Permits, getting here, and what to bring

Everyone needs one. Every visitor who is not a native of the islands needs an entry permit, Indian nationals included.

Book with us and our team applies for your permit once your deposit is paid. Travelling on your own? Apply at lak.e-permit.utl.gov.in under the Tourist category, and our team in Kavaratti can help you with the form.

Visiting from abroad? Foreign nationals are welcome on Kavaratti. Bring your passport and an Indian tourist visa; our team applies for your Lakshadweep entry permit once you book.

Cost. The government fees are ₹200 a day per adult, ₹100 a day for ages 12 to 18, free under 12, plus ₹50 per person applying.

They sit outside our diving prices and are not charged online: our team arranges your permit after you book and tells you the fee then. Once paid, the fees are non-refundable.

No sponsor, no police clearance. For a Tourist category permit, a local sponsor is no longer required, and a Police Clearance Certificate no longer has to be uploaded.

Apply under the Tourist category, as the portal advises for a holiday. If the form asks you for either, tell us what it says.

Book 16 days ahead. You can book online for any date at least 16 days away, which gives our team time to arrange your permit. Tell us every island your journey touches, including any you only pass through, and we put them all on your permit.

The permit portal takes travel dates from 15 days ahead; we keep one more day spare.

Fly to Agatti. Agatti has the only airport in Lakshadweep. Flights run from Kochi, Bengaluru and Goa, and you continue from Agatti to Kavaratti by boat or helicopter.

Baggage: The ATR aircraft on these routes allow 15 kg of checked baggage per passenger.

We have full rental kit on Kavaratti, so bring just your mask and computer and leave the tanks and weights to us.

Excess baggage: Every airline flying to Agatti lets you buy excess baggage, and Fly91 is the cheapest.

Ships from Kochi sell out quickly, so we recommend flying to Agatti.

Ship tickets If you would rather sail from Kochi, ship tickets are sold at lakshadweep.irctc.co.in once you have your permit number. Booking opens 30 days before sailing and closes 7 days before.

Your permit comes first, then the ship ticket. Tickets are in your own name.

Agatti to Kavaratti is by boat or helicopter. We help you book the crossing once your flight is fixed.

Within 24 hours of arriving, show your permit and photo ID to the island Registration Officer.

Our team takes you there on the day you land.

Flying home: We build the wait into every itinerary, so your last diving day is never your travel day. Wait 12 hours after a single dive, and 18 to 24 hours after more than one dive or several days of diving, before you fly.