No sponsor, no police clearance: Lakshadweep simplifies tour entry rules | Destination-of-the-week News
3 min readNew DelhiMay 2, 2026 03:00 PM Travelling to the islands of Lakshadweep may soon become significantly easier. In a major move to boost tourism, the Union Territory adminration has relaxed several long-standing entry permit rules for domestic travellers, simplifying a process many tours previously found cumbersome.
Under the revised guidelines issued the adminration, tours will no longer require a local sponsor to obtain an entry permit. Besides, applicants are no longer required to secure police clearance certificates from their hometowns or local police authorities before applying. Instead, background verification and security checks will now be conducted directly the Lakshadweep Police after the application is submitted.
The changes are intended to make travel planning smoother while still maintaining security protocols for the ecologically sensitive island territory.
What were the earlier permit rules?
Earlier, travelling to Lakshadweep involved multiple layers of paperwork and approvals. Since the islands are protected under special regulations, all non-islanders, including Indian citizens, require entry permits.
Previously, tours had to:
Arrange a local sponsor or local reference from Lakshadweep.
Obtain a police clearance certificate from their local police station.
Submit multiple supporting documents along with the permit application.
Wait for approvals before planning transportation.
What has changed now?
The latest relaxations simplify two major aspects of the process:
1. No local sponsor required
Tours no longer need someone from Lakshadweep to sponsor or verify their visit. This removes one of the biggest hurdles for independent travellers.
2. No prior police clearance certificate needed
Applicants are no longer required to visit local police stations in their hometowns for verification documents. Instead, the Lakshadweep adminration and police will conduct internal security screening after receiving applications.
This reduces paperwork, saves time and streamlines approvals.Story continues below this ad
Minicoy Island (Photo: Wikipedia)
What still remains mandatory?
While the process has been simplified, permits are still compulsory for all visitors.
Travellers must continue to:
Apply for permits at least 14 days before travel
Clearly mention travel dates
Specify every island they intend to visit
Include even transit islands in the application
Authorities have clarified that visitors will not be permitted to enter islands that are not led on their approved permit.
New transit rules travellers should know
The adminration has also tightened transit regulations to avoid unauthorised movement between islands.
According to the circular:
Transit will only be allowed through Kavaratti or Agatti
Maximum transit duration is capped at 12 hours
Travellers cannot make unscheduled island stops
Why authorities are asking tours to wait before booking flights
The adminration has specifically advised travellers not to book flight tickets before permit approval. Since applications will still undergo scrutiny based on eligibility and documentation, authorities warn that premature bookings may lead to cancellations or financial losses if permits are delayed or rejected.
(With inputs from PTI)
