India entry requirements, by passport

Protected and restricted areas: what changes

An Indian visa is not enough to enter the areas declared protected or restricted under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963. The list published by the High Commission of India covers all areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, the whole Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Every foreigner except a citizen of Bhutan also needs a special permit from the competent authority, applied for through the e-FRRO portal and best requested thirty days ahead. The list has been amended several times, so check it before each trip.

Source: hcikampala.gov.in (Alta Comisión de India, Protected Area Permit / Restricted Area Permit); mha.gov.in, Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order, 1963 (comprobado 18/09/2026)

Do you need a different visa for New Delhi, Mumbai, or Goa?

No. India sets the requirements, so entering through New Delhi asks for the same as entering through Mumbai or Goa. If you're arriving overland or through a small border post, check that separately: some countries apply their own rules to specific crossings.

With one exception, explained above: the rules for Protected and restricted areas are not the rules for the rest of India.

What does change is where you file the application when a visa is needed, and that depends on the country you live in rather than the city you're travelling to.