Mizoram Protected Area & Restricted Area Permits for Foreigners

Foreigners, including non-Indian Mizos, now require Mizoram Protected Area Permits (PAP) and Restricted Area Permits (RAP) to enter Mizoram.

Due to the presence of Chin ethnic soldiers’ camps along the Mizoram-Myanmar border, as well as reports from foreign news agencies about military aid and training being provided there, Westerners have been frequently spotted in these areas. Additionally, foreign doctors and nurses have also been seen. Recently, two bulletproof suitcases belonging to a foreigner were seized at Lengpui Airport.

After the Mizoram Assembly session, Chief Minister Pu Duhoman stated that around 2,000 foreigners have entered Mizoram, and many do not have proper records of their travel history. As a result, it has now become mandatory for foreigners to obtain a Mizoram Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for unrestricted movement within the state.

The Mizoram government has issued a notification under the directives of the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the implementation of PAP and RAP for foreign nationals, including Mizos who are not Indian citizens. This means that any foreign national—whether of Mizo ethnicity or not—must obtain these permits for unrestricted travel within the state.

Despite the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issuing the directive, the Mizoram government has not yet implemented the order at the ground level.

The MHA has informed the Mizoram government about the need to regulate foreign entry into Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland due to increasing security concerns along the Myanmar border.

In December 2022, the MHA temporarily lifted the PAP and RAP requirements for certain Northeastern states, allowing foreign visitors to enter without a special permit. This relaxation was initially granted for a one-year period in 2010 and later extended for another five years, with the latest extension valid until December 2027. However, this relaxation has now been officially withdrawn.

The MHA has already informed the Chief Secretaries of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland about the reinstatement of the Mizoram Protected Area Permit PAP and RAP requirements.

According to the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, any foreigner wishing to enter Protected Areas must obtain special permission from the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO). The following states and regions fall under this order:

Arunachal Pradesh
Certain areas of Himachal Pradesh
Certain areas of Jammu & Kashmir
Manipur
Mizoram
Nagaland
Certain areas of Rajasthan
Sikkim
Certain areas of Uttarakhand
Additionally, under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963, certain locations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Sikkim are classified as Restricted Areas.

Foreign nationals who wish to enter Mizoram must now obtain both the Mizoram Protected Area Permit and Restricted Area Permit. These permits can be obtained through:

The Mizoram Home Department
The Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Aizawl
The Indian Embassy or Consulate in their respective countries
To enter Mizoram, foreign nationals must have a valid Passport and Visa in addition to the PAP and RAP permits.

Mizoram Protected Area in Mizoram:
Phawngpui National Park (Blue Mountain National Park)
Dampa Tiger Reserve
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary

Restricted Areas in Mizoram:
Champhai District
Saiha District