Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Kinnaur & Spiti Valley (Step-by-Step Guide)

Inner line permit is an official travel document that allows an Indian citizen to travel to restricted/protected borders areas of India. Prior to August 2021, such areas extended from Ladakh Union Territory to Arunachal Pradesh all along the India-China border. 

Ladakh UT administration waved goodbye to the ILP condition for domestic tourist in August 2021. 

Among northeastern states of India, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur state comes under the purview of ILP system. 

Before 11 December 2019, ILP was only applicable to frontier states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. A presidential order was signed on the day extending the purview of ILP to Manipur. 

Apart from these Himalayan regions for India, ILP is also mandatory for Indian tourist planning to visit Lakshadweep (an archipelago off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea). 

ILP is only relevant to domestic Indian travellers. If a foreign national wish to visit the region that falls beyond the inner line, he/she has to apply for the inward travel permit under Protected Area Permit (PAP). 

So, if you’re a foreign national looking to explore these stunning regions, PAP is your pass.

Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, a protected area is the area between the inner line and the international border. 

The following regions of Kinnaur & Spiti valley falls under the protected area: 

Villages of Pooh block of Kinnaur	Spiti valley
Sumra, Shalkhar, Chango, Nako,Maling, Maling Dogri, Yangthang,  Kaa, Leo, Hango, Chuling,  Hangmat, Namgia, Khab,  Tashigang, Dubling, Dabling, Pooh, Shayaso, Sunnam, Giabong, Taling, Ropa & Rushkulang, Nesang, Kanam, Labrang, Spillow, Moorang,  Gramang, Thobaring, Khopka, Shilling, Ruwang, Thangi, Lumber,  Charang, Kunu, Lippa and Asarang.	Dhankar, Shichling,  Tabo, Hurling, Lari, Gue, Sumdo,  Korik

Under the section 3 of the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958:

“No foreigner shall enter into or remain in any protected area except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Central Government or any Officer authorized by the Central Government in this behalf.

Best places to get Inner Line Permit?

Reckong Peo and Pooh permit offices are the recommended places to get the permit. At these places, applicants are few, and permit processing time is relatively less than the other permit offices. So, if time is running a bit short, and you’re not keen on getting caught up in the permit paperwork, these offices should be your go-to choices.

Process

Whether you’re applying for ILP travel permit at ADC office Shimla, ADC office Kaza or at SDM/DTDO office Reckong Peo, the application process remains, more or less, the same.   

Here is the step-by-step process: 

1. Carry your visa and passport with you and make copies of them.
2. Fill out the application form.
3. Submit the application to the designated officer.
4. Pose in front of the webcam to get yourself photographed (at Sugam Center if you’re applying at Shimla permit office).
5. Your application will be reviewed by ADC/SDM. 
6. The officer will ask some routine question (about the nature of your visit and itinerary) from you. 
7. Wait for the application to get approved. 

Note: If you are a citizen of Pakistan, Afghanistan or China, application for ILP for Kinnaur Spiti valley wouldn’t be approved by any of the designated offices. If this case, your application can only be approved by Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. 

If you have any questions/doubts about Kinnaur-Spiti ILP application/processing, you can contact the concerned authorities at Shimla and Reckong Peo. 

Wildlife map of Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal