Mizoram Reintroduces Protected Area Permit To Regulate Foreign Travel Access To Sensitive Regions Amid National Security Concerns

Published on April 3, 2025

Mizoram is reintroducing the Protected Area Permit (PAP) system for foreign nationals to regulate access to sensitive regions, following a central government directive.

Mizoram has announced the reintroduction of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) system, requiring foreign nationals to secure special permission to visit certain restricted areas within the state. This decision follows a directive from the central government to restore the PAP requirement in Mizoram, as well as in neighboring Manipur and Nagaland, which border Myanmar.

The Mizoram Home Secretary confirmed that the state is actively working on the implementation of the PAP, also known as the Restricted Area Permit (RAP). As part of this process, a designated holding area at Lengpui Airport is being established, as per the instructions from the Union Home Ministry.

The PAP system, which has been in place for years, applies to several parts of India. This includes the entire states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, as well as specific areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. These regions have long been designated as protected zones due to national security concerns and their proximity to sensitive borders.

In 2011, the Indian government eased the PAP restrictions in the northeastern states of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland to promote tourism. Under the relaxed regulations, foreign nationals, except those from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China, were permitted to visit these areas. This exemption was extended periodically and was set to remain in effect until December 2027. However, in December 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs reimposed the PAP regulations to better control the movement of foreign nationals in these strategically important regions.