The Sikkim government has officially ended the issuance of physical permits for foreign nationals travelling to protected and restricted areas of the state, making online clearance mandatory with immediate effect. The decision, communicated by the state’s Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, follows strict directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as ANI reported. Under the revised guidelines, no Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) will be issued in physical form under any circumstances. Foreign nationals will now have to obtain permits digitally through the designated online permit cell before visiting permitted locations in the state.As per the current framework, foreign tourists are allowed to visit only Tsomgo (Changu) Lake in East Sikkim and Yumthang Valley along with Zero Point in North Sikkim, subject to securing the required online permits.
“Foreign tourists are permitted to visit Tsomgo (Chhangu) Lake in east Sikkim and Yumthang Valley and Zero Point in north Sikkim after obtaining the requisite permits. According to the recent directive, such permits will be issued online,” an official said, confirming that physical paperwork has been fully phased out. Digital permits, tighter checks Officials said the move is rooted in national security considerations, especially given Sikkim’s strategic location along the India–China border. The shift to an entirely digital system is also aimed at streamlining scrutiny and improving monitoring of foreign tourist movement in sensitive areas.Over the years, PAP and RAP requirements have been used to regulate access while balancing tourism with security concerns. The MHA directive, sources said, makes it clear that digitisation is now non-negotiable.Read more: 10 poorest countries in the world Tourism numbers remain strong Despite its sensitive geography, Sikkim continues to draw a significant number of visitors. According to official data, the state received 17.12 lakh tourists in 2025, of whom over 71,000 were foreign nationals. Authorities believe the online permit system could actually make travel easier for international visitors by reducing paperwork, queues and uncertainty. “For foreign tourists, this system will ease the process of obtaining RAP and PAP when they visit Sikkim,” the official added, pointing out that digital applications also reduce dependence on local intermediaries and improve transparency.
Security and development discussions in DelhiThe permit decision comes amid broader discussions on Sikkim’s strategic and infrastructural challenges. On Saturday, Sikkim Member of Parliament Indra Hang Subba met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to discuss issues of strategic and developmental importance concerning the state. Subba also raised concerns over the North Sikkim Highway, which was severely disrupted following the Teesta flash floods of October 2023. The floods had significantly impacted civilian movement as well as defence logistics to sensitive northern sectors. Even though the temporary alignment by the Border Roads Organization between Mangan and Naga has been reinstated, there are serious doubts raised by the MP regarding its viability. This is for the reason that the present route is vulnerable and potentially deadly, given that it is a landslide area. This is particularly true during the monsoon and winter months.Read more: Which is the oldest river in the world which is around 400 million years old and older than dinosaurs Subba urged the Defence Minister to expedite approval and implementation of a permanent alternative alignment currently under consideration. Such a route, he said, would ensure safer, all-weather connectivity in North Sikkim, benefiting both civilians and defence operations.A shift with wider implications Together, the shift to online permits and calls for more robust infrastructure make clear that Sikkim exists at a precarious crosspoint between its role as a destination for tourism and developmental needs with national security. With international travelers still being drawn to the region’s high-altitude mountain ranges and valleys home to glacial lakes, there is clearly a commitment to managing access to this region accordingly.
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