Kashmir Permits Guide
Most of a Kashmir holiday needs no permit at all. A few border valleys, one national park and the Amarnath Yatra do. Here is which is which, and who applies.
Most of a Kashmir holiday needs no permit at all. A few border valleys, one national park and the Amarnath Yatra do. Here is which is which, and who applies.
Direct answer: No permit is needed for the usual trip: Srinagar, Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri or Yusmarg. Carry an original photo ID and keep it on you. Permits or registration come in only for the border valleys near the Line of Control (Gurez, Tulail, Keran, Machil, Karnah), for Dachigam National Park, and for the Amarnath Yatra. Rules for foreign passport holders are stricter, and they apply for their own permissions. Rules can change at short notice, so we confirm the current position for your dates when you book.
Indian guests need no paid permit for Gurez: original photo ID is checked and registered at the checkposts on the Bandipora–Razdan–Dawar road. Foreign passport holders need written permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, arranged before travel; the District Bandipora tourist helpline page lists the District Control Room (01957-225322) for any question about foreigners' travel, and the SDM and Tehsildar contacts for Gurez and Tulail.
Going on past Dawar to Tulail or Chakwali, the Dawar registration may not cover those forward areas and a separate local check can apply. We confirm it in Dawar the evening before. The full road and permit story is on our Gurez permit and route guide and the Gurez valley trip page.
These need permission for everyone. Indian visitors can get it at Kralpora police station on the way, or apply online on the Office of the District Magistrate, Kupwara ePass portal, where Keran, Karnah and Machil are the options. You add each traveller, the vehicle number and dates, and upload ID; when we checked for our Keran guide the form asked for at least 7 days' notice. Carry several photocopies of ID and the permit, because checkpoints keep copies.
Do not plan Keran on a foreign passport without written permission in hand. Details, the road over Farkiyan Gali and where to sleep are on our Keran Valley guide. For Lolab and Bangus in the same district, see the Lolab and Bangus guide and ask us before you go.
Dachigam is not a border area, but entry is by an online permit from the J&K Department of Wildlife Protection, booked for your date before you go. Our Dachigam National Park page has the booking route and the days to avoid.
The Amarnath Yatra needs registration with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in the yatra season; a hotel booking is not a yatra permit, and you carry the ID you registered with. See our Amarnath Yatra guide.
Gulmarg Gondola seats, Sonamarg up to Thajiwas and Zero Point, and Pahalgam's Betaab and Aru are ticket, road or weather questions, not permit questions. For Sinthan Top and the Warwan Valley road the main question is whether the pass is open; ask us about any current checks before you go. Drones are a separate matter: in the Gurez border zone they are held at the checkpost, so leave yours at home.
We plan the dates, send a private car with a driver who knows the checkposts, and tell you what ID to carry. We do not apply for foreign nationals' permissions and we do not charge a permit fee. Travel Etios Kashmir is JK Tourism registered, at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar. WhatsApp us your dates and nationality before you book a border valley.
Not for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg or the usual day trips. Carry original photo ID. Border valleys such as Keran, Machil and Karnah need permission, Gurez needs ID registration at checkposts, Dachigam needs an online wildlife permit and the Amarnath Yatra needs Shrine Board registration.
Indian guests need no paid permit; carry original photo ID, which is registered at the checkposts. Foreign passport holders need written permission from the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, before travel. Tulail and Chakwali beyond Dawar can have a separate local check.
At Kralpora police station on the way, or online on the DM Kupwara ePass portal (epass.kupwara.co.in), which lists Keran, Karnah and Machil. Apply ahead with each traveller's ID and the vehicle number, and carry photocopies.
Only with written permission arranged in advance. For Gurez this is from the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora. Rules near the Line of Control are stricter for foreign nationals and can change, so do not travel without the approval in hand. We do not apply on your behalf.
No. Gulmarg Gondola needs a ticket, not a permit, and Pahalgam and Sonamarg are open to tourists with normal ID. Road and weather can still close passes, so we check the day before.
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