Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur now open without permit...

from times of india:

Now, only Pak & China nationals need special permits to visit NE
TNN, Jan 1, 2011, 04.01am IST
India|nagaland|Mizoram|Manipur |Foreigners Registration Officer
NEW DELHI: Foreigners, excluding Pakistani and Chinese, visiting India on valid visa will not have to take special permit to travel to Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from January 1 as government has scrapped the provision to boost tourism in these northeastern states, beginning New Year. The relief, however, won't be applicable to foreigners who would like to go to Arunachal Pradesh. Even in the three exempted states, the relief will initially be for one year.

"The government has decided to exclude Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from the Protected Area regime notified under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, initially for a period of one year," a MHA statement said. However, all foreigners visiting these states will have to register themselves with Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival.

The restriction was in force since pre-independence days. Now, Arunachal Pradesh is the only state left in the north-east where foreigners are required to take prior permission before any visit. Citizens of some specified countries, including Pakistan and China, would, however, continue to require prior approval of the MHA before their visit to these three states.


Read more: Now, only Pak & China nationals need special permits to visit NE - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...#ixzz19mJrF2ga

Thanks for this valuable information, is this applicable for Indian citizens too ?

Fantastic news indeed. It was already reported this morning by costaguana in this sticky thread in this same forum:

Entry Permits into North East Bloc States

Government notifies lifting PAP from the state
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 05 2011: Manipur government on Wednesday issued a notice lifting the Protected Area Permit (PAP) from the entire state of Manipur for one year six days after the Centre has relaxed travel restrictions to foreigners in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 .

In a bid to woo foreign tourists the Centre on December 31 relaxed, with conditions, travel restrictions for foreigners in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=20..060111.jan11

I think this is awesome, there is so much to see there, green lush jungles and lakes, rice terreces

Looking for any information about independent travel in Manipur since as of Jan 1st an RAP is no longer required. Anyone been there under the new rules?

It's not RAP, (which is Restricted Area Permit needs for visiting places having strategic/defence signficance) but the PAP (Protected Area Permit, required for all foreigners intend to visit certain places in India)that is relaxed for Manipur along with Nagaland and Mizoram for a year from 1-Jan-2011. RAP is still required if you want to visit close to a strategic post / army installation.

You can read some of discussions related to this relaxation here and here.

Hi
I'm hoping to travel to Imphal soon, to sort of test the water for a more extensive trip around.
It seems that there will be a checkpoint at the airport where I will have to give extensive answers as to where I propose to go, and the names of everyone I will visit in Manipur.

I think I've got some appropriate answers - we shall see...
I'll try to post a trip report on my return.

Hi,

Typically, if you travel by air, then a seven-day permit is included in that by default. For extension, you need to get it by applying for it.

So what happens when one (foreigner) arrive at the state border without any permit at all and tries to enter?

I remember in 2008 in Mizoram no one seemed to bother if I had permit or not (I had, but it was pain in a.. to get it). Same situation my friend reported from Arunachal Pradesh - only on the way to Tawang you are checked, in other areas no one seem to care.

One should never take a chance. At the border, the authorities can issue permits; but, you have to provide convincing answers. It is wiser to be safe than sorry.

Please note that as of 1st January 2011, for the duration of one year, foreigners are no longer required to obtain PAPs/RAPs for Mizoram, Nagaland or Manipur.

Indian Nationals still require ILPs.

Arunachal Pradesh definitely requires permits for both foreigners and for Indian Nationals. It is not possible to travel there without them. In addition, different permits are required for different areas. One permit does not fit all destinations. You must list each and every place to be visited on the request and make sure it is there on the permit. These papers are not issued at the border.

Sikkim issues permits at the border.

Theyyam, what I read and understood, it's only PAP that is relaxed and as PAP only required for foreigners, so they are the beneficiaries out of this policy change.

RAP- Restricted area Permit is required by both Indian/Foreigners when ever anyone tries to visit a place with strategic / military significance and everyone would still need that and no change in RAP process so far.

I think the additional permit we require to visit places like Pangsu Pass or Bumla from Army and Administration belongs to this kind of permit (RAP).

This is obviously my understanding after reading the available resources in net, so someone should correct me if I am wrong in my understanding.

Thanks for the clarification.

I am always a bit mystified about the difference between a Protected Area Permit and a Restricted Area Permit!

Thank you Theyyamdancer for "Please note that as of 1st January 2011, for the duration of one year, foreigners are no longer required to obtain PAPs/RAPs for Mizoram, Nagaland or Manipur.

Indian Nationals still require ILPs."

.... It does sound weird that Indian Nationals need permit while foreigners don't.

Nope.
You and I still need an ILP - in order to prevent us trying to settle there.




P.S. 3 threads on the same subject? A merger would be in order.

Mod Note:
2 threads have been merged here on the freeing up of restrictions concerning Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.

The ongoing sticky thread concerning the entire North East has not been merged since the Rules for Arunachal Pradesh and for other parts of the North East are still in place.