Question about my permit for Nagaland

shwee

Hi all. I'll be traveling alone in Northeast India Feb. 17-March 23. (If anyone wants to join me, just speak up.) I already have my permit for Nagaland, but I'm not sure about something, even though I've read a lot about the permit issues. Can I enter Nagaland alone with the permit? Or do I have to travel into the state with a group? Once again, I already have my permit. I'd like to just fly alone into the state and then use a locally run tour. I'd also like to look around by myself part of the time. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Swapnil

Welcome to IM Shwee , What's your nationality ? If you are an Indian then you can certainly travel to Nagaland alone otherwise I'm not sure ... I wonder how you been able to procure this permit without knowing this info

Haylo

In the UK at least, you are able to apply for Restricted Area Permits in advance, at the same time as applying for an Indian visa.

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Swapnil

Yes Haylo ,but if RAP needs traveling in group then it'll be issued to group traveling together only ...right ?

Haylo

Hard to say, because visa applications for group members are often done separately. Certainly the UK application form does not even ask whether you are travelling alone or with a group.

Applying in advance for an RAP from the UK costs around Rs 1500 per person, which I strongly suspect is more expensive than applying for one in India. That's definitely the case for the Andamans where the RAP is free on arrival! Cynically, I wonder whether they are more interested in the fee than warning people that the RAP is only valid for groups in certain areas.

Having said that, I've never applied for one in advance, so have no idea whether it comes with any guidance notes about group sizes.

sbballer33

if you have a Nagaland permit with only your name on it you are all good. I was on a permit with 4 people managed fine with a little bending of the truth telling the check point my train was late going to meet up with others later, ect.

Swapnil

interesting ... didn't they asked you how other 3(mentioned in your permit)crossed check point without permit ?

sbballer33

You can get by with a photocopy although I had a color copy which made it look like the real one if you get through a travel agent likely all you would get would be a fax or photocopy anyway. By the way the permit should be free. Got it free from the Naga House in Delhi, any government representative that charges for it is corrupt and just pocketing money.

proxodimec

To SBBALLER33: sorry, do you by chance have that copy around still? And if yes, could you possibly scan it and send it to me? 'Cause i had the same idea (done it before in other red tape areas) but i just can't get hold of one of the originals (or a good copy) for reference... Once i get it there's nothing Photoshop can't fix. You can cover all names and other private data so i couldn't misuse them (not that i'm going to anyway).

sbballer33

What's your email address, I can't pm you.

proxodimec

proxodimec(at)gmail(dot)com