Bhutan Visa Requirement

The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan Visa

All visitors to Bhutan Except for Indian nationality require a visa to travel to Bhutan. The Visa must be approved prior to your travel to Bhutan.

Tourists can apply for a Bhutan visa by themselves or through a licensed Bhutanese Tour Operator. The visa will be issued by the Department of Immigration.

Bhutan visa fee: USD 40 per person and it’s Non-refundable.

For the Bhutan visa process, you have to provide us:

A digital copy of your valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of travel.
A photo of a recent passport-size photo.
Valid travel insurance for the duration of your travel.

Once the visa application gets cleared, the Visa clearance Letter will be emailed to you based on which the actual Bhutan visa will be stamped on your passport upon arrival in Bhutan.

The Department of Tourism is responsible for all regulations and monitoring of all travel agents in Bhutan. Only upon receiving the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) and visa fee, the VISA is approved.

Bhutan Travel Permit

Tourists from India will need a travel permit to visit Bhutan. Indian tourists can apply for travel permits by themselves or through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Tourists are required to hold an Indian passport or Indian Voter ID card. The travel permit will be issued by the Department of Immigration.

Indian tourists under the age of 18 may either enter with a birth certificate or passport and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

For the Bhutan travel permit you have to provide us:

A digital copy of your valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of travel OR an Indian Voter ID Card, or birth certificate for people under 8 years of age.
A photo of a recent passport-size photo.
Valid travel insurance for the duration of your travel.

Sustainable Development Fee

The Royal Government of Bhutan sets a Tourism levy known as the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 200 per person per night for all tourists. And the SDF must be paid in USD.

From 1st September 2023, a 50% discount is granted on the SDF of USD 200 per night by the Royal Government until 31st August 2027. The effective SDF with the 50% discount shall be USD 100 per person per night.

For tourists from India, the SDF is Ngultrum 1200 equivalent to Indian rupees.

Children aged 6 – 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on the SDF. Children aged 5 or younger are Exempt from paying SDF. Children above the age of 12 have to pay the full SDF.

Tourists of all nationalities are Exempt from paying the SDF for visits up to 24 hrs. in the border towns of Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar as long as they do not proceed beyond the authorized zone.

SDF will be refunded for any cancelled or shortened trips

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for Bhutan tours. All tourists must have valid travel insurance for the duration of the trip.

Note:

It may take up to 5 working days to process a visa or a travel permit.
Tourists with Visa or Travel permits shall be allowed to visit any area, except the areas that fall within restricted areas.
Tourists shall be allowed to visit restricted areas identified as trekking routes by the Department of tourism, with approval from the Royal Bhutan Army if accompanied by a trekking guide.
Only Department of Tourism registered tour operators can organize trekking tours to Bhutan.

From the founder

I did not truly discover the beauty of my country until I explored its wonders as a tour guide with my guests. The more I travelled, the more I came to love the land that I call home. In my years of experience as a tour guide I have explored almost every corner of Bhutan. Through my interactions with the natives and the visitors, I have developed a deeper understanding of the needs of travellers who visit Bhutan.

My knowledge, experiences, skills and genuine interest in the field are my motivations to set up Bhutan Holiday Planner whose guiding principles are to provide our guests the authentic taste and experiences of Bhutan with its unique culture and breathtaking landscapes.

We look forward to knowing you and serving you with the best of services and experiences.

Best Wishes,
Dorji Penjor (Founder)