Every Permit You Need in Himachal Pradesh (2026 Guide)
Quick answer (May 2026)
Indian citizens need zero permits anywhere in Himachal Pradesh. The Atal Tunnel is free, four-wheel only, two-wheelers banned by BRO. Rohtang Pass needs a Rs 550 vehicle permit at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in (1,200/day cap, closed Tuesdays). E-Aagman registration at eaagman.hp.gov.in is free but mandatory for Lahaul-Spiti district. Foreign nationals add a Protected Area Permit (Rs 250-400) at any SDM office before Pooh-Nako-Spiti. Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra registers at shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in. HP entry toll Rs 100/day per non-HP vehicle, paid at the border.
The Rohtang permit portal opens at 10 AM. By 10:02, it's sold out. Every May and June, the same scene plays out in guesthouses across Manali: someone clicking refresh on a crashing website while their travel partner reads out loud from a Reddit thread about how the system goes down every morning. The ones who get the permit look relieved. The ones who don't, and they drove fourteen hours from Chandigarh specifically for Rohtang, look like somebody cancelled their wedding.
Himachal has more permit systems, entry fees, and registration requirements than any other Indian hill state. Some are critical (miss the Rohtang permit and your Manali trip loses its centrepiece), some are free but mandatory (E-Aagman, which nobody tells you about until a checkpoint guard asks for it), and some exist on paper but nobody enforces them. This is every permit, fee, and registration in one page. Bookmark it.
- Total permit/fee types
- 14 across HP
- Most stressful
- Rohtang Pass vehicle permit (sells out in 2-5 minutes peak season)
- Most overlooked
- E-Aagman registration (free, but mandatory for Lahaul-Spiti)
- Newest (2026)
- Revised entry toll from April 1 + Sumdo Rs 500 SADA fee
- Foreigners only
- Protected Area Permit (PAP) for Kinnaur border + Spiti restricted areas
- Last updated
- April 2026
What changed in 2026 (read this first)
Three things shifted since last year, and two of them will affect your wallet at the state border.
1. HP entry toll revised April 1, 2026. Every non-HP-registered passenger vehicle now pays Rs 100 per day at the state border. The government initially proposed Rs 170 (up from Rs 70), but taxi operators and Punjab/Haryana tourists protested hard enough that the rate got rolled back within a week. The receipt is valid 24 hours statewide. HP-registered vehicles are exempt. If you don't have FASTag, you'll pay 25% more via UPI at the barrier.
2. Sumdo SADA fee. Vehicles entering Spiti from the Kinnaur side through the Sumdo Army Check Post now pay Rs 500 (Special Area Development Authority fee). This started in late 2025 and catches people off guard because it's not on any booking portal. Kinnaur and Spiti residents are exempt.
3. Rohtang permit portal domain changed. The old rohtangpermits.nic.in domain now redirects to rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. Most travel blogs still link to the old URL. Both work for now, but bookmark the new one.
Permits at a glance: Indian citizens vs foreign nationals
The most-misunderstood thing about HP permits is that Indians and foreigners are governed by completely different rule books. Here is the four-corridor summary, current to May 2026.
Indian vs foreign permit requirements (May 2026)
| Corridor | Indian nationals | Foreign nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Spiti Inner Line (Sumdo, Tabo, Kaza, Kibber, Pin Valley) | No permit. Indian passport or Aadhaar is enough. Pay the Rs 500 Sumdo SADA fee if entering from the Kinnaur side. | Protected Area Permit (PAP) mandatory, Rs 250 at Reckong Peo SDM or Rs 400 at Shimla DM/Sugam, valid 14 days. Carry passport plus Indian visa plus two photos. |
| Lahaul / Atal Tunnel | No permit, free tunnel, four-wheel only, BRO bans two-wheelers. Mandatory free E-Aagman registration at eaagman.hp.gov.in for the district. | Same as Indian: no permit, free tunnel, BRO two-wheeler ban applies. E-Aagman mandatory and free. PAP only kicks in if you continue east into Spiti via Gramphu-Kunzum. |
| Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra (mid-July) | Mandatory online registration at shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in, medical certificate, no fee for Indians, Rs 50 yatra contribution at base camp. | Same shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in registration plus medical certificate. PAP separately required because the route runs through restricted Kinnaur belt south of Rampur. |
| Kinnaur (Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa, Reckong Peo) | No permit for any of these. The road is open to Indian passport holders all the way to Jangi. | No permit needed for Sarahan, Sangla, Chitkul, Kalpa, or Reckong Peo. PAP becomes mandatory only past Jangi towards Pooh, Khab, Nako, Sumdo, and the Spiti border. |
Sumdo SADA fee, Sutlej-side cap, and PAP processing times were last reverified against HP government portals and the ADC Kaza office notification dated 13 February 2026.
The three systems that confuse everyone
Manali has three separate fee systems that overlap geographically. People muddle them constantly.
Rohtang Pass Permit (Rs 550) is for crossing Rohtang Pass specifically. E-Aagman (free) is a vehicle registration for entering Lahaul-Spiti district, needed even via the Atal Tunnel. Green Tax (Rs 100-500) is an environmental charge for non-HP vehicles entering Manali. Three different systems, three different payment points. You might need all three, or just one, depending on your route.
Which permits do you actually need? (Route-based guide)
Skip the 14-type matrix for now. Tell me where you're going and I'll tell you what paperwork you need.
Just Manali, staying in town: HP entry toll (Rs 100/day, non-HP vehicle) + Manali green tax (Rs 100-500, non-HP vehicle). That's it. No other permits.
Manali to Rohtang Pass (day trip, same-day return): Everything above, plus the Rohtang Pass permit (Rs 550). Book at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in at 10 AM sharp the day before. Closed Tuesdays.
Manali to Lahaul via Atal Tunnel: HP entry toll + green tax + E-Aagman registration (free, online). No Rohtang permit, no tunnel toll. The tunnel is free.
Full Manali-Kaza-Spiti circuit: All of the above, plus Chandratal entry fee (Rs 150 Indian / Rs 500 foreigner) if you're visiting the lake. If you loop back via Kinnaur, add the Sumdo Rs 500 SADA fee.
Shimla to Kinnaur to Spiti (Hindustan-Tibet Road): HP entry toll + Sumdo SADA fee (Rs 500). Indians need zero permits for the entire route. Foreigners need a PAP from the SDM office in Reckong Peo before crossing into restricted areas past Jangi.
GHNP trek (Tirthan/Sainj entry): Core zone permit (Rs 100 Indian / Rs 400 foreigner) + mandatory registered guide for multi-day treks. The ecozone around Gushaini is free, no permit, no guide.
Tirthan Valley fishing: Fishing permit Rs 300/day per rod. Season: March 1 to October 31. Your homestay can arrange it.
The single most useful sentence in this article: If you are an Indian citizen, you need zero permits for Spiti, Kinnaur, or anywhere in Himachal Pradesh. The ILP/PAP system applies only to foreign nationals. The permits you do need (Rohtang vehicle permit, E-Aagman, entry toll) are vehicle-level, not person-level.
Rohtang Pass permit: the full breakdown
Rohtang is the single most searched travel permit in India, and the single biggest source of tourist frustration in Himachal Pradesh. People drive twelve-plus hours from Delhi for this pass, then can't get a permit.
The basics: Rs 550 per vehicle (Rs 500 permit + Rs 50 congestion charge). Cars, bikes, same price. Daily cap of 1,200 vehicles (800 petrol, 400 diesel). Closed every Tuesday for maintenance. Season roughly June to October, depending on snow clearance.
The 10 AM strategy
Permits open at 10:00 AM for the next day on rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in. During peak season (May and June), they sell out in two to five minutes. Here's what actually works:
Night before: create your account, pre-fill every field. Vehicle registration number, fuel type, passenger count, Aadhaar or driving licence number for each passenger. Have your UPI or card details ready. Don't leave anything for morning.
At 9:58 AM: page loaded, all fields filled, finger on submit. At 10:00:00, click. Not 10:00:30. The first thirty seconds are the entire window in peak season.
Confirmation: download and print the permit. Printout is compulsory at the checkpoint. Carry original IDs for every passenger listed. The permit covers one same-day return trip.
Easiest days are Wednesday and Thursday (Tuesday closure creates less spillover). Easiest months are September and October. Early June is brutal.
You can apply up to six days in advance, but each permit is single-day only. You can't book multiple days in one transaction.
The skip-Rohtang hack: Take the Atal Tunnel to Lahaul instead. No permit, no toll, no Tuesday closure, 15 minutes instead of 4 hours on a crumbling mountain road. You get the same Lahaul access. The only reason to do Rohtang is if you specifically want the pass experience (snow, views, tourist circus). An HRTC electric bus now runs Manali to Rohtang for Rs 500 per person. No permit hassle, no taxi markup.
Beware fake websites. The only official domains are rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in (new) and rohtangpermits.nic.in (old, redirects). Anything else claiming to sell Rohtang permits is a scam.
E-Aagman: the registration nobody warns you about
E-Aagman is a free vehicle entry registration for Lahaul and Spiti district. Not a paid permit. Free. Takes two minutes online. But it is mandatory, and almost nobody knows about it until they're stopped at a checkpoint past the Atal Tunnel.
Register at eaagman.hp.gov.in before you drive through. Fill in vehicle details, passenger information, get your e-pass, screenshot it. Done.
Everyone needs it. HP-registered vehicles, rental cars, bikes, buses. Doesn't matter if you're coming via the Atal Tunnel, via Rohtang, or from Kinnaur through Sumdo. The most common mistake is assuming the tunnel means zero paperwork. The tunnel has no toll. The district has E-Aagman.
HP entry toll: what you actually pay at the border
Every non-HP-registered vehicle pays an entry toll at designated barriers when entering the state. The Toll Policy 2026-27, effective April 1, was a mess. The government proposed steep hikes, taxi operators from Punjab and Haryana protested, and the rates got rolled back within a week.
| Category | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, vans, up to 12+1 seats) | Rs 100/day | Reduced from proposed Rs 170 after protests |
| Light commercial vehicles / minibuses | Rs 320/day | |
| 3-axle trucks | Rs 600/day | |
| Construction machinery (JCB etc.) | Rs 800/day | Up from Rs 570 |
| Tractors | Rs 100/day | Quarterly and annual options available |
| Auto/scooter rickshaws | Rs 30/day | |
| HP-registered vehicles | Exempt | Free entry |
| Without FASTag (UPI payment) | 25% surcharge | FASTag infrastructure being installed at barriers |
The receipt is valid 24 hours statewide. You pay once at the first entry barrier, not at every district boundary. No toll collected on exit. This is separate from the Manali green tax, which is an additional Rs 100-500 environmental charge for non-HP vehicles entering the Manali area specifically.
Permits for foreign travelers
If you're an Indian citizen, skip this section entirely. You don't need any inner line permit or protected area permit anywhere in Himachal Pradesh. This is different from Ladakh, where Indians need ILP for some areas. HP is simple: Indians, zero permits. Done.
Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for restricted border areas in Kinnaur (past Jangi towards Pooh, Nako, Khab, Sumdo) and in Spiti (Tabo, Dhankar, Kaza, Pin Valley, Kibber, Hikkim, Langza, Komic). You do not need a PAP for Kalpa, Sangla Valley, Chitkul, Sarahan, Manali, Kullu, Shimla, Dharamshala, or any of the lower hill stations.
Where to apply, ranked by convenience:
1. Reckong Peo SDM Office (best for the Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti route, right before the restricted zone). 2. Manali SDM Office (for Atal Tunnel / Rohtang entry). 3. Kaza ADC Office (technically you've already entered the restricted area, but they issue them). 4. Shimla DM Office / Sugam Center (pre-trip option, Rs 400 vs Rs 250 elsewhere). 5. Keylong DC Office (Lahaul-based travelers).
Bring your passport, valid Indian visa, two passport photographs, and a travel itinerary. Processing is same-day, usually two to four hours, sometimes under an hour. No appointment needed. The old rule requiring foreigners to travel in groups of four through a registered agency is technically on the books but relaxed at most offices. Solo backpackers get PAPs at Reckong Peo routinely.
GHNP and wildlife sanctuary permits
The Great Himalayan National Park has two zones with completely different rules, and the confusion between them wastes more traveler time than it should.
Ecozone / buffer area (free): This is the Tirthan Valley homestay belt around Gushaini, the buffer trails, the riverside walks. No permit. No guide. Open year-round. This is where 90% of visitors actually go, and they don't need to pay a rupee or fill out a form.
Core zone (permit required): Starts three-plus hours on foot from the road, deep into the forest. Permit from Shairopa (Tirthan entry), Ropa (Sainj entry), or the GHNP head office in Shamshi. Rs 100 for Indians, Rs 400 for foreigners per day. Camera fee additional. A registered guide is mandatory for all multi-day treks inside the core zone. Best season: April to June, September to November.
Other wildlife sanctuaries across HP (Pin Valley NP, Kibber WLS, Kalatop WLS near Dalhousie, Manali Sanctuary, Nargu WLS near Barot, Renuka WLS) typically charge Rs 50-150 for Indians and Rs 100-500 for foreigners. Guide requirements vary by sanctuary. The Manali Sanctuary is walkable from town and nobody seems to know it exists.
Fishing and angling permits
Rs 300 per day per rod. That's the trout fishing permit rate across HP. Season runs March 1 to October 31 (closed November through February for spawning). Maximum six fish per day, minimum 25 cm.
The easiest way to get a permit is to ask your homestay owner. In Tirthan Valley and Barot Valley, most homestays arrange fishing permits for guests as a routine service. The formal issuing authority is the HP Fisheries Department, with offices in Gushaini and Larji.
Best fishing locations: Tirthan River (premier destination, 45 km stretch), Barot Valley (less crowded, good trout population), Pabbar River in Shimla district (remote, excellent), upper Beas near Manali (accessible but crowded), and the Ravi in Chamba (remote, beautiful setting).
Trekking registration
Officially, HP requires registration for high-altitude treks. In practice, enforcement depends entirely on the route.
Strictly enforced: GHNP treks (permit plus guide, no exceptions), Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra (online registration mandatory at shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in, medical certificate required), Hampta Pass (forest permit), Beas Kund (forest permit), Bhrigu Lake (forest permit), Pin Parvati (remote, permit and experienced guide essential).
Loosely enforced: most lower-altitude treks in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi. Short day hikes to viewpoints. But registration is still worth doing for safety. If something goes wrong above 4,000 metres, rescue teams need to know you're out there.
For organised treks through operators like Indiahikes or Trek the Himalayas, the company handles all permits. You show up, they've sorted the paperwork.
Drone rules: mostly no
I'll be honest. If you're planning to fly a drone in the popular parts of Himachal Pradesh, the answer is probably no. Here's why.
The 25-kilometre international border belt is a no-fly zone. That covers most of Kinnaur, most of Spiti, and chunks of Lahaul. So the entire Spiti Valley circuit, the Kinnaur border road, Chandratal, the whole stretch that produces those spectacular aerial shots on Instagram, that's technically a no-fly zone.
All wildlife sanctuaries and national parks (GHNP, Pin Valley, Kibber, Manali Sanctuary) are no-drone without written permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, which is almost never granted for tourists.
If you must fly, drones over 250g require registration on Digital Sky. You need a Unique Identification Number (UIN). Maximum altitude 400 feet. Visual line of sight always. The realistic window is lower Himachal: parts of Kangra, Mandi, Shimla outskirts, away from borders and sanctuaries. Enforcement is inconsistent in remote areas, but the penalties are severe if you're caught. Not worth the gamble.
The Chandratal question
Chandratal Lake charges Rs 150 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreigners. Camping at the lake banks is banned (it's a Ramsar wetland site). Designated campsites sit three to five kilometres away. You can get a free e-permit via E-Aagman at eaagman.hp.gov.in.
Official portal directory (verified URLs only)
Fake permit websites are a real problem, especially for Rohtang. Every URL below is a .gov.in or .nic.in domain, verified April 2026.
| Portal | URL | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Rohtang Pass Permits | rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in | Book vehicle permit |
| E-Aagman | eaagman.hp.gov.in | Free vehicle registration for Lahaul-Spiti |
| Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra | shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in | Yatra registration |
| Digital Sky (Drones) | digitalsky.dgca.gov.in | Drone registration + airspace map |
| GHNP | greathimalayannationalpark.org | Park info, fees, rules |
| HP Tourism | himachaltourism.gov.in | General info, angling |
| Lahaul-Spiti Foreigners | hplahaulspiti.nic.in | Restricted areas list |
| Kinnaur Tourism | hpkinnaur.nic.in | Kinnaur tourist guidelines |
Planning an HP trip and want someone to sanity-check your permit situation? Email us your route. We will tell you exactly which permits you need, which ones you can skip, and where the real paperwork bottlenecks are.
The permit nobody actually enforces (but you should get anyway)
Chandratal camping, trekking registration for mid-altitude routes, and some wildlife sanctuary entries fall into a grey zone. Enforcement ranges from strict to nonexistent depending on the season, the specific ranger on duty, and whether the local forest office has had a recent audit. My honest advice: get the permit if it takes less than 30 minutes. The cost is trivial (Rs 50-300), the process is usually a logbook entry, and if something goes wrong on the trail, having your name in a register means somebody knows you're out there.
Found a discrepancy between this guide and what you're told at a checkpoint? Send us the update with the date and location. Permit rules in HP change faster than any website can track, and ground reports from readers are how we keep this page accurate.
Do I need a permit for Rohtang Pass?
Yes. Rs 550 per vehicle (Rs 500 + Rs 50 congestion). Book at rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in at 10 AM for the next day. 1,200 vehicles/day cap. Closed Tuesdays. Sells out in minutes during May-June.
Do I need a permit for the Atal Tunnel?
No permit and no toll. The tunnel is free. But you DO need E-Aagman registration (also free) for entering Lahaul-Spiti district on the other side.
What is E-Aagman?
A free online vehicle registration for all vehicles entering Lahaul-Spiti district. Register at eaagman.hp.gov.in before your trip. Mandatory even via the Atal Tunnel.
Do Indian citizens need a permit for Spiti Valley?
No. Indians need zero permits for Spiti, Kinnaur, or anywhere in HP. You only need the Rohtang vehicle permit (if crossing Rohtang) and E-Aagman (for Lahaul-Spiti district). The ILP/PAP is only for foreign nationals.
Do foreigners need a permit for Spiti or Kinnaur?
Yes. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for restricted areas in Kinnaur (past Jangi) and Spiti (Tabo, Kaza, etc.). Apply at SDM offices in Reckong Peo, Manali, Keylong, or Kaza. Cost Rs 250-400. Same-day processing.
How much is the HP entry toll from April 2026?
Rs 100/day for passenger vehicles (reduced from proposed Rs 170 after protests). Valid 24 hours statewide. HP-registered vehicles exempt. 25% surcharge without FASTag.
What is the Sumdo Rs 500 fee?
A SADA (Special Area Development Authority) fee for 4WD vehicles entering Spiti from Kinnaur through the Sumdo Army Check Post. New in 2025-26. Kinnaur/Spiti residents exempt.
Do I need a permit for GHNP?
The ecozone/buffer area (Tirthan Valley homestay belt, Gushaini trails) is free, no permit. The core park zone (3+ hours walk from road) requires a permit: Rs 100 Indian / Rs 400 foreigner per day, plus mandatory guide for multi-day treks.
Can I fly a drone in Spiti Valley?
Technically, most of Spiti falls within the 25 km international border no-fly zone. All wildlife sanctuaries are also no-drone. Enforcement is inconsistent but penalties are severe. Check the Digital Sky airspace map before flying anywhere in HP.
How do I get a fishing permit in Tirthan Valley?
Rs 300/day per rod from HP Fisheries Department. Season: March 1 to October 31. Max 6 fish/day, min 25 cm. Easiest way: ask your homestay owner to arrange it.
Is the Rohtang permit website real or fake?
Only official sites: rohtangpermits.hp.gov.in (new domain) and rohtangpermits.nic.in (old, redirects). Domain changed in 2026. Any other site selling Rohtang permits is fake.
What is the Chandratal Lake entry fee?
Rs 150 for Indians, Rs 500 for foreigners. Camping at the lake banks is banned (Ramsar wetland). Campsites are 3-5 km away. Free e-permit available via eaagman.hp.gov.in.
Are two-wheelers allowed on the Atal Tunnel in 2026?
No. The Border Roads Organisation bars two-wheelers, scooters, and pedestrians from the Atal Tunnel for safety reasons, the 9.02 km tube has no breakdown shoulder and a 12 percent gradient at the south portal. Motorcyclists going to Lahaul still have to cross Rohtang Pass when it is open (mid-May to early November). The tunnel itself is otherwise free of charge and open 24 hours.
Where do I download my Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra registration in 2026?
The official HP government portal is shrikhandyatra.hp.gov.in. Registration opens approximately four weeks before the yatra window in mid-July. You will need to upload a medical fitness certificate, photo ID, and emergency contact details. Print the e-pass and carry it to Jaon village base camp. Foreign nationals also need a separate PAP for the Kinnaur belt the route passes through.
What is the Atal Tunnel entry fee or toll in 2026?
There is no entry fee and no toll for the Atal Tunnel. It is a free public road. The only payment you will make near the tunnel is the HP state entry toll of Rs 100 per day per non-HP-registered vehicle, collected at the state border, not at the tunnel itself. The mandatory E-Aagman registration is also free.
Sources
HP Government Rohtang Permits Portal (official booking site). E-Aagman Portal (vehicle registration). NewsX, April 2026 (toll rollback to Rs 100). AngelOne, April 2026 (full toll rate breakdown). Tribune India (Sumdo SADA fee). HP Lahaul-Spiti District (foreigner restricted areas). GHNP Official (park fees). ETV Bharat, 2025 (HRTC Rohtang bus, Rs 500). Shrikhand Yatra Portal (trek registration). DGCA Digital Sky (drone registration). HP Kinnaur District (Kinnaur tourism guidelines). HP Tourism (angling information). Background reading: Wikipedia: Rohtang Pass.
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