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ArticleVerified 2026-10-23
Sikkim permits — the Protected Area Permit for Tsomgo, Nathu La and North Sikkim, and the RAP for foreigners
Sikkim permits from the official Sikkim Tourism site: which places need a Protected Area Permit, the documents for Indians, and the free RAP for foreigners.
Most of Sikkim is open, but its high lakes and border passes are protected areas, and you cannot drive up to them without a permit. These are the rules on the official Sikkim Tourism site, as we read them on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so check the site, or ask your registered agency, before you travel.
Photos: Indrajit Das (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Which places need a permit
Sikkim Tourism names these protected areas:
- East Sikkim: Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La and Zuluk.
- North Sikkim: the Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang and Thangu valleys, and Gurudongmar Lake.
The permit for these is the Protected Area Permit (PAP). It is issued by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, police check posts and authorised offices, and most protected areas are applied for through a travel agency registered with Sikkim Tourism. Tsomgo Lake is a day excursion. The North Sikkim valleys are given for at least 3 days and 2 nights and at most 5 days and 4 nights, with a registered guide.
Documents for Indian tourists
For Nathu La, Gurudongmar and Zuluk the site lists:
- a Voter ID or a driving licence;
- 2 passport-size photographs;
- for children under 18, a birth certificate, the father's Voter ID or a passport.
Aadhaar is not accepted. Carry the originals and copies, and keep a printed and a digital copy of the permit.
On a motorbike
Motorbikes must be of 150 cc or more to enter the protected areas. Bring your driving licence, the pollution and insurance certificates and 2 passport-size photographs.
Foreign tourists: the RAP
Every foreigner, except people of Bhutanese origin, needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to enter Sikkim's protected or restricted areas. The site says:
- It is free. It is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Indian missions abroad, airport immigration at Pakyong and Bagdogra, Sikkim Tourism offices at Melli (8 AM to 8 PM every day), Rangpo, Siliguri, Kolkata and Sikkim House in New Delhi, among others.
- It is valid for 30 days; apply for an extension at least 2 days before it runs out, and the total stay may not pass 60 days.
- Every foreigner must register within 24 hours of arriving in the state.
- Foreigners may not go to Nathu La, Zuluk or Gurudongmar, but may visit Lachen and Yumthang, travelling in a group of two or more through a registered agency.
Treks and parks
Trekking and mountaineering permits, and entry to the national park and sanctuaries, are separate: the site says they go through a registered agency or the Forest Department in Gangtok after clearances. Ask your agency well ahead.
Plan the trip
Copy the Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La day or the North Sikkim road day, and read how to reach Gangtok and things to do in Gangtok.
Places around Gangtok
The Gangtok guide →
Tsuklakhang Monastery, Gangtok — the royal chapel of the Chogyals
Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok — the Tibet museum and library
Enchey Monastery, Gangtok — the "solitary monastery" on the ridge
Do-drul Chorten, Gangtok — the white stupa with 108 prayer wheels
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok — the army-kept temple on the ridge
Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park, Gangtok — a waterfall and the forest healer
Kabi Lungchok — the stones of the Lepcha–Bhutia blood brotherhood
Rumtek Monastery — the Dharma Chakra Centre near Gangtok
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Questions people ask
Do Indian tourists need a permit for Sikkim?
Not for Gangtok and the open towns, but yes for the protected areas. Sikkim Tourism lists Tsomgo Lake, Nathu La, Zuluk, Gurudongmar and the Lachen, Lachung, Yumthang and Thangu valleys. Most of these are applied for through a travel agency registered with Sikkim Tourism, so arrange it with yours before the day.
What documents do Indians need for a Sikkim permit?
For Nathu La, Gurudongmar and Zuluk, Sikkim Tourism asks for a Voter ID or driving licence and 2 passport-size photographs. Aadhaar is not accepted. Children under 18 need a birth certificate, their father's Voter ID or a passport. Riders also need a licence, pollution and insurance certificates and photographs.
How do foreigners get a permit for Sikkim?
Every foreigner, except people of Bhutanese origin, needs a Restricted Area Permit, which is free. It is issued by Indian missions abroad, airport immigration at Pakyong and Bagdogra, and offices such as Melli, Rangpo and Siliguri. It is valid for 30 days, and you must register within 24 hours of arrival.
Can foreigners visit Nathu La and Gurudongmar?
No. Sikkim Tourism says foreign nationals are not allowed to Nathu La, Zuluk or Gurudongmar, though they may visit Lachen and Yumthang with the right permit. In the restricted North Sikkim valleys, foreigners must also travel in a group of two or more, through a registered travel agency.