Few destinations are surrounded by as much "Do I need a permit?" confusion as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands — and much of the advice floating online is now out of date. The good news: for the vast majority of travellers, getting into the Andamans in 2026 is refreshingly simple. Whether you're comparing andaman tour packages for a first family trip or a return visit, here's the current, verified picture of what you actually need to carry—and the handful of rules that still catch people out.
Entry rules for foreign nationals were streamlined under the Immigration and Foreigners framework notified in 2025, and the latest Andaman & Nicobar Administration circular (updated in early 2026) confirms how they apply today. We've refreshed this guide to match.
- Indian citizens: No permit or RAP needed for tourist areas. Just carry a government photo ID.
- Most foreign nationals: No Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for the main tourist islands. You only need a valid Indian visa and passport.
- A few nationalities still need an RAP (with prior government approval) — details below.
- Everyone: Separate entry permits apply for national parks, marine sanctuaries and tribal reserves.
What is the Restricted Area Permit (RAP)?
The RAP is a permit historically required for foreign nationals to enter certain "restricted" parts of India, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It exists to protect the islands' fragile ecology and, importantly, their indigenous tribal communities. Over the past few years the government has steadily relaxed the RAP regime for tourism — which is why the "you'll get your RAP stamped on arrival at Port Blair" advice you may have read on older pages no longer applies to most visitors.
Read about: Top 10 Beaches in Andaman Islands to Visit in 2026
Do Indian citizens need a permit for Andaman?
No. Indian nationals do not require any RAP or special permit to visit the popular tourist areas — Port Blair, Swaraj Dweep (Havelock), Shaheed Dweep (Neil) and the beaches and dive sites around them. You simply travel as you would to any other Indian state.
The only thing you must carry is a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence) — this is checked at the airport for your flight and occasionally at hotels and jetties. Every adult traveller needs their own; carry ID for children where available too. The one exception for Indians is that tribal reserves and certain protected forests remain off-limits without separate permission.
Rules for foreign nationals (updated for 2026)
Here's where the most significant change lies. Foreign nationals no longer need an RAP to visit the 29 islands excluded from the RAP regime, which cover essentially all the places tourists actually go — including Port Blair (South Andaman), Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Baratang, Long Island and North & Middle Andaman. A further 11 islands are exempt for day visits only, an exemption currently valid up to 31 December 2027.
So for a normal island-hopping holiday, a non-restricted foreign national needs:
- A passport valid for at least six months, and
- A valid Indian visa (e-Visa or regular), obtained before arriving in India.
OCI, PIO and NRI cardholders should also carry their passports. This relaxation does not apply to a specific set of nationalities — covered next.
Which travellers still need an RAP?
The RAP requirement continues to apply — with prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs — to nationals of the Prior Reference Category (PRC) countries and people of PRC origin:
- Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong & Macau), and Pakistan. "Origin" here also covers those whose parents or grandparents were born in and were permanent residents of, or were ever citizens of, these countries.
- Myanmar citizens still require an RAP specifically to visit Mayabunder and Diglipur.
If your nationality falls in this category, the RAP must be granted before arrival —turning up without one means entry can be refused. Applications are made online at the FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in) with the required documents. Any foreign national travelling for non-tourism purposes, or to islands not designated for tourism, also needs an RAP in advance.
Read about: Places to Visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2026
Your documents checklist
| Traveller | What to carry |
|---|---|
| Indian nationals | Government photo ID (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport / Driving Licence) for every adult. No RAP or entry permit needed for tourist areas. |
| Foreign nationals (non-PRC) | Passport must be valid for 6+ months and have a valid Indian visa. No RAP for the excluded tourist islands. Carry passport copies for hotel and jetty check-ins. |
| PRC-country nationals | Carry your passport, a valid Indian visa, and a RAP granted in advance (with prior MHA approval via indianfrro.gov.in). |
| OCI / PIO / NRI cardholders | Carry your passport alongside your card. |
Permits for national parks, marine parks & scuba sites
Separate from the RAP, both Indian and foreign visitors need forest / park entry permits to enter national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and marine reserves — such as the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park. Fees differ for Indian and foreign visitors, and can be arranged at the forest checkpoint or, more easily, through your tour operator. Popular reef and scuba locations often sit inside these protected zones, so this type of permit is the permit most water-lovers actually encounter.
Tribal reserves, Nicobar & the strict no-go zones
Some rules are non-negotiable and carry legal penalties. Tribal reserves — home to the Jarawa, Sentinelese, Onge, Great Andamanese, and Shompen — are closed to tourists, and photographing tribal people (including from the Andaman Trunk Road) is a punishable offence. Most of the Nicobar group remains completely off-limits to tourism. It's also illegal to collect, buy or carry coral, shells or marine specimens; these are checked and confiscated at the airport. Respecting these boundaries is precisely what keeps the islands worth visiting.
Read about: Best Time to Visit Andaman Islands (Month Guide)
How to plan around all of this
For most travellers the paperwork is genuinely light — a photo ID (or a visa and passport) and you're set. The real planning happens around ferries, island timing and permits for the parks you want to see. Whether you're mapping out an easy-going andaman budget trip or one of our andaman luxury tour packages, having your inter-island transfers and forest entries organised in advance is what turns a good trip into a smooth one.
Couples booking an andaman honeymoon package especially benefit from having the logistics off their plate — more sunset dinners, fewer counters.
Why book your Andaman trip with us
We've been putting travellers on the right ferries and beaches since 2014, with a 4.88 Google rating and 1.1 lakh+ travellers served. We hold direct hotel contracts — no wholesalers — and book across all four island ferry operators: Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, and ITT Majestic. From permits and park entries to timed inter-island transfers, we handle the fine print so your holiday actually feels like one.
Book Your Trip to Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Experience the tranquility and adventure of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with Online Vacations. Let us be your travel planner in India and take you through these islands.
Phone: +91 998855 4232
mailto: enquiry@onlinevacations.in
