Who needs an entry permit for Lakshadweep?

The official ePermit portal says every person who is not a native of the islands needs a permit, apart from the government, Armed Forces and family exemptions stated on the portal.

Do tourist applications require a Police Clearance Certificate?

No. The official ePermit portal says a Police Clearance Certificate is no longer required to be uploaded for Tourist category applications.

Does a tourist need a local sponsor?

No. The official ePermit portal says sponsorship is no longer required for Tourist category applications.

How much does the Lakshadweep permit application cost?

The portal's fee page lists an application fee of ₹50 for each applicant. It also lists a heritage fee of ₹100 for applicants aged 12 to 18 and ₹200 for applicants above 18. Check the amount generated for every applicant before payment.

How long does a Lakshadweep permit take?

The public ePermit pages reviewed on 10 August 2026 do not publish a standard processing time. Apply through the official portal, track the application there and avoid relying on an unverified fixed timeline.

What do foreign tourists need?

The official ePermit portal says foreign tourists need a valid passport and a valid visa for visiting India. Follow the Tourist category prompts for the exact application requirements.

Lakshadweep Entry Permit: Official Online Application

The current tourist permit process is online. Use the official Lakshadweep ePermit portal¹ to submit an application, track its status and obtain the permit by email.

Two requirements found in many older guides have changed. The official portal now says:

sponsorship is no longer required for Tourist category applications;
a Police Clearance Certificate is no longer required to be uploaded for Tourist category applications.

Verified on 10 August 2026.

Who needs an entry permit?

The ePermit portal cites the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands (Restriction on Entry and Residence) Rules, 1967. It says every person who is not a native of the islands must obtain a permit from the competent authority to enter and reside in Lakshadweep.

The portal also states exemptions for Government officials and Armed Forces members working in or visiting the islands, along with their family members. If an exemption may apply to you, check it directly with the Administration instead of relying on a general travel guide.

Apply under the Tourist category

The ePermit portal advises people travelling for a holiday or tourism to apply under the Tourist category.

The public portal provides the following process:

Create an account using the registration page.
Submit the application online.
Track the application status through the portal.
Obtain the permit on the registered email address.

The portal limits each application form to a maximum of six applicants.

Use the fields and upload prompts shown after signing in. The public pages reviewed for this guide do not display a complete document checklist for Indian tourists. This page therefore does not invent one.

Police Clearance Certificate and sponsorship

For Tourist category applications, the portal says:

Previous requirement found in older guides	Current official portal position
Police Clearance Certificate upload	No longer required
Local sponsor	No longer required

This is a material change. Do not spend time obtaining a PCC or arranging sponsorship only because an older article, video or travel agent says it is mandatory. Check the advisory displayed on the official portal when you apply, because the Administration can update the process again.

Application and heritage fees

The official fee page lists:

Charge	Amount shown on the portal
Application fee	₹50 for each applicant
Heritage fee for applicants aged 12 to 18	₹100
Heritage fee for applicants above 18	₹200

The public fee page does not state a heritage-fee amount for applicants below 12. Do not infer one. Check the amount generated by the portal for each applicant before making payment.

This guide does not estimate agent fees or package charges. Those are separate commercial costs and are not the official permit fee.

Foreign tourists

The ePermit portal says foreign tourists need:

a valid passport;
a valid visa for visiting India.

It also advises tourists to apply under the Tourist category. Follow the portal prompts for the exact documents and permitted itinerary. Do not rely on an old list of islands or assume that access to one island permits travel to another.

Permit dates and islands

The Entry Permit Rules say a permit may specify the island or islands and the period for which it is valid. The rules also state that a permit holder must not enter another island unless the permit is endorsed for it.

When the permit is issued, check:

applicant names;
permitted dates;
named islands;
entry and travel details shown on the permit;
any conditions attached to it.

If anything does not match the planned trip, use the portal’s grievance or official support route before travelling.

Processing time

The public ePermit pages reviewed on 10 August 2026 do not publish a standard processing time for Tourist category applications.

This guide therefore does not promise two weeks, 30 days or any other fixed period. Submit the application once the portal accepts the required trip information, track it online and avoid non-refundable arrangements that depend on an unissued permit.

Permit-first trip checklist

Use only the official ePermit portal for the application.
Select the Tourist category for a holiday application.
Enter applicant information exactly as requested.
Pay only the charges generated by the official portal.
Track the application online.
Check the names, dates and islands when the permit arrives by email.
Match the permit with the transport and accommodation plan.
Read the verified how-to-reach guide before finalising connected travel.

This page records what the public official sources state. Where the portal does not publish a document, timeline or operational detail, the guide leaves it unestimated.