Permits & entry rules · as of September 2026
Andaman entry permits and requirements
The short version: Indian nationals need no permit to visit the Andamans — a valid photo ID is enough. Most foreign nationals need no Restricted Area Permit for the main islands until 31 December 2027 and show their passport and visa on arrival, but some nationalities must get one in advance — see the warning below. Below is who needs what, island by island, the documents to carry, and the areas that stay off-limits. Because these rules change, we date this page and recheck it each season.
Indian nationals
No permit needed
For Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and the usual tourist islands. Carry a valid government photo ID — that is the whole requirement.
Foreign nationals
No RAP for most nationalities
The Restricted Area Permit is not required for the main tourist islands under an exemption that currently runs until 31 December 2027. Carry your passport and a valid Indian visa, and show them at the immigration counter when you land in Port Blair; your hotel records your stay.
Some nationalities still need a permit in advance
Citizens of Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Pakistan, and people of that origin, need a Restricted Area Permit approved in advance by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs — without it, entry is refused. Origin covers anyone who — or either of whose parents, or any of whose grandparents — was born and permanently resident in one of those countries, or who has ever been a citizen of one. Apply at indianfrro.gov.in well before you travel. Myanmar citizens need a Restricted Area Permit to visit Mayabunder and Diglipur.
Checked against official notices in September 2026. Tribal reserves and the Nicobar group stay off-limits regardless of nationality — see below.
Permit rules, island by island
| Island / area | Indian nationals | Foreign nationals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) | No permit | No RAP · passport check on arrival | Arrival gateway, fully open |
| Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) | No permit | No RAP | Most-visited island |
| Neil (Shaheed Dweep) | No permit | No RAP | Open to all tourists |
| Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep) | No permit | Day visit | Small entry / forest fee at the jetty |
| North Bay Island | No permit | Day visit | Snorkelling site; forest fee applies |
| Baratang | No permit + photo ID | No RAP · ID at the check-post | Timed convoy transit on the Andaman Trunk Road |
| Diglipur (North Andaman) | No permit | No RAP (Myanmar citizens need one) | Far north of North Andaman |
| Little Andaman | No permit | No RAP | Remote; fewer facilities |
| Nicobar group | Special permission | Not open to tourists | Tribal reserve areas — separate permission, not issued for tourism |
"No RAP" applies to most nationalities under the exemption that runs until 31 December 2027; it does not apply to the nationalities in the warning above. Reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, tribal reserves and defence areas need separate permission for everyone, and any island not opened for tourism needs a permit in advance — message us with your plan and we will check it.
Do Indians need a passport for Andaman? No.
This is the question we are asked more than any other, so here it is plainly: the Andaman Islands are part of India, and Indian nationals travel on a domestic photo ID — Aadhaar, Voter ID, driving licence or passport, any one of them. A passport is only involved if it happens to be the ID you are carrying. No visa, no permit, no special paperwork: for an Indian citizen, flying to Port Blair is the same as flying to any other Indian city. Foreign nationals, of course, do need a passport and a valid Indian visa.
Documents to carry
Indian nationals
- Government photo ID — Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport or Driving Licence (original)
- Photo ID for children — birth certificate or school ID
- Flight or ship tickets, for verification at the airport and jetties
- Hotel and ferry booking confirmations (we hold these for our guests)
Foreign nationals
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Valid Indian visa — tourist visa or e-visa
- Two passport-size photographs, in case a counter asks for them
- Return flight ticket and hotel booking confirmation
Restricted areas, and how to act around them
Some parts of the Andamans are closed to protect the indigenous communities who live there. This is the part of the rules we take most seriously — it is about people, not scenery.
- Tribal reserves are not sights
The islands' tribal reserves exist to protect the people who live there, not to be visited. They are closed to tourists, and no reputable operator will offer a "tribal tour". Treat this as settled, not a grey area.
- The reserve crossing is transit only
The road to Baratang crosses a protected tribal reserve. You travel through in a timed convoy — no stopping, no photography, no interaction. Filming anything along that stretch is a serious offence, and we brief every guest on this before the drive.
- Nicobar is off the table
The Nicobar Islands are a restricted zone. They are not part of any tourist itinerary and are not somewhere we can arrange access, so we do not offer it.
Permits arranged on the spot
A handful of places need a small forest or park permit that is bought locally rather than in advance. You do not arrange these ahead of time; they are handled at the checkpoint — and for our guests, by us.
- Baratang — reached by a timed convoy on the Andaman Trunk Road; photo ID is checked at the Jirkatang check-post. No separate paid permit, but the day has to be timed around the convoy.
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park — a forest permit, arranged at the entry point; fees differ for Indian and foreign visitors.
- Ross Island & North Bay — a small entry / forest fee at the jetty, again with different rates for Indians and foreign nationals.
- Barren Island volcano — viewed only from a boat under permitted trips; landing is not allowed, and access is arranged locally through registered operators.
A few rules that catch people out
- Leave coral and shells
Collecting or carrying coral is illegal, and shells or sea fans need a Fisheries Department permit — so leave them where they are. Bags are checked at the airport.
- Single-use plastic is banned
The islands ban plastic carry bags of any size and plastic water or drink bottles under 2 litres, along with plastic straws and cutlery. Carry a refillable bottle and a cloth bag.
- No camping, heed crocodile signs
Do not pitch tents or hammocks on beaches or in forests overnight, and never swim where a crocodile warning is posted.
- Do not touch the reef
Standing on or touching coral while snorkelling or diving damages it and is not allowed. Reef-safe sunscreen only.
- Photography limits
No photography in or near tribal reserves. Some underwater sites charge a small camera fee.
- Alcohol is licensed, not banned
The islands are not dry. Alcohol is served at licensed hotels and restaurants and sold at licensed shops, it costs more than the mainland because everything is shipped in, and availability thins on the smaller islands — some places simply do not serve it. No permit is needed to drink; just do not assume every hotel has a bar.
Permit questions, answered straight
Do Indian citizens need a permit to visit the Andaman Islands?
No. Indian nationals do not need any permit for the usual tourist islands — Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Ross, North Bay, Baratang or Diglipur. You carry a valid government photo ID and that is the whole requirement. There is no fee and no form to fill in advance.
Do foreign nationals still need a RAP (Restricted Area Permit)?
For most nationalities, no — not for the main tourist islands. The requirement was relaxed in 2018, and the current exemption runs until 31 December 2027. You still need a passport and a valid Indian visa, which you show at the immigration counter when you land in Port Blair. The exception matters: Citizens of Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Pakistan, and people of that origin, need a Restricted Area Permit approved in advance by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs — without it, entry is refused. Myanmar citizens need a Restricted Area Permit to visit Mayabunder and Diglipur. Reserved forests, sanctuaries, tribal reserves and any island not opened for tourism need separate permission.
Do you need a visa for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Indian nationals need no visa and no permit — the Andamans are part of India, so a domestic flight and a government photo ID are all it takes. Foreign nationals need a valid Indian visa, which can be a tourist visa or an e-visa, and a passport with at least six months of validity. There is no separate Andaman visa on top of that: the islands are not a separate country and nothing extra is issued for them. On arrival in Port Blair you show your passport and visa at the immigration counter, and your hotel records your stay; we brief our guests on what to carry. Most nationalities need no Restricted Area Permit for the main tourist islands until 31 December 2027. Citizens of Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Pakistan, and people of that origin, need a Restricted Area Permit approved in advance by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs — without it, entry is refused.
What ID should Indian travellers carry?
Any valid government photo ID works — Aadhaar, Voter ID, passport or driving licence. Carry the original, not just a photo of it. For children, a birth certificate or school ID is enough. IDs are checked at the airport and at some jetties, so keep one handy rather than packed in a bag.
Is a passport required for Indian nationals?
No. The Andamans are part of India, so Indian nationals travel on a domestic ID — a passport is not required. It is only needed if it happens to be the photo ID you are carrying. Foreign nationals, of course, need a passport and Indian visa.
Do I need a permit for Baratang?
There is no separate paid permit for Baratang, but the trip is different: you reach it by a timed convoy along the Andaman Trunk Road, and your photo ID is checked at the Jirkatang check-post. Convoys run to a fixed schedule, so Baratang is a full-day trip that has to be timed around them. We handle the timing and the check-post formalities for our guests.
Which islands are restricted or off-limits?
The Nicobar group and all tribal reserves are closed to tourists and are not part of any itinerary. Some Nicobar islands appear on the official list of islands exempt from the Restricted Area Permit, but that does not open them: they are tribal reserve areas, and the separate permission they need is not issued for tourism. These are protected areas for indigenous communities, not sights to visit, and no legitimate operator will offer access. The one reserve the road to Baratang crosses can only be transited in the timed convoy, without stopping.
Do I need permits for national parks and beaches like Ross or North Bay?
Yes, small forest or park permits apply at places like Ross Island, North Bay and the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. These are arranged on the spot at the checkpoint, with different fees for Indian and foreign visitors. When you travel on our package, these forest permits are arranged for you, so there is no separate queue to worry about.
Do the permit rules change, and can I rely on this page?
They do change — the current foreign-national exemption, for example, runs only until 31 December 2027 — which is why we date this page and recheck it against current government guidance each season. Use it to plan, but for a firm answer on your exact islands and dates, message us and we will confirm against the rule in force at the time.
Planning the rest of the trip? See how to reach the Andamans for flights and ferries, and our weather and best-time guide for the season trade-offs, month by month.
How this page stays true
Written by the Tropical Andamans editorial team from our own experience running trips from Port Blair. The entry and permit rules — who needs a Restricted Area Permit, the nationality exceptions and the arrival check — were checked against the A&N Administration's permit notice (March 2026) and the A&N Police guidance for foreign tourists in September 2026. The on-the-spot permits and the Baratang convoy notes rest on our operating experience rather than an official notice. The Barren Island note was carried over unchanged and was not re-checked in this update. Treat these as a guide and ask us to confirm current arrangements for your dates. The plastic rules follow the Administration's 2019 notifications. We keep fees as ranges rather than exact figures on purpose — government rates are the fastest-moving part of this page. For a firm answer on your exact islands, nationality and dates, ask us and we will confirm against the rule in force at the time.
Not sure what applies to you?
Tell us your nationality, the islands you want and your dates. We will confirm the current permit position for your trip and handle the on-the-ground formalities.