Do foreign tourists need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit Havelock Island?

No. Under the Ministry of Home Affairs relaxation order, foreign passport holders with a valid Indian visa can visit Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), and 27 other designated islands without obtaining a separate Restricted Area Permit.

Can foreign nationals visit the Nicobar Islands?

No. The entire Nicobar district remains strictly closed to foreign tourists and non-resident Indian civilians under national security protocols and the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation 1956.

What is the penalty for attempting to visit North Sentinel Island?

Approaching within the 5-nautical-mile exclusion perimeter of North Sentinel Island is a severe criminal offense punishable with multi-year imprisonment and heavy fines under the Indian Penal Code and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands Foreign Tourist Entry: RAP & Tribal Laws 2026

1. The Statutory Evolution of the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) in the Andamans

The Andaman & Nicobar archipelago—comprising 572 emerald islands, islets, and isolated rocky outcrops stretching across 800 kilometers in the southeastern Bay of Bengal—occupies one of the most ecologically fragile and geopolitically strategic maritime corridors on Earth. Historically, under the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order 1963 promulgated pursuant to the Foreigners Act 1946, the entire Union Territory was legally designated a Restricted Area.

For over five decades, every international passport holder arriving in the islands was required to obtain a physical paper Restricted Area Permit (RAP) at Port Blair's immigration counter. This historical permit imposed burdensome administrative shackles: foreign tourists were legally restricted to 30 days of stay, required mandatory in-person reporting at local police stations when visiting outlying islands, and faced severe movement limits that stifled international eco-tourism.

In a watershed regulatory reform, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) issued a landmark statutory notification: foreign nationals holding a valid Indian visa (including electronic e-Tourist Visas) are officially exempt from requiring a Restricted Area Permit to visit 29 designated inhabited islands and 11 uninhabited islands. Foreign visitors are processed directly at immigration counters at Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) or Port Blair Haddo Seaport with standard passport entry stamps.

Nationalities Subject to Prior MHA Security Clearance

While citizens of most sovereign nations (including the US, UK, European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Singapore) enjoy complete exemption from the RAP regime, the Ministry of Home Affairs maintains strict national security caveats. Passport holders of Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan, as well as foreign citizens of Pakistani origin, remain legally ineligible for automated RAP exemptions. Nationals of these countries must obtain prior written clearance directly from the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi prior to boarding any domestic flight or passenger ship bound for Port Blair.

Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island, Andaman, open to foreign tourists without a Restricted Area Permit — Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) on Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), one of the 29 islands where foreign nationals can stay without a Restricted Area Permit.

2. The Permitted Islands: Inhabited Hubs vs Day-Visit Eco-Reserves

Under current MHA directives, foreign tourists can freely access the premier travel circuits of the Andaman District, provided they strictly respect the statutory boundary between Overnight Stay Islands and Day-Visit Only Eco-Sanctuaries:

Island / Geographic Sector	Permitted Stay Status	Primary Attractions & Ecosystems	Access Mechanism
South Andaman (Port Blair)	Overnight stays permitted (Up to visa limit)	Cellular Jail National Memorial, Ross Island, Chidiyatapu Sunset Point, Mount Harriet	Direct domestic flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata
Havelock (Swaraj Dweep)	Overnight stays permitted (Resorts & Dive Centers)	Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7), Elephant Beach coral reefs, Kalapathar Beach	Private luxury catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika) or DSS passenger ferries from Port Blair
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)	Overnight stays permitted	Natural Rock Bridge, Bharatpur snorkeling reef, Laxmanpur sunset beach	Inter-island catamarans from Port Blair or Havelock (60 to 90 minutes)
Little Andaman (Hut Bay)	Overnight stays permitted	Butler Bay international surf break, White Surf waterfall, palm plantations	Inter-island DSS passenger ship from Port Blair (6 to 8 hours sailing)
Baratang Island	Day Visits ONLY (Strict curfew)	Limestone Caves, Mangrove boat safaris, Active Mud Volcano	Convoy via Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) across the Jarawa Reserve
Jolly Buoy & Red Skin Islands	Day Visits ONLY (Rotational opening)	Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, glass-bottom boats, pristine live reef diving	Forest Department chartered boats from Wandoor jetty
Ross & Smith Twin Islands	Day Visits ONLY	Natural sandbar connecting two islands at low tide, emerald lagoon waters	Speedboat transfer from Aerial Bay Jetty in Diglipur (North Andaman)
Diglipur (North Andaman)	Overnight stays permitted	Saddle Peak National Park (highest summit in Andamans, 732m), Kalipur turtle nesting	Road transit via ATR convoy (10–12 hrs) or weekly inter-island ferry
Long Island & Middle Andaman	Overnight stays permitted	Lalaji Bay eco-beach, Rangat mangrove walkway, Amkunj beach	Government ferry from Port Blair or Havelock to Long Island jetty

The 4:00 PM Curfew Rule for Day-Visit Islands

Foreign travelers must pay strict attention to the Day-Visit Restriction governing islands like Baratang, Jolly Buoy, Ross Island, and Cinque Island. Under Union Territory administrative rules, foreign nationals are strictly prohibited from remaining on these islands past sunset. Forest Department rangers and marine police conduct thorough island sweeps at 4:00 PM daily. All civilian boats must depart and return to Port Blair or authorized overnight ports. Missing the final departure vessel triggers an emergency police rescue protocol and formal investigation under the Foreigners Act.

🚨 STRICT STATUTORY WARNING: North Sentinel Island & Tribal Protection Laws

The Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Indian Coast Guard, and Indian Navy enforce an absolute, zero-tolerance defense cordon under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation 1956 (PAT Regulation) and the Indian Penal Code. International travelers must recognize three absolute legal boundaries:

North Sentinel Island (Absolute 5-Nautical-Mile Cordon): Inhabited by the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe—who have lived in complete voluntary isolation for an estimated 60,000 years. The Government of India enforces an absolute "Eyes-on, Hands-off" sovereign policy. Indian Navy warships and Coast Guard Dornier maritime patrol aircraft maintain 24/7 radar surveillance over an exclusion zone extending 5 nautical miles (approx. 9.25 km) in all directions around the island. Entering this maritime zone, attempting contact, or approaching the shoreline is a severe criminal offense resulting in immediate arrest, seizure of watercraft, and multi-year federal imprisonment.
The Jarawa Tribal Reserve (ATR Transit Convoy Rules): When transiting North on the Andaman Trunk Road (NH4) toward Baratang and Diglipur, vehicles must cross the legally demarcated Jarawa Tribal Reserve. Under Section 5 of the PAT Regulation, stopping vehicles, opening windows, offering food or clothing, speaking to, or attempting to photograph/videotape indigenous Jarawa individuals carries a statutory penalty of up to seven (7) years of rigorous, non-bailable imprisonment.
The Nicobar District (Permanent Foreign National Exclusion): The entire Nicobar district (including Car Nicobar, Great Nicobar, Katchal, Nancowry, and Chowra) is permanently and completely closed to foreign tourists. The Nicobar archipelago is reserved exclusively for indigenous Nicobarese and Shompen tribes, alongside strategic military naval command installations guarding the Malacca Strait. No tourist permits are issued for Nicobar under any circumstances.

Elephant Beach coral reef zone in Havelock Island Andaman — Protected reef ecosystems at Elephant Beach on Havelock Island, where stringent marine conservation statutes prohibit removing coral or marine specimens.

3. Marine Conservation Laws: The Zero Shell & Coral Collection Statute

The Andaman Sea encompasses one of the world's richest marine biodiversity hotspots, supporting over 1,200 fish species, 500 varieties of coral reefs, and endangered marine mammals including the Dugong (sea cow). Marine conservation in the Union Territory is enforced under the sovereign powers of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.

The Absolute Ban on Shell and Coral Collection

Many international tourists assume that picking up a dead, weathered seashell, a sea urchin skeleton, or a washed-up fragment of dead brain coral from a sandy beach is a harmless personal souvenir. In the Andaman Islands, this act is a severe statutory crime.

Under Schedules I and II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, all marine corals, gorgonian sea fans, sea horses, giant clams (Tridacna gigas), and natural marine shells are strictly protected wildlife property of the Union. The law makes zero distinction between live organisms harvested underwater and dead fragments collected on dry sand.

🔍 100% Inline X-Ray Luggage Screening at Port Blair Airport (IXZ)

Every piece of registered check-in luggage and carry-on baggage exiting the Andaman Islands is subjected to mandatory 100% dual-energy X-ray inline scanning by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Forest Wildlife Crime inspectors at Veer Savarkar International Airport:

If organic calcium-carbonate shell or coral signatures are identified on the scanner screen, the passenger is immediately pulled from departure security.
Possessing unauthorized, loose beach shells results in summary confiscation, on-the-spot compounding fines (often ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 INR), flight de-boarding, and formal police documentation under wildlife acts.
The ONLY Legal Exemption: You may purchase manufactured handicraft shell items (lamps, jewelry, carved conches) exclusively from government-authorized handicraft emporiums (such as the government-run Sagarika Cottage Industries Emporium in Port Blair) or private vendors holding an active Wildlife Trade License. The seller must issue an official, stamped tax invoice detailing the species and license number. You must present this physical tax invoice at airport security during luggage check.

Scuba Diving, Snorkeling & Coral Reef Protection Standards

The Andaman Islands offer world-class scuba diving along submerged volcanic pinnacles (Barren Island), pristine reefs (Dixon's Pinnacle, Minerva Ledge), and shallow coral gardens. To protect live corals from physical abrasion and diver damage, the Department of Tourism and PADI/SSI federations enforce strict diving regulations:

Scuba diving is permitted exclusively through commercial dive operators holding active registration with the Andaman Tourism Department and certified master dive staff.
Touching, standing on, kicking, or breaking live coral heads is illegal and incurs substantial administrative fines for the responsible dive shop and client.
Boat operators are strictly prohibited from dropping physical anchors onto coral beds; vessels must tie up exclusively to pre-installed government mooring buoys.

Sponsor Ad: PADI Certified Andaman Scuba Expeditions & Private Yacht Charters

4. Inter-Island Maritime Logistics: Catamarans, Ferries & Ticketing

Navigating between the permitted islands requires understanding the dual maritime transit system connecting the archipelago:

1. Private High-Speed Catamarans (The Tourist Backbone)

For the primary tourist triangle—connecting Port Blair, Swaraj Dweep (Havelock), and Shaheed Dweep (Neil)—international travelers overwhelmingly rely on modern air-conditioned private catamaran fleets: Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, and ITT Majestic.

Sailing Time: Port Blair to Havelock takes approximately 90 minutes; Havelock to Neil takes 45 to 60 minutes; Neil to Port Blair takes 60 to 75 minutes.
Ticketing Requirements for Foreign Citizens: When booking private ferry tickets (either online or at counter offices in Phoenix Bay Jetty), foreign travelers must provide their full legal passport number, nationality, and valid Indian visa expiry date. You must carry a physical printout of your ferry ticket and your original passport for verification at the boarding gangway.
Luggage Allowances: Standard private ferry tickets include 25 kg of checked luggage. Excess baggage fees apply.

2. Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) Government Passenger Vessels

For journeys beyond the standard Havelock/Neil corridor—such as traveling south to Little Andaman (Hut Bay), traversing north to Mayabunder, Diglipur, or Long Island—travelers must utilize the government-run Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) passenger vessels.

Ticket Booking Mechanics: Government ferry tickets open for reservation 3 to 5 days prior to sailing via the STARS ticketing counters at Phoenix Bay Jetty or online via dss.andaman.gov.in. Foreign tourists must submit a physical photocopy of their passport bio-page and valid Indian e-Visa to the booking clerk.
Monsoon Weather Disruptions: During the southwest monsoon (May to September) and cyclone season (October to November), open-ocean sea conditions in the Andaman Sea can become severe. The Port Management Board routinely suspends inter-island passenger shipping during weather warnings. Travelers visiting Little Andaman or Diglipur must build a 2- to 3-day buffer into their flight departure schedules.

Tropical islands and coastline of Andaman and Nicobar Union Territory — Coastal waters of Port Blair, the administrative capital and primary immigration gateway where international passports are cleared for the 29 permitted islands.

5. Form C Guest Reporting & Island Resort Compliance

Under the Registration of Foreigners Rules 1992, every hotel, luxury resort, guesthouse, and homestay accommodating foreign nationals in India is legally obligated to submit Form C data electronically to the Bureau of Immigration within 24 hours of guest arrival.

What Resort Staff Require Upon Check-In

When checking into any resort on Havelock, Neil, or Port Blair, the reception desk will require:

Your original physical passport for visual verification.
Your physical printed copy of your approved Indian e-Visa (or consular sticker visa).
Your Indian immigration arrival stamp affixed at your entry airport (DEL, BOM, or IXZ).
Your previous port of departure and confirmed next destination within the islands.

Resort staff will scan or photograph your documents and upload the data directly to the Bureau of Immigration e-FRRO portal. Attempting to stay at unregistered informal beach shacks or private residences that cannot file Form C is strictly illegal under the Foreigners Act.

6. Saltwater Crocodile Safety & Marine Hazards

The Andaman archipelago is home to the apex marine predator: the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), locally known as 'salties'. These massive reptiles inhabit mangrove creeks, tidal estuaries, and open sea corridors between islands:

🐊 Essential Marine Safety Rules for Swimmers and Divers

Designated Swimming Enclosures: Swim only at designated tourist beaches where protective marine nets and active lifeguard towers are present (e.g., Radhanagar Beach on Havelock, Corbyn's Cove in Port Blair).
Mangrove Prohibitions: Never swim, wade, or kayak alone in murky mangrove creeks, river mouths, or tidal inlets, particularly near Baratang, Chidiyatapu, or Wandoor.
Night Swimming Ban: Swimming after sunset is strictly prohibited across all Andaman beaches. Saltwater crocodiles are nocturnal hunters; swimming in dark waters dramatically elevates predatory encounter risks.
Warning Signage: Heed all yellow and red Forest Department crocodile warning boards posted along beaches. If an active sighting is reported, rangers close the beach to swimmers for 48 hours.

7. Frequently Asked Questions (Andaman RAP & Compliance)

Do foreign tourists still need a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit the Andamans?

No. Under Ministry of Home Affairs circulars, foreign passport holders with a valid Indian tourist visa (including electronic e-Visas) are exempt from requiring a Restricted Area Permit to visit 29 designated inhabited islands and 11 uninhabited islands (including Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Baratang, and Diglipur). Passports receive standard immigration stamps upon arrival at Port Blair Airport.

Can foreign nationals visit North Sentinel Island?

Strictly no. North Sentinel Island is protected by an absolute 5-nautical-mile maritime exclusion perimeter enforced 24/7 by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard under the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (PAT) Regulation 1956. Approaching, landing, or attempting contact with the uncontacted Sentinelese tribe is a major federal crime punishable with multi-year imprisonment.

Can foreign tourists take day trips through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve?

Yes, but strictly as transiting passengers in authorized vehicle convoys along the Andaman Trunk Road (NH4) bound for Baratang Island. Stopping vehicles, rolling down windows, interacting with, giving food to, or photographing/filming Jarawa tribal members is strictly illegal under the PAT Regulation and carries up to 7 years of non-bailable imprisonment.

Can I bring sea shells or coral fragments home from Andaman beaches?

No. Collecting loose sea shells, coral pieces, or sea fans from beaches is illegal under Schedules I and II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. All luggage is scanned via 100% inline X-ray at Port Blair Airport; carrying unauthorized sea life results in heavy compounding fines, confiscation, and flight de-boarding. The only exception is buying certified handicraft shells from licensed emporiums with an official stamped GST invoice.

Can foreign nationals stay overnight on Baratang Island?

No. Under Andaman Administration rules, foreign nationals are permitted to visit Baratang Island (for the Limestone Caves and Mud Volcano) strictly for day trips and must depart back through the Jarawa convoy before the 4:00 PM gate closure. Overnight stays on Baratang are restricted to domestic Indian citizens and authorized local residents.

Can foreign tourists visit the Nicobar District (Car Nicobar, Great Nicobar)?

Strictly no. The entire Nicobar district is permanently closed to all foreign tourists without exception. It is reserved for the preservation of indigenous Nicobarese and Shompen tribal biosphere reserves and strategic Indian military installations. No civilian tourist permits are issued for Nicobar.

Do OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders need special permits for the Andamans?

OCI cardholders enjoy the exact same access as foreign tourists under the RAP relaxation, meaning they can freely visit the 29 permitted islands without a Restricted Area Permit. However, OCI holders remain strictly bound by the same tribal protection and environmental laws barring entry to tribal reserves and the Nicobar district.

Can foreign nationals fly private consumer drones in the Andaman Islands?

No. Flying civilian drones (UAVs) anywhere in the Andaman & Nicobar Union Territory is strictly illegal under the Aircraft Act and Ministry of Defense regulations without prior clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC). Operating a drone near beaches or harbors leads to immediate confiscation and police detention.

Are citizens of China, Pakistan, or Afghanistan allowed to visit the Andamans under the RAP exemption?

No. Passport holders of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as foreign citizens of Pakistani origin, are explicitly excluded from the automated RAP exemption. They must apply for and receive explicit prior security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi before traveling to Port Blair.

How reliable is cellular data and internet connectivity on Havelock and Neil Islands?

Since the commissioning of the Chennai-Andaman Undersea Submarine Optical Fiber Cable (CANI-SMC), 4G and 5G connectivity via Airtel and Reliance Jio operates reliably across Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil. However, luxury resorts often have slow satellite Wi-Fi during monsoon squalls. Carrying sufficient physical Indian Rupee cash is vital, as island ATMs occasionally lose banking network switch links.

What medical facilities are available if a diving accident (decompression sickness) occurs on Havelock?

Havelock Island operates a primary Community Health Center capable of basic medical stabilization. For decompression sickness (DCS) requiring hyperbaric recompression therapy, patients must be transferred via emergency speedboat to Port Blair, where the Indian Navy operates a recompression chamber at INHS Dhanvantari. Ensure your travel insurance includes emergency maritime aeromedical evacuation coverage.

Can I travel between islands on a rented motorized two-wheeler?

You can rent scooters and motorcycles locally on Havelock, Neil, or Port Blair upon presenting your home driving license and physical International Driving Permit (IDP). However, you cannot transport rented scooters between islands on commercial passenger catamarans; you must return the vehicle on the island where it was rented and rent a new vehicle upon arriving at your next island port.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Foreign Entry, RAP & Tribal Reserve Laws 2026

📋 Island Entry Framework at a Glance