Entry Formalities

Foreigners must obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit Sikkim. These can be obtained from all Indian Missions, Sikkim Tourism Offices at New Delhi, Kolkata, District Magistrates Office of Darjeeling, Siliguri, and Rangpo on the strength of an Indian Visa. The 30 days duration Permit is issued on the spot without any delay provided photocopies of the passport and visa along with two pass port photos of the applicants are made available. The permissible duration of the stay for foreign tourists is 30 days initially.

The State Government is authorized to extend the same by a further period of 30 days. The extension of the permit can be obtained from FRO at Gangtok and office of Superintendent of Police of the North, West and South Districts.

For those interested in going for trekking in the interior region of the state, the Tourism and Civil Aviation issues Protected Area Permit (PAP) at Gangtok which is available for certain specified area for groups consisting of two or more foreigners subject to condition that the trekking programme is arranged through a registered travel agency.

Foreigners Registration Offices (FRO)

1. FRO at Gangtok
The FRO is located at Kazi Road, Gangtok
+91 3592 203041
2. Superintendent of Police of North District
+91 3592 234242
3. Superintendent of Police of West District
953595 250763
953595 250763
953595 250763

4. Superintendent of Police of South District
953595 263726

DOs

• Always travel with a guide
• Vegetation is fragile; follow designated trails
• Avoid littering and deposit garbage at designated places
• Keep all pollutants away from streams and lakes
• Respect local culture by taking permission before taking photographs
• Dress modestly. Be aware of the customs and manners and culture of the local people
• It is customary to leave a donation at a monastery and to circle shrines in clockwise direction

DONT's

• Don’t disturb wildlife or its habitat
• Don’t buy endangered species or antiques
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or talk loudly near sacred places
• Don’t pluck plants or flowers