Indian Mountaineering Foundation Fees & Climbing Permits (2026)
What the IMF charges, and how the permit works.
Every foreign expedition to an Indian peak needs permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. Here are the official base fees by height band, the liaison-officer rules, the timelines and what has changed in 2026, with worked examples for Himachal peaks. Dated and sourced.
- US$500 up to 6,500 m
- US$700 6,501–7,000 m
- US$1,000 above 7,000 m
- 90 days apply ahead
- Climb price Get Quote
Mountains of India › Indian Mountaineering Foundation Fees & Climbing Permits
Last verified 6 Oct 2026
How much does an IMF climbing permit cost in India?
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) permits foreign expeditions to Indian peaks. Base fees for a team of two are US$500 for peaks up to 6,500 m (21,325 ft), US$700 for 6,501–7,000 m and US$1,000 above 7,000 m, plus per-member charges and US$500 liaison-officer equipment hire. Apply at least 90 days ahead. Check your peak’s height in our list of India’s highest peaks.
The IMF is India’s apex mountaineering body. It began in 1957 as the committee behind an Indian Cho Oyu expedition, was registered in 1961, has its headquarters in New Delhi and is a member of the UIAA. It regulates and authenticates climbing by foreign and Indian teams across the Indian Himalaya, so the IMF permit is the one paper every foreign expedition needs.
Fees here are the IMF’s own figures in US dollars, taken from its peak-fee page (checked 1 Oct 2026). They are information, not a quote: outfitter, guide, camp and transport costs come on top. For the bigger picture of where these peaks are, see our Indian Himalaya guide.
IMF peak fees for foreign expeditions, by height
The IMF sets its base fee by the height of the peak. The figures below are for a foreign team of two climbing members; each extra member adds a per-member charge.
| Band | Base fee, team of 2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IMF trekking peaks | US$200 | Only peaks on the IMF’s own trekking-peak list |
| Up to 6,500 m (21,325 ft) | US$500 | Most Himachal climbs, e.g. Friendship Peak, Deo Tibba, Yunam |
| 6,501–7,000 m (21,329–22,966 ft) | US$700 | e.g. Reo Purgyil, the highest peak of Himachal |
| Above 7,000 m (22,966 ft) | US$1,000 | e.g. Kamet and Nanda Devi East (Uttarakhand) |
| Liaison-officer equipment | US$500 | Every foreign expedition, plus the officer’s travel to and from New Delhi |
Source: IMF peak-fee page, checked 1 Oct 2026. Fees are set for teams of up to 12 climbing members. Per-member charges are listed differently on different IMF pages, so check the current schedule when you apply.
Trekking-peak fee: the IMF peak-fee page shows US$200 for a team of two, while the IMF’s 2018 guidelines (and older online calculators) still show US$100. We quote the current IMF page. The lower band applies only to peaks the IMF itself lists as trekking peaks; a peak called a “trekking peak” by guidebooks is not automatically on that list.
How the IMF permit works, from booking to report
- Pick the peak and its band.The height decides the fee. Peaks in the East Karakoram are open only to joint expeditions with Indian climbers.
- Apply at least 90 days ahead.Applications go through the IMF’s online expedition portal, in use since July 2017, first come, first served. Peaks can be booked up to three years ahead with a 25% advance on the handling charges.
- Sort the visa.Under the IMF’s 2018 guidelines a tourist visa covers peaks in open areas, while restricted areas need an “X” (mountaineering) visa. Always confirm with the Indian mission.
- Wait for clearance.The 2018 guidelines say permits for open-area peaks are issued within about 7 days of a complete file; peaks in restricted areas can take 2–6 months.
- Briefing in New Delhi.The team attends a pre-expedition briefing at the IMF and meets its liaison officer. Bring your insurance policy.
- Climb within the window.A permit is valid for 30–45 days, base camp to base camp, on the approved route only. Any change needs an emergency and the liaison officer’s written approval.
- Debrief and report.After the climb the team is debriefed at the IMF and files an expedition report.
Liaison officer, insurance and clean-mountain rules
Liaison officer
- Every foreign expedition takes an IMF liaison officer (LO).
- The team pays US$500 LO equipment hire per expedition.
- The team also covers the LO’s travel to and from New Delhi.
Insurance
- A copy of the policy is shown at the IMF briefing.
- It must cover ground and helicopter search and rescue and altitude-related illness.
- Support staff must also be insured, to a minimum cover the IMF sets.
Leave no trace
- All non-biodegradable waste is carried down to the road-head.
- Fixed ropes and gear are retrieved.
- The expedition report includes photo evidence. The IMF does not take a garbage deposit.
Indian teams, Uttarakhand's 2026 change and Himachal
Indian expeditions
- Teams of 2–12 members apply through the IMF.
- The leader must be over 25, hold the Advanced Mountaineering Course and have climbed above 6,400 m.
- Half the members need the Advanced course and the rest the Basic course.
- The expedition report is due within two months.
Uttarakhand, Feb 2026
- On 4 Feb 2026 Uttarakhand opened 83 peaks.
- Indian climbers no longer pay state fees there; foreign climbers pay the IMF fees only (state and forest fees abolished).
- Applications use the new state UKMPS portal, and Leave No Trace is mandatory.
Himachal Pradesh
- No separate Himachal peak fee for foreign expeditions was found.
- Climbs must go through an HP Tourism-registered outfitter with registered guides, and every participant needs life and rescue insurance.
- The Kangra trekker registration (8 Jul–15 Oct 2026) covers ten Dhauladhar routes only.
More on the state’s peaks in our Himachal Pradesh climbing guide.
What has not changed: four IMF fee myths
- “There is a new IMF portal in 2026.”No. The IMF’s online expedition portal dates from July 2017. The 2026 portal is Uttarakhand’s own UKMPS.
- “IMF fees were waived.”No. The 2026 waiver is Uttarakhand’s, and it covers Indian climbers’ state fees. IMF fees for foreign teams still apply.
- “Peak fees are discounted.”Not now. The IMF cut fees on 81 selected peaks for the 2017 season and gave 50% off for the 2020 season only. Neither offer runs today.
- “You pay a refundable garbage deposit.”Not to the IMF. Instead, waste must come down to the road-head, with photos in your report.
What the IMF charges for four example peaks
Two foreign climbers, IMF base fee plus liaison-officer equipment hire. Per-member charges, the LO’s travel and all outfitter costs are left out.
| Peak | IMF total shown | Base fee + LO equipment | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship Peak (Himachal) | US$1,000 | US$500* + US$500 | 5,289 m / 17,352 ft |
| Deo Tibba (Himachal) | US$1,000 | US$500 + US$500 | 6,001 m / 19,688 ft |
| Reo Purgyil (Himachal) | US$1,200 + protected-area permit | US$700 + US$500 | 6,816 m / 22,362 ft |
| Kamet (Uttarakhand) | US$1,500 | US$1,000 + US$500 | 7,756 m / 25,446 ft |
IMF fees as of Oct 2026 (IMF peak-fee page, checked 1 Oct 2026). * Friendship Peak is not confirmed on the IMF’s trekking-peak list, so the US$500 band is shown. Suzu’s own prices are on request: Get Quote.
Want to climb in Himachal? Yunam Peak (6,111 m) and Friendship Peak both fall in the US$500 band. We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides, and the paperwork, stays and transfers come in one plan and one quote.
Which IMF fee band is your peak in?
The chart draws six peaks at their true heights with the IMF band each falls into. Friendship Peak (5,289 m), Deo Tibba (6,001 m) and Yunam (6,111 m) sit in the US$500 band, Reo Purgyil (6,816 m) in the US$700 band, and Nanda Devi East (7,434 m) and Kamet (7,756 m) in the US$1,000 band.
For any other summit, find its height in the list of 156 Indian peaks and match it to the table above. Some famous peaks are not open at all: Stok Kangri has been closed since 2020.
IMF permit and fees: questions climbers ask
How much is the IMF peak fee for foreigners?
For a team of two: US$500 for peaks up to 6,500 m, US$700 for 6,501–7,000 m and US$1,000 above 7,000 m, or US$200 for peaks on the IMF’s trekking-peak list. Per-member charges and US$500 liaison-officer equipment hire come on top (IMF peak-fee page, as of Oct 2026).
How early must I apply for an IMF permit?
At least 90 days before the climb. Applications are first come, first served, and peaks can be booked up to three years ahead with a 25% advance on the handling charges.
Is a liaison officer compulsory?
Yes. Every foreign expedition takes an IMF liaison officer; the team pays US$500 equipment hire and the officer’s travel to and from New Delhi.
How long is an IMF permit valid?
30–45 days, base camp to base camp, on the approved route only. Route changes are allowed only in an emergency, with the liaison officer’s written approval.
Do I need a mountaineering visa to climb in India?
Under the IMF’s 2018 guidelines a tourist visa covers peaks in open areas, while restricted areas need an X (mountaineering) visa. Confirm with the Indian mission before you apply.
Do Indian climbers pay IMF fees?
Indian teams apply through the IMF under course and experience rules. In Uttarakhand, Indian climbers’ state fees have been waived since February 2026.
Does Himachal Pradesh charge its own peak fee?
No separate Himachal peak fee for foreign expeditions was found. Climbs must go through an HP Tourism-registered outfitter with registered guides, and every participant needs life and rescue insurance.
Is there a garbage deposit for Indian peaks?
The IMF does not take a garbage deposit. Instead, all non-biodegradable waste must be carried down to the road-head, with photo evidence in the expedition report.
Plan a guided Himachal climb with Suzu
Pick your peak and dates. We pair you with a registered Himachal outfitter and certified guides, help with the IMF paperwork for foreign teams, and add hotels and transfers: one plan, one quote.
Keep exploring
Sources
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation — peak fees for foreign expeditions (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation — expedition application rules
- IMF guidelines for foreign expeditions, 4 Apr 2018 (Embassy of India, Berlin)
- Wikipedia — Indian Mountaineering Foundation
- The NewsMill (Feb 2026) — Uttarakhand opens 83 Himalayan peaks
- ETV Bharat (Feb 2026) — Uttarakhand waives fees for Indian climbers
- HP Miscellaneous Adventure Activities (Amendment) Rules 2021
- Alpinist (Jan 2017) — IMF lowers 2017 permit fees (history)
