Manipur is an Inner Line Permit state, so an Indian visitor needs a permit to enter, even though it is part of India.
It is quick to get online. Apply on the official Manipur government site, manipurilponline.mn.gov.in, get your permit, and carry it. There is also a faster route using your Aadhaar. If you come from abroad, the rule is different and stricter, and it changed at the end of 2024. That part is explained lower down.
Who needs a Manipur Inner Line Permit
- Every Indian citizen who is not a resident of Manipur needs one to enter the state.
- It is checked when you arrive, for example at Imphal airport and at the road entry points.
- Add each traveller when you apply, so the names match your identity proof.
- A resident of Manipur does not need one.
How to apply, step by step
- Go to the official site manipurilponline.mn.gov.in.
- Choose the new visitor application, fill in your details, add each traveller, choose your dates, and upload your identity proof.
- Pay the fee online and download your permit.
- Keep it on your phone and carry a printout, because it is checked on arrival.
The Aadhaar quick option
The official portal offers an Instant Aadhaar ILP. You enter your Aadhaar number, confirm with the one time password sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, and get a faster approval. This is handy if your Aadhaar mobile number is active and with you.
What it costs
The permit carries a small government fee, paid online on the official portal at the last step. The official portal does not display a single fixed tourist figure on its public information page, so please take the exact current amount from the portal at the time you apply, rather than from any other site. [Exact tourist fee not shown on the official public page. Last checked 13 September 2026. Take the live amount from manipurilponline.mn.gov.in at payment.]
Validity
- The temporary visitor permit is valid for up to 30 days.
- If you need longer, you apply again or seek a further permit through the same official portal.
Documents you need
- One government photo identity for each traveller. Indians can use Aadhaar, a voter card, a driving licence, or a passport.
- A passport size photo, as the form asks.
- A working mobile number, and for the Aadhaar quick option, the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
For foreign travellers (read this carefully)
The rule for foreign nationals changed at the end of 2024. Manipur is now back under the Protected Area system.
- A foreign national needs a Protected Area Permit to visit Manipur. This is granted by the Union Home Ministry or the state authorities, not simply bought online like the Indian permit.
- On top of the permit, a foreign visitor must register with the local Foreigners Registration Officer within 24 hours of arriving in the district.
- Citizens of Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan, and people of Pakistani origin, need prior approval from the Union Home Ministry.
- Because this is not a simple online form, WayToIndia arranges the Protected Area Permit for you from start to finish, so you do not have to find your own way through it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Arriving without a permit and being turned back at the check point.
- Names on the permit not matching the identity proof you carry.
- Carrying only a phone copy. Also carry a printout.
- A foreign traveller assuming the Indian online permit applies to them. It does not. Foreigners follow the Protected Area rule above.
- Paying on a look-alike site. Only manipurilponline.mn.gov.in is the official portal.
Questions people ask
Do Indians need a permit for Manipur?
Yes. Every Indian visitor who is not a resident needs an Inner Line Permit for the state.
How long is it valid?
The temporary visitor permit is valid for up to 30 days.
Can I get it online quickly?
Yes. There is a normal online form and a faster Aadhaar based option with a one time password.
What does it cost?
A small government fee, paid online. Take the exact current amount from the official portal at payment, because it is not printed on the public information page.
Do foreigners need an Inner Line Permit?
Foreigners follow a stricter rule. Since December 2024 they need a Protected Area Permit and must register with the local Foreigners office within 24 hours. WayToIndia can arrange this for you.