22nd December, 2023

To, All Members,

Dear Friends,

Sub: Regarding Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Taiwanese Nationals visiting Sikkim entering through Rango Check Post.

We were given to understand by some of our members that Taiwanese Nationals visiting Sikkim were facing problems to enter as Sikkim Permit which was being issued by INDIA-TAIPEI ASSOCIATION, Taipei is not being accepted by the FRO at Rango Checkpost.   

It was informed to us that recently, whenever any client wanted to enter Sikkim from RANGPO FRO outpost, Officials at FRO were not accepting this SIKKIM PERMIT saying that this permit was not issued by the Indian Embassy and INDIA-TAIPEI ASSOCIATION is just an association. As per the FRO in Rangpo (Sikkim Border), they have instructions not to allow anyone with Republic of China or Peoples Republic of China passports to enter Sikkim unless they have a clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of External Affairs.

Matter was taken up with the Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, Govt. of India wherein we specifically mentioned that Sikkim Permit is being issued by India-Taipei Association who are also the Visa Issuing Authorities for many years and there has never been any such problem in the past and this permit was being accepted by RANGPO FRO post.

We requested Joint Secretary (F) - MHA and Commissioner – BOI to look into this matter and suitable directives may be issued to the officials at Rangpo outpost accept the Inner Line Permit issued by the India-Taipei Association to avoid any inconvenience to the tourists from Taiwan while entering Sikkim.    

You will be glad to know that our request has been favourably considered and Inner Line Permit being issued by the India-Taipei Association are being accepted at Rangpo Check-post and tourists from Taiwan are being allowed to enter Sikkim.

Above is for your information.

Thanks and regards

Rajiv Mehra
President