India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Regulatory Changes For Visiting Yachts

More Accessible

Recent regulatory changes have made the Andaman and Nicobar Islands a much more welcoming and accessible destination for yachts, reports Mr. R Rathnam of Andaman Holidays, Port Blair.

Foreign visitors no longer require a Restricted Area Permit and may stay according to their visa validity, allowing smoother entry and longer yacht stays;
The visa process is now online, with one-month, one-year, and five-year visas typically approved within 3–5 days;
Scuba diving and sport fishing from vessels are now permitted, and;
Same-day clearance is available.

White sand beaches in the Andaman Islands. Image (c) Asia Pacific Super Yachts.

At a meeting held in December 2025 at the Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket, Thailand, Mr Rathnam shared important and positive changes in regulations along with news of the Andaman Islands transforming to a high-end tourism destination.

Mr Rathnam announced and explained new and significant changes to yachting regulations, noting these changes are already proving to have a huge impact in creating new interest and bringing in yachting visitors.

“Those attending were surprised to learn the 30 days restriction has been removed”, said Mr Rathnam, adding, “The visa process is hugely simplified and now can be done on-line. The process no longer requires an in-person / home country visa application.”

These are an outline of the regulation changes:

Restricted Area Permit

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a restricted area. In earlier days when a foreigner wanted to visit the Andaman Islands, they would be issued a permit called a Restricted Area Permit. This permit would be issued for a maximum of 30 days, extended by 15 days for emergency purposes.

With the new regulations, foreigners can visit the islands for tourism purposes without the requirement of Restricted Area Permit and visitors are allowed to stay as per the validity of the visa. The new regulations makes the entry smoother and allows yachts to stay for a longer duration.

However, Mr Rathnam advised that the maximum stay for a 30 days visa holder is 29 days with holders having to depart on day 30 of their visa. The visa holders of a 1 year and a 5 year visa can stay up to a maximum of 180 days in a calendar year.

Visa applications

In the past, applications for a Visa had to be made by visiting an Indian Embassy. Each applicant had to go to the embassy and apply in person; in most cases the applicant had to apply for the Visa at the Indian Embassy in their home country. This regulation made getting a Visa a timely and challenging process.

Now the entire Visa process is online and the person can apply for a Visa for a period of one month, one year and five years – with Visa approval emailed to the applicant in 3-5 days. To find out about eligibility and FAQs, please visit the website indianvisaonline.gov.in

Activities onboard

In earlier days it was confusing whether activities like scuba diving and game fishing would be allowed from the yacht. Now it is clearly explained – scuba diving and sports fishing are allowed.

Clearances

Before the new changes in regulations there was no timeline available for completion of the inward clearances. Now it is clearly spelled out that if you arrive in the morning, you will be cleared on the same day in the evening.

Port Blair is still the only entry and exit port. So it is mandatory for yachts to arrive and depart at Port Blair.

It is also still advisable for yachts to report their position once per day – but this can be done by VHF/E-Mail/WhatsApp/SMS, depending on whatever is easiest for the skipper. It is also advisable to maintain a Logbook of your voyage in the islands and a screenshot of your track after clearing into Port Blair until your return to Port Blair to clear out (mandatory).

Communications

Starlink is in the process of obtaining a license to operate in India. At the moment as soon as yachts enter Indian waters, Starlink loses its signal. Satellite phones from Iridium and Thuraya are banned in India. They are allowed in to the country, but have to be kept under Customs seal onboard the yacht. All other satellite communications are allowed.

Fuel availability

Before the new changes in regulations, fuel availability was a problem, with mostly HSD available. Now there is LSLFHSD in the Andaman Islands. Asia Pacific Superyachts agency has checked the fuel specifications from several visiting yachts and found the yachts were satisfied with the quality of the fuel.

Andaman Adventures

This remote island group offers some of the region’s most peaceful cruising, from pristine reefs to primeval rainforest and Barren Island volcano, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia, estimated to be 1.8 million years old – says Mr Rathnam.

The principal attraction lies in the beaches, exploring and diving / snorkeling in the pristine reefs that ring most of the islands. Through the Diligent Strait, Peel Island and Henry Lawrence Island offer secluded anchorages for snorkeling and interesting coastal outcrops to explore. Island cruising is now possible with many islands only accessible by boat, including the islands of Inglis, Sister, Passage, Brother, Barren, Narcondum, Little Andaman, Interview, Neil, Cinque, Henry, Lawrence, and Button.

Thanks to Mr Rathnam of Andaman Holidays, Port Blair, Andaman Islands (a division of Asia Pacific Superyachts, Andaman Islands) for providing this update to Noonsite.

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