(Protected Area Permit
for foreigners visiting the Tibetan Settlements in India)
Tibetan Refugees/Settlements in India
Tibetan refugees began pouring into India in the wake of the flight of His Holiness,
the Dalai Lama in the year 1959 from Tibet. The Government of India decided to give
them asylum as well as assistance towards temporary settlement. Care has been taken
to retain their separate ethnic and cultural identity. There are approximately 1.10
lakh Tibetan refugees residing in 45 Settlements and outside the Settlements spread
in different States in the country.
Protected Area Permit
(PAP):-
It has been the policy of the Government of India that all Foreigners including
the Foreign Aid Agencies visiting the Tibetan Settlements/Camps should seek prior
permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs for visiting such Settlements/Camps in
the country. Settlement Officers are to ensure that all foreigners visiting settlements
should have valid Protected Area Permit (PAP) as per the provision of Section 3
of Foreigners Act, 1946 (31 of 1946). See more
Online submission
of application for PAP:-
In order to streamline and facilitate the processing of PAP, this Ministry has launched
the online facilities of seeking applications for PAP from the foreigners intending
to visit Tibetan Settlements/Camps in India and also issuing of permits online to
such foreigners if otherwise not rejected.
All foreigners intending to visit Tibetan Settlements/Camps in India may therefore
apply online for PAP by logging in this Ministry’s website
Applications found incomplete shall be summarily rejected and no correspondence/reply
shall be given.