Sikkim, 2026 rules
For years foreign travelers picked up Sikkim's permit at the Rangpo checkpost. Since January 2026 it is issued only online, and the border posts check it without issuing it. Here is what that means for a US passport.
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Who needs it
Gangtok, Pelling, Yuksom and Ravangla all sit inside Sikkim's restricted area for foreign nationals, so a US passport needs the Restricted Area Permit for any night in the state. Indian visas do not cover it: the e-Visa excludes restricted areas.
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The portal
The application goes through the Ministry of Home Affairs e-FRRO portal. Indian missions abroad advise about 30 days ahead, or 15 days if you are already in India. No fee is reported for it.
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What you send
We prepare the application with you: passport and visa pages, a photograph, the day-by-day itinerary and the details of the registered Sikkim agent who sponsors it. The permit arrives as an electronic document.
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At the border
Rangpo, at 333 m (1,090 ft) on the Teesta, is under three hours from Bagdogra; Melli is the crossing for Pelling and Yuksom. Both check the printed permit, so carry two paper copies. We print them, but keep one in your own bag.
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Beyond Gangtok
Tsomgo Lake needs a second, protected-area permit on top, filed by a registered agent for a party of two or more. Nathu La and Zuluk on the Old Silk Route are not permitted to foreign nationals, so plans for a US passport leave them out.
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Length of stay
The permit runs for 30 days and can be extended to 60 at the Foreigners Registration Office at Tadong in Gangtok. Most journeys spend far less than that in the state, but a long Sikkim stay is possible.
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Next step
Because the posts no longer issue permits, a missing one means turning back. Send passport scans once you confirm, and we file early enough for the permit to be printed and in the car before you reach the Teesta.
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