
