Restricted areas permit (RAP):
- Under the Foreigners (Restricted) Areas Order, 1963, the following areas have been declared as `Restricted’ Areas: (1) Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Entire UT and (2) Sikkim - Part of the State.
- A foreigner is not normally allowed to visit a Protected / Restricted Area unless it is established to the satisfaction of the Government that there are extraordinary reasons to justify such a visit.
- Every foreigner, except a citizen of Bhutan, who desires to enter these Areas, is required to obtain a special permit from a competent authority.
- Unlike Protected Area Permit (PAP),Restricted Area Permit (RAP) are generally available for individual travellers.
- These can be issued by overseas embassies or even, by immigration officials. Also, Indian citizens do not need special permission to visit Restricted Areas.
August 2018 Order:
- Under the recent decision, the 29 inhabited islands of Andaman and Nicobar chain have been excluded from the RAP till December 31, 2022. Thus, Foreigners can visit them without RAP.
- However, citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan would continue to require RAP, which shall be issued only with the prior approval of the ministry.
