Protected Area Permit
Also called: PAP · Topic: Special Provisions, Scheduled and Tribal Areas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is a permit that foreigners need to visit certain border and sensitive areas of India. It is issued under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958. It covers the whole of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Ladakh. Its purpose is security in frontier areas, not protecting tribal land or jobs.
Example
The PAP rule was reimposed in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland in December 2024, so foreign visitors to these states again need the permit (verify current status).
Don't confuse with
- Inner Line Permit: based on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873. It is needed by Indian citizens from outside to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur.
- Restricted Area Permit: made under a separate 1963 order. Foreigners need it for Andaman and Nicobar and parts of Sikkim.