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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, all visitors need a visa to enter Bhutan, except for visitors from India, who require a permit.Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives, as well as nationals of Switzerland and Thailand who hold diplomatic or government-official passports, are also eligible for a visa on arrival at their port of entry.Visitors from India will need a permit to enter Bhutan and are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. Indian nationals under the age of 18 may enter with a birth certificate or passport and must be accompanied by a legal guardian. Indian nationals are eligible for permit on arrival, but it is recommended that a permit is obtained in advance, to reduce the processing time at the port of entry.

Foreigners can stay in Bhutan as a tourist for a maximum of 90 days.

Visitors can apply for their visa or permit through this website, or they can engage tourism service providers to process their visa or permit.Although visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives can process their visas on arrival at their port of entry and visitors from India can process their permits on arrival, it is recommended that these be applied for online instead to reduce the wait time at the port of entry.

  • A digital copy of your passport.
  • The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan. 
  • A recent digital passport size photograph.

Valid travel insurance for the duration of the trip.


A digital copy of your passport or voter ID card.

  • Those under the age of 18 can use a birth certificate or passport and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
  • A recent digital passport size photograph.
  • Valid travel insurance for the duration of the trip.

The visa fee is US$40 per person; this fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

It may take up to five working days to process a correctly input visa application.

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is a daily levy paid by visitors to support Bhutan’s development. Since the Kingdom first opened its doors in 1974, guests have played a critical role in our country’s growth.

The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that create long-term, sustainable opportunities for the Bhutanese people, through free healthcare, education, and training, upskilling the tourism and hospitality industry, improved infrastructure, environmental preservation and conservation, cultural preservation programmes and initiatives that support local businesses and economies. The SDF is also a vital means of maintaining the exceptional forest cover and carbon-neutrality for which our small nation is world-renowned and globally critical. The SDF also helps us to ensure that we can continue to offer guests tranquillity and an intimate experience.

For all visitors except those from India, the SDF is USD 200 per person, per night. For guests from India (who have an Indian passport or Indian voter ID card), the SDF is 1,200 ngultrums, or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees, per person, per night.

Children who have not yet turned six are exempt from paying any SDF. Children aged between 6 and who have not yet turned 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on their SDF. Children aged 12 and above pay the full SDF rate.

Effective 01 September 2023, a 50% discount on the SDF has been announced for US Dollar paying tourists. Under this incentive, the SDF is USD 100 per person per night. This is a time limited incentive valid until 31 August 2027.

Day visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India are also exempt from paying the SDF until they reach a point designated by the Bhutanese government.

The SDF must be paid during the visa or permit application via wire transfer or using a credit card.

Yes, the SDF will be refunded for any cancelled trip; any bank charges will be deducted from the total refunded. Requests for SDF refunds should be submitted to the Department of Immigration.