FAQ

Do you have any other questions?

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Bhutan. Contact us if you would like to receive further information.

1. Yes, all visitors will need a visa to visit Bhutan, except for visitors from India, who will require a permit.
2. Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry.
3. Nationals of Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic and official passports shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry.
4. Visitors from India will need a permit to visit Bhutan. This applies to anyone holding an Indian passport, or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals aged under 18 years, a passport or a birth certificate will suffice, and they must be accompanied by legal guardians

1. Visitors can process a visa or permit online from the website of the Department of Immigration. Visitors can also engage tourism service providers (see www.bhutan.travel for more details) to process the travel documents and plan a trip. The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) will also offer customer service to help answer questions regarding visa applications and to answer questions about travel within the country.
2. Although visitors from Bangladesh and Maldives can process visas on arrival and visitors from India can process permits on arrival at the port of entry, it is recommended that these be applied online to reduce wait time and for faster clearance at the port of entry.

1. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are permitted entry without quarantine. No PCR test is required for entry, however incoming travelers might be randomly selected for monitoring PCR test.
2. Travel health insurance covering medical expenses, repatriation, and accidental permanent injury is required
3. A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom;
4. A recent passport size photograph.

The visa fee is USD 40 per person and it is non-refundable. While the process to issue the visa is usually quick, the visa can take up to five working days to process.

1. Visitors from India can use a passport or voter ID card. Children under 18 years of age can use a birth certificate or passport, and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
2. Passport size photograph is also required.
3. Travel insurance is required and should be valid for the whole duration of the trip.

There is also an option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers at the port of entry during arrivals. There are also tourism information officers stationed at all ports of entry who can assist travellers. Click here to get details on the insurance from Bhutan Insurance Limited

Surcharge Tourist visa/permit after the 20th June 2022 tourism reform

From our reopening on September 23, visitors to Bhutan will make an active contribution to Bhutan’s economic, social and cultural development. The Sustainable Development Fee enables investment in transformative programmes that preserve our cultural traditions, protect our heritage and environment, upgrade infrastructure, create opportunities for our young people, and build resilience. For more on the SDF, visiting Bhutan and our plans, visit www.bhutan.travel.

1. Guests from India are levied SDF of Nu. 1,200 or equivalent amount in INR per person per night, which will remain in effect for two years, following which time it may be reviewed and revised in keeping with the principle of the preferential rate after two years.
2. Visitors from all other countries are levied SDF of USD 200 per person, per night.
3. There will be a concessionary levy of 50% on the SDF for children between the ages of 6-12 years and exemptions of SDF for children aged 5 years and below.
4. The SDF funds go to the national exchequer and are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for nationals and guests who visit Bhutan, as well as funding free healthcare and education.

The SDF will be waived for visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India, until the first designated point identified by the Government. The SDF will be levied on visitors spending the night within border towns.

All payments can be made directly to the business accounts of the service providers as per the policy of the service provider.

The visa or permit will be issued for a maximum of 90 days.

The visa or permit extension can be processed by the Department of Immigration before the expiry of the visa or permit, whichever is applicable. The applicable SDF and visa or permit extension fees shall be paid to the Department of Immigration.  

While the process is usually quite quick for visa or permit extensions, it can take up to five working days.

Yes, the SDF will be refunded for cancelled or shortened trips and any bank charges will be deducted from the amount that is refunded. A refund request of the SDF shall be submitted online using the immigration system. The refund will be processed only after the exit of the visitors from the Kingdom.

1. Visitors can travel to Bhutan by taking flights from Bangladesh (Dhaka), India (Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra), Nepal (Kathmandu), Singapore (Changi) and Thailand (Bangkok).
2. For now, there are two airlines that fly into Bhutan – namely, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.
3. Private jets can fly into Bhutan after getting the relevant approvals from the competent authorities.
4. All visitors can also enter via land from Phuentsholing. Indian guests can enter Bhutan via other land entry points (Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse).

The official currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum (Nu.) and only the local currency is accepted in the country.

International credit cards are widely used in the urban areas in Bhutan. However, this service may not be available in other parts of the country.
Visitors can also use the digital wallet app called goBoB that can be operated with a local sim card and is also widely accepted throughout the country.
Visitors are recommended to inform their card issuer banks about their trip to Bhutan, in order to avoid card usage restrictions by the issuing bank.

There is a currency exchange facility at the airport, and currency can also be exchanged at the banks, hotels and at the authorised money changers in the city areas.

There are no restrictions on dress code in general. However, respectable dress code covering your knees and shoulders (smart casual) is recommended while visiting temples and religious places.

Visitors can bring cash equivalent up to USD 10,000.

For a detailed list of prohibited, restricted or declarable items, please visit the website of the Ministry of Finance (https://www.mof.gov.bt).

Bhutan is a year-round destination.
Spring is a botanist’s delight with nature in full bloom and wild flowers covering the meadows like a carpet. It’s a remarkable time of the year to explore nature.
Summer is green, fresh and revitalising. The low hanging clouds draped over the head, hazy mist covering the green carpeted valleys, the place stems right out of the mystery. Most of the farming activities also take place in summer.
Autumn is a merry season of feast and festivals. As farmers reap the fruits of their work, the streets are covered with healthy harvests of the year.
Winter is crisp and clear. You can get the glimpse of the high snow glistening in the Himalayan mountains and view the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

Yes, Bhutan is a very safe destination for visitors and crime is uncommon. However, petty crime sometimes happens and visitors should take care of themselves and their belongings.
Flooding and landslides can happen. In the monsoon season from June to September, transport and services can be affected. Check with your hotel or tour operator for possible disruptions.

The hotline number for general enquiries about tourism is +975 17122257 or 2300 if within Bhutan
Medical emergency – 112
Police – 113
Disaster Communication helpline – 999

Yes, there are visitor information centres at the arrival area just before immigration check at the airport and in all entry points.