You cannot enter Arunachal Pradesh without an Inner Line Permit. Road checkpoints will turn you back if you arrive without one, and there is no way to obtain it at the border. The good news: knowing how to get ILP for Arunachal Pradesh is straightforward when you follow the current process. This guide covers the official online application step by step, the fees, exactly where your permit gets checked, and what extra permits some trips need beyond the standard ILP.
What Is an Inner Line Permit?
The Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a travel document issued by the Arunachal Pradesh state government that allows Indian citizens who are not residents of the state to enter. It dates back to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations Act of 1873. Arunachal Pradesh, sharing borders with China, Bhutan, and Myanmar, retains the system to regulate movement into sensitive frontier territory.
You must specify the districts you plan to visit and the entry point you will use on your application. Internal checkpoints verify your declared itinerary; listing districts you might visit is better than under-declaring.
Who Needs an ILP for Arunachal Pradesh
Every Indian citizen who is not a resident of Arunachal Pradesh needs one. No exemptions exist for NRIs, PIOs, or OCI cardholders with Indian passports; they apply the same way as any other Indian citizen.
Who does not need an ILP:
- Permanent residents of Arunachal Pradesh
- Children under 14: they travel on a parent or guardian’s ILP with no separate permit required
Children aged 14 and above must each have their own ILP. There is no family or group permit; every person 14 or older applies individually.
Foreign nationals do not apply for an ILP. Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit (PAP). See the section below.
How to Apply for an ILP for Arunachal Pradesh
Apply online at eilp.arunachal.gov.in, the only official government portal. The older URL (arunachalilp.com) still appears in some guides; use the eilp.arunachal.gov.in address.
- Click “Tourist eILP” then “Apply ILP”
- Enter your mobile number and verify with the OTP sent to it
- Fill in your personal details: name (must exactly match your ID document), date of birth, gender, full address
- Upload a scanned copy of your ID (Aadhaar card, Voter ID, Passport, or Driving License are all accepted)
- Complete the CAPTCHA and confirm the OTP
- Enter your travel details: entry point (e.g. Bhalukpong for the Tawang route), every district you plan to visit, travel dates, and an accommodation contact in Arunachal
- Upload a recent passport-size photo: plain background, JPG or PNG format, between 20 KB and 50 KB. Blurry or wrong-format photos are the most common rejection reason
- Pay the fee online, then download and print your eILP
The eILP has a QR code that checkpoints scan. Even so, print 2-3 copies. Remote stretches of the Tawang route have no mobile signal; a digital permit with no connectivity is no use at a checkpoint.
Processing time: Officially same-day to 24 hours. During peak season or public holidays, allow 2-3 days. The portal had documented reliability issues in September 2025, with some users waiting over 24 hours without confirmation. Apply at least 4-5 business days before your trip. Screenshot your payment confirmation as proof.
Offline option: The Deputy Resident Commissioner’s office in Guwahati (GS Road, Rukminigaon, Dispur) issues ILPs in person on the same day. Offices also exist in Delhi (Chanakyapuri) and Shillong. The Kolkata office reportedly suspended offline issuance in 2025; verify before going. Guwahati is the most reliable offline option.
Cost and Validity
| Duration | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 days | Rs 300 |
| 4 to 14 days | Rs 500 |
The tourist ILP is valid for 14 days from the date of entry. Some older guides say 15 days; the official portal specifies 14. Plan around 14.
The fee is non-refundable. A rejected application due to a name mismatch or unclear photo means paying again from scratch.
Extensions: Done in person at the Deputy Commissioner’s office inside Arunachal Pradesh before your current permit expires. Apply at least a week before expiry.
Build in buffer days. Sela Pass on the Tawang route, and most mountain roads in Arunachal, close for multiple days after heavy rain or landslides. A planned 8-day trip can extend involuntarily. A 14-day permit costs Rs 200 more than a 3-day one. Use the 14-day option for any trip longer than a weekend.
Where Your ILP Is Checked
Arunachal Pradesh has 71 official check gates on the Assam-Arunachal border. The main tourist-facing checkpoints:
| Checkpoint | Route | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Bhalukpong | NH-13 | Bomdila, Dirang, Tawang |
| Banderdewa | NH-415 | Itanagar, Ziro, Pasighat |
| Ruksin | Siang Valley | Aalo, Mechuka |
| Miao | Changlang district | Namdapha National Park |
| Namsai | Eastern Arunachal | Golden Pagoda, Parasuram Kund |
You cannot obtain an ILP at any road checkpoint. Arriving at Bhalukpong without one means turning back to Assam.
If you fly into Donyi Polo Airport (Itanagar), there is an ILP counter at the airport where on-arrival permits may be issued. This is not a reliable backup; apply in advance.
The entry point you declare on your application is the one you must use. If you declare Bhalukpong and arrive at Banderdewa instead, you may face complications.
Permits Beyond the Standard ILP
Bum La Pass (Tawang): The India-China border pass requires an additional Army-cleared permit beyond your ILP. You cannot apply for it online or in advance from home. Arrange it through a registered local tour operator in Tawang the day before your planned visit. The Army can deny clearance on the actual day due to weather or security conditions even with the permit. Bum La is open to civilians May-September only.
Madhuri Lake (Tawang district): Same additional permit process as Bum La, arranged locally in Tawang. Army rule: visits must finish before noon. Do not plan to combine Bum La and Madhuri Lake on the same day without confirming with your operator whether the permits allow it.
Namdapha National Park (Changlang district): Your ILP gets you into Arunachal via Miao. You also need a separate Forest Department tourist permit from the Field Director’s office in Miao town. Get this on arrival in Miao; it cannot be arranged in advance from Assam.
Everything else (Bomdila, Ziro, Dirang, Mechuka, Pasighat) requires only your standard tourist ILP.
Foreigners: Protected Area Permit (PAP)
Foreign nationals apply for a Protected Area Permit, not an ILP. Applications must go through a government-registered Indian tour operator. The minimum group size is 2 foreign nationals. PAP validity is 30 days and cannot be extended.
Citizens of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong are not issued PAPs for Arunachal Pradesh.
Processing takes 2-4 weeks. Apply at least 6 weeks before travel to account for delays.
Common Mistakes
Name mismatch: The name on your ILP must exactly match your ID document, including middle names and spelling. One wrong character means rejection and a lost fee. Double-check before submitting.
Under-declaring districts: If you list only Tawang on your permit but decide to stop in Ziro on the way back, internal checkpoints may flag the deviation. List every district you might visit.
Wrong entry checkpoint declared: Enter through the checkpoint you declared. Changing your route after applying creates a mismatch.
Not printing copies: Always carry 2-3 printed copies. Checkpoints retain one. Long stretches of road between checkpoints have no signal; a screenshot on your phone is not reliable.
Applying the night before: The portal can be slow, unreliable, or briefly down. A 24-hour system with a portal outage becomes a 48-hour wait. Apply 4-5 business days early.
Permit too short for the trip: Landslides and road closures extend trips involuntarily. Always apply for more days than you think you need.
Plan Your Arunachal Pradesh Trip
The ILP is the first step, and everything else follows. For the full guide to where to go once you have your permit (Tawang, Ziro, Mechuka, Namdapha), read our Best Places to Visit in Arunachal Pradesh guide. Explore all Arunachal Pradesh destinations on Axomor.
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