Who would require INNER LINE PERMITS.

All Indian citizen’s except for residents of Jammu & Kashmir & children under 12 years of age would require Inner Line Permits. A valid photo ID proof is required for J & K citizens to visit the Inner Line regions.

Documents Required.

Aadhar Card Copy/ Driving License /Passport Copy/ Voter’s ID Copy.(ID Proof & Address)

Visiting patrons often come with a question “Does one require permit for a visit to the Ladakh region’. If yes, how does one get it & how.

Well, the answer to this is “YES”. Most of the sight seeing regions in Ladakh mandatorily warranty the need for a Permit.

Places where Permits are required.

• Nubra Valley Circuit including Khardung La, Khardung, Khalsar, Diskit, Hunder, Turtuk, Sumur, Tyakashi, Panamik and Warshi.
• Pangong Tso : Chang La, Durbuk, Tangtse and Spangmik
• Changthang Valley : Man, Merak, Chushul, Loma, Koyul, Hanle, Nyoma, Mahe, Sumdo
• Tso Moriri: Chumathang, Mahe, Sumdo, Korzok (Tso Moriri)
• Batalik: Khalsi, Damkhar, Skurbuchan, Dargoo, Hanoo, Dah, Batalik
• Tangyar Trek : Leh – Saboo – Diggar La – Tangyar (Nubra Valley)
• Nubra to Pangong Tso via Agham Shyok Route & Wari La Route.

 Places where Permits are not required

• Leh City tour like Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Shey Palace, Hemis, Stakna, Thiksey, Stok Palace, Hall of Fame,
• Sham Valley Sightseeing like Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Nimoo Sangam (Indus Zanskar Confluence), Likir, Alchi, Mulbek & Lamayuru. 
• Zanskar & Suru Valley Sightseeing : Sankoo, Panikhar, Parkachik, Rangdum, Padum
• Manali Leh Highway & Srinagar Leh Highways.

Places where Permits are not issued.

• Phobrang
• Marsimik La
• Umling La
• Chumur Route
• Ukdungle
• Salsal La
• Charchagan La

Where to get Permits (Offline)

• T.I.C. Office,              
• Opp. J&K Bank,
• Main Market, LEH
• Timings:- 09:00 am to 07:00 pm (Monday to Saturday).
• ILP’s are issued only between 10:00 am to 03:00pm.
• LEH DC’s Office
• Timing :- 10.00 to 05:00 pm

HOW TO GET LADAKH INNER LINE PERMITS ONLINE

In this extract, I will take you through the process required to obtain LADAKH Inner line permits ONLINE for your Ladakh Trip. The process is not completely online & certain endorsements have to be obtained even for the online permits.

• Indian Tourists visiting Inner line areas like KHARDUNG LA, NUBRA, TURTUK, PANGONG TSO, MAN, MERAK, HANLE, NYOMA, TSOMORIRI, DAH, HANU, TYAKSHI, DIGGER LA TANGYAR need to take ILP’s.
• Permits for taking the direct route from PANGONG TSO to HANLE & TSOMORIRI via MAN, MERAK, CHUSUL, TSAGA, LOMA BEND, HANLE, NYOMA, MAHE, SUMDO & KORZOK would have to be obtained manually only at the DC’s office in Leh. Online option is not applicable in this region. If you are taking an online permit, please ensure that you reach the DC’s office & get a stamp endorsed on the permit for HANLE & to TSOMORIRI via CHUSUL & TSAGA.
• It may please be noted that obtaining permits may not guarantee you access to these restricted areas especially to strategically sensitive areas like the direct route from Pangong Tso to Tsomoriri OR HANLE. Being a border area, it would be depend on the border situation & would be at the discretion of the military personnel posted at that location. There had been several cases of tourists carrying valid permits being prohibited from proceeding on the sensitive route.
• UMLING LA pass, the Highest Mountain pass, 19,300 feet, located about 105 kms from HANLE had been opened up by the BRO. Permits for the same are not issued as of date.
• INNER LINE PERMITS for INDIAN citizens are valid for 3 weeks only.
• INNER LINE PERMITS as well as PROTECTED AREA PERMITS can be applied from the official Leh administration’s website of lahdclehpermit.in
• Not all persons in the group are required to visit the DC’s office in LEH. One person can apply on behalf of the group. He should be carrying self-attested photocopies of a valid Photo Identity card of the co-travellers along with the Application Form & a covering Letter addressed to the DC of Leh requesting him to grant the ILP . The covering letter should also have the Names & the ID numbers of the co-travellers.
• Self attested copies of the below documents of all the group people are required. Driving License is mostly accepted. It is recommended to have at least 2 photo ID’s.

1. Aadhar Card Copy
2. Driving License
3. Passport Copy
4. Voter’s ID Copy.

• Fees applicable

1. Environment Fee of Rs.300/- (one time) per person for the Permit
2. Red Cross Fund Fee of Rs.100/- (one time) per person for the Permit
3. Inner Line Permit Fee of Rs.20/- per day per person

• The Offline Application Forms / Request letter Forms are available at the Photocopy shops near the DC’s office in Leh.
• The application Form should have the details of every tourist like Full Name (including Father’s / Guardian’s name), Permanent address, Hotel Name & address, Contact Number, Places required to visit, the starting date & the finish date.
• You also need to submit a covering / request letter addressed to the DC, Leh for approval of the permits. The covering letter should include all the details of the Application form. The details in the Request Letter & the Application Form should match with each other.
• If there is any confusion about which circuits to be ticked for which places, I would recommend that you tick all of those. The fees are not dependent on the number of circuits you choose.
• For direct route between Pangong & Tsomoriri / Hanle, please mention the complete route mentioned hereafter.

 PANGONG TSO – MAN – MERAK -, CHUSUL, TSAGA – LOMA – HANLE – LOMA – NYOMA – MAHE – SUMDO – TSOMORIRI. The above route is not mentioned in the 8 routes appearing on the Application Form.

• Take 2 sets of photocopies of the entire documentation set (Application Form, Request Letter, Photo ID’s) & submit the same to the personnel. You would be advised to pay the requisite fees as per the total member count.
• Leh DC’s office is closed on Sunday. Hence plan your trip accordingly. In case, you reach LEH on Saturday evening, permits can only be applied on Monday morning.
• The entire process of getting an offline permit may take anytime between 1 hour to 3 hours. This will depend on the tourist rush at the office. They usually do not accept application after 03:00 pm. Ideally, you can reach the office by 10:30 am, submit the application form & proceed for the local sightseeing of Monasteries, Hall of Fame etc & reach again in the afternoon to pick up the permits.
• To save time, it is recommended to apply online, take a printout of the Permit, staple the covering letter, attested photo ID’s of all the travelers & submit the same at the DC’s office for payment of fees & stamping of the permit.
• You can also request the Hotel where you stay to apply for permits (as long as you are comfortable in giving the photo ID’s to them) . They may charge you a nominal fee of Rs.100-150/- per person but would save you great time & effort.
• Once the permits are issued, please take 12 copies of the permit, scan the permit & save it in your phone. You would be required to handover permit copies at ever check post. Hence please carry sufficient copies

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Use the option “Apply for Permits -> Domestic Clients” on the center bottom of the screen. It will take you to the first step of providing the details of the Domestic Tourist applying for the permits.
2. Enter personal details like Name, State, Gender, Id Type, Id Number, and Residential Address.
3. Choose between “Apply Directly” OR “through an Agent”. Please select Apply directly only.  Only a travel agent can apply on the latter.
4. Enter the date of arrival in Leh & check for any other applicable options before you click “SUBMIT”.
5. This will take you to further two options “individual permit” and “group permit.”. Select the option appropriately. If you are applying on behalf of the group, add details of other co-travelers on the next screen.
6. You will be directed to the next screen which gives you the provision to select the circuits which you intend to visit in Ladakh. Ideally, you can select all the circuits at once. You will find a reference number on the page.
7. PLEASE SAVE the reference number. It will be required to print the Permit.
8. Subsequently, enter the Commencement Date and End date of the permit to generate the total fee for your permits.
9. Once this is done, “Click on Apply for Permits button”. This takes you to the confirmation page reflecting a summary of the selected circuit details with dates of the ILP.
10. Generate your permit by clicking the Proceed button to generate your permit. Print a few copies of this permit. Download the sample online permit for reference purposes only.
11. The permit includes all the charges like the Environment Fee of Rs.300/- er person, Red Cross Fund Fee of Rs. 100/- per person & your Permit Fee of Rs.20/- per day per person.
12. Payments can be made online by using the PAY NOW option. You can pay the Permit Fees online via Jammu & Kashmir Bank online portal. All major Credit / Debit Cards / Internet Banking are accepted. Following successful payment processing & a receipt & a Collection ID is generated. The payer is required to take printouts of Permit Receipt and Easy Collect Transaction Receipt. The payer gets a confirmation of receipt of payment vial a SMS. 
13. Nevertheless, you have to visit the Leh DC Office / Tourist Information Center for verification of your permits and get them stamped. So, if you do not want to pay online, then visit the Leh DC office. In case, you are opting for the direct route between Pangong & Tsomoriri and / or  a visit to HANLE, it is recommended that you fill the forms manually & make payments at the LEH DC’s OFFICE.
14. The only incentive here by doing it online is that you save on the processing time, which can be very precious during mornings.

IMPORTANT TIPS for obtaining INNER LINE PERMITS.

PROTECTED AREA PERMITS for LADAKH

Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Restricted Area Permit (RAP) are required for all Foreign nationals, NRI’s having PIO’s or OCI’S for visiting areas like NUBRA Valley, PANGONG Tso, TSOMORIRI Tso, Turtuk, DAH & HANU villages. However, foreigners are only permitted upto MAN & MERAK near Pangong Tso.  LOMA have been opened up for the foreigners. They still cannot take the direct route from PANGONG TSO to TSOMORIRI. Other routes opened up for Foreigners are KARGIL to LEH via BATALIK – DAH & HANU villages. No PAP is required for ZANSKAR & SURU valleys. Please go through an extract from the Govt.website (https://www.mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/AnnexVII_01022018.pdf) for the areas permitted for foreigners

JAMMU & KASHMIR

(1) The part of the State of J&K falling between the `Inner-Line’ and the International Border has been declared as a Protected Area. No foreigner can enter or stay in the protected areas of the State without obtaining a permit from the competent authority. However, groups consisting of two or more persons to be accompanied by an authorized representative of a recognized travel agent, with a pre-drawn itinerary, can be allowed to visit the following places on identified tour circuits by the competent authority. The visit to all the places in each sub-division together shall be limited to the requisite minimum period, which should not exceed seven (7) days:

1. i) KHALTSI SUB-DIVISION :-

Select this for DAH, BAIMA, HANU, SKURBUCHAN, KHALSI, DUMKHAR.  

(ii) NUBRA SUB-DIVISION

• a) LEH – KHARDUNG LA – KHALSAR – TRITH – SUMUR – PANAMIK – YARMA GONBO – WARSHI
• b) LEH – KHARDUNG LA – KHALSAR – DISKIT – HUNDER – TURTUK – TYAKSHI
• c) Leh-Sabo-Digar La-Digar Labab-Khungru Gompa-Tangar. (Only for trekking conducted by approved tour operators and accompanied by State Police Personnel)

(iii) NYOMA SUB-DIVISION

• a) LEH – UPSHI – CHUMATHANG – MAHE – SUMDO – KORZOK / TSOMORIRI LAKE
• b) LEH = UPSHI – DEBRING – PUGA – TSOKAR SUMDO – KORZOK / TSOMORIRI LAKE.
• c) LEH – KARU – CHANG LA – DURBUK – LUKUNG – SPANGMIK (PANGONG LAKE)
• d) a) LEH – UPSHI – CHUMATHANG – MAHE – upto LOMA BEND.

(2) Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Jammu & Kashmir and the District Magistrate concerned may issue the Protected Area Permit (PAP) for a maximum period of seven (7) days after requisite security checks in respect of visiting foreign tourists in a group of two or more persons sponsored by a recognized travel agency in India with a pre-drawn itinerary for the places now open for tourism. They should be accompanied by an authorized representative of the recognized travel agent who would act as the escort to the group.

(3) It is obligatory on the part of the tourists, tour operators and other agencies concerned with the organized tour to ensure that the tourists travel on the identified tour circuits only.

(4) Leh-Manali Road may also be kept open to foreigners during the period between 15th July and 15th October. Tours to be organized by recognized travel agents in India only who will ensure that such groups do not split and are confined to the specified mode of conveyance viz. jeep, matador etc. by attaching their representatives to the groups.

Note :

1. Prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs is necessary for grant of PAP to a citizen of Myanmar to visit a protected area in J&K.
2. Permit for citizens of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Burma are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), New Delhi and the permits for those people who are on diplomatic or official VISA are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. .

Foreigners applying for Protected Area Permits (PAP), should do so in a group of two or more foreigners at the DC office, Leh through a registered Travel Agent in Leh with the requisite fees OR can apply through the official website of Leh administration. 

In case of solo travelers, please do visit an office of a Registered travel agent. They can help you to apply through groups. Once the permit is issued, please take at least 10-12 copies of it. You will require to give it at almost every check post during the journey.  PAP is issued only for seven days. In case of an extended visit, you will have to re-apply for the permit.

TO SUMMARIZE

In this article, I have tried to provide complete details of the process to obtain INNER LINE PERMITS / PROTECTED AREA PERMITS for Indian citizens as well as Foreign nationals.

If you find this article useful, please share it with your friends, family & near ones travelling to Ladakh.

Should you like to ask any questions relating to planning a trip to Ladakh, please feel free to post your queries in the comments section below.