Restricted areaAsiaApply yourselfCheck · Sep 2026
India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Most visitor islands no longer need a Restricted Area Permit, but tribal reserves, the Nicobar group and some islands stay closed to foreigners.
The permit
- Who issues it
- Ministry of Home Affairs and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration
- How to get it
- Apply yourself. Register on arrival at Port Blair where asked; entering tribal reserves or the Nicobars is not possible as a tourist.
- Lead time
- On arrival · No lead time for the open islands; book ferries between islands early in December–March.
- Cost (check)
- No permit fee for open islands; park and forest entry fees extra (check).
- Documents
- Passport and Indian visa
- Copies
- If you skip it
- Entering tribal reserves or photographing protected tribes is a criminal offence with heavy fines and prison.
- Official site
- Ministry of Home Affairs, India
Worth knowing
- Citizens of some countries (including Pakistan and China) still need prior permission (check).
Check before you pay
Fees, quotas and closed areas change, sometimes with days of notice. These figures were last checked in Sep 2026; confirm on the official site or with a licensed operator before you book flights.