Travel Requirements for Bhutan

Applying for a visa or permit to visit Bhutan is simple and straightforward. The information below is drawn from Bhutan's Department of Tourism; for full details and to apply, use the official links at the bottom of this page.

Visa

All visitors require a visa before travelling to Bhutan, except nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives (whose process is set out below).

Fees

Sustainable Development Fee (SDF):

US$100 per person, per night — children aged 6–12 pay 50% (US$50 per night); children under 6 are exempt.

Visa application fee:

S$40 per person — a one-off, non-refundable fee.

How to apply

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Apply online at immi.gov.bt, or — if you're travelling with a tour operator or staying at a hotel — they can apply on your behalf. You can apply for everyone in your party, provided you have each traveller's details.

To apply you'll need:

a digital copy of a valid passport;
a recent digital passport photo;
your arrival and departure dates;
and payment details (please tell your bank you'll be making an international transfer to Bhutan, to avoid delays).

Steps:

Sign the Pledge of Friendship;
Create an account;
Add your travel information;
Pay the visa fee and SDF for your stay.
You can save and return to your application at any time.
Applications are reviewed within five working days.

Visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives

Indian nationals require a permit rather than a visa and do not pay the US$40 visa fee. Nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives pay a Sustainable Development Fee of Nu. 1,200 (INR 1,200) per person, per night (same child concessions), payable when applying. The permit can be applied for before travelling or on arrival (a passport-size photo is needed if applying on arrival). Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives require a visa via the same online process.

Official information and applications