The creation of the new district was approved by the state cabinet on 7 August 2009, under the chairmanship of the then chief minister Dorjee Khandu.

[2] The state government constituted a high-power committee on 23 June 2010, for finalizing the district boundary.

According to the report submitted by high power committee on 11 August 2011, the Longding District was created on 26 September 2011 bypassing The Arunachal Pradesh Bill 2011 by voice-vote.

The district was formally inaugurated on 19 March 2012 by chief minister Nabam Tuki.

The district consists of six subdivisions or circles: Longding, Kanubari, Pongchau, Wakka, Pumao and Lawnu.