PAP system relaxed for two more years - E

PAP system relaxed for two more years

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 03 2014 :
The Protected Area Permit (PAP) system which prohibits foreign nationals from visiting some North Eastern States without obtaining due permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs has been relaxed for the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland for a period of two years with effect from January 1, 2014 .

The three States were put outside the ambit of PAP regime for the first time on January 1, 2013 for a period of one year.

However, the relaxation of PAP regime is not applicable to citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan, and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries would require prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs before they visit the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Nonetheless, responding to the intensive lobby of the State Government in the last couple of years, the Ministry of Home Affairs has excluded Myanmar from the group of countries to whom PAP regime relaxation is not applicable.

As such, Myanmar nationals would not be required to obtain permit from the MHA for visiting the three States for the first time for a period of one year with effect from January 1, 2014 .

Myanmar nationals visiting the three States should obtain a visa from the Indian Missions/Posts abroad or on arrival at any of the designated airports in Indian where Visa on Arrival (VOA) facility has been made available.

They should compulsorily register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the State/district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival.

No such registration would be required if the Myanmar nationals are only passing through the State by road with no intention of staying in that particular State.

As for the citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, they should still abide by the PAP regime and its procedures if they must visit Manipur, Nagaland or Mizoram.

The PAP was relaxed on an experimental basis for a period of one year last and it has been extended annually since then, opening the gateway of Manipur to foreign visitors.


This is the first time that the Centre has decided to relax the PAP for a period of two years at one go.

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