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Bhutan Visa Policy

(Updated 1st June 2023)
On the 24th of June 2022, the National assembly passed the Tourism Levy Bill of 2022. With this new act, the sustainable development fee (SDF) of 65 USD per night has now been increased to 200 USD per night. Along with the increase in the SDF the minimum daily package rate (MDPR) has been removed as well.

Tourism Policy til 2022
Previously visitors to Bhutan were subject to an MDPR of 250 USD per person per night, out of which 65 USD went to the government as the SDF. With the new bill being passed, tourists visiting Bhutan will have to pay 200 USD per person per night and they will also have to pay separately for accommodation, meals, transport, and guides. This act is the latest tourism bill that has been passed after the Tourism Levy Bill of 2020, as per the Tourism Levy Act of Bhutan 2020. Get in touch with our Bhutan Travel specialist at hello@drukasia.com to book a trip with Druk Asia.

Long Stay Incentives (til Dec 2024)
To allow travellers to have a deeper connection with Bhutan and better understand her culture, the government of Bhutan decided to roll out a long stay incentive. Visitors staying more than 4 nights will get tier discount on their SDF waiver.

– 4 + 4: Pay the SDF of USD 200 per night, per person, for four nights, and receive up to four additional nights without the daily levy.
– 7 + 7: Pay the SDF of USD 200 per night, per person, for seven nights, and receive up to seven additional nights without the daily levy.
– 12 + 18: Pay the SDF USD 200 per night per person, for twelve nights, and receive up to eighteen nights without the daily levy.

This long stay incentives will only be valid til 31st Dec 2024

Plant a tree in Bhutan
Visitors will have an opportunity to meaningfully contribute to Bhutan’s progress and offset their carbon footprint. Each visitor to Bhutan will be offered a sapling to plant towards Bhutan’s goal of one million new trees, and maintain the kingdom’s carbon-negative status and exceptional forest cover.

Tree saplings will be provided to guests who wish to plant them during their stay in Bhutan, before being maintained by Bhutan’s De-suung national service project.

*After the SDF incentive ends on 31st Dec 2024, the standard SDF will apply.
**These temporary offers may be retracted or extended at any time.

Bhutan Visa Requirements

  1. All Visitors will need a visa to enter 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. Visitors can process a visa or permit online from the website of the Department of Immigration. Visitors can also engage tourism service providers (such as Druk Asia) to process travel documents and plan a trip.

  4. A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom.

  5. Travel Insurance is valid for the duration of the trip.

  6. A recent passport-size photograph.

Children below the age of 5 years are exempted from the SDF. However, the visa application fee of USD 40 is still applicable. For Children between 5 years and below 12 years old, they are required to pay USD 100 per person per night as the SDF. *SDF does not include accommodation, meals, transport and guides.



Age SDF Permit (Indian Passports only)
0- 5 years old Gratis 1200 INR / night
5 – 12 years old $100 USD/night
Adult above 12 years old $200 USD / night


Nights SDF Discount You Pay
4/4 nights 4 $800.00 $- $800.00
5 $1,000.00 $200.00 $800.00
6 $1,200.00 $400.00 $800.00
7 $1,400.00 $600.00 $800.00
8 $1,600.00 $800.00 $800.00
9 $1,800.00 $800.00 $1,000.00
10 $2,000.00 $800.00 $1,200.00
4/4 and 7/7 11 $2,200.00 $800.00 $1,400.00
7/7 nights 12 $2,400.00 $1,000.00 $1,400.00
13 $2,600.00 $1,000.00 $1,600.00
14 $2,800.00 $1,400.00 $1,400.00
15 $3,000.00 $1,400.00 $1,600.00
16 $3,200.00 $1,400.00 $1,800.00
17 $3,400.00 $1,400.00 $2,000.00
18 $3,600.00 $1,400.00 $2,200.00
7/7 and 12/18 19 $3,800.00 $1,400.00 $2,400.00
12/18 nights 20 $4,000.00 $1,600.00 $2,400.00
21 $4,200.00 $1,800.00 $2,400.00
22 $4,400.00 $2,000.00 $2,400.00
23 $4,600.00 $2,000.00 $2,600.00
24 $4,800.00 $2,400.00 $2,400.00
25 $5,000.00 $2,600.00 $2,400.00
26 $5,200.00 $2,800.00 $2,400.00
27 $5,400.00 $3,000.00 $2,400.00
28 $5,600.00 $3,200.00 $2,400.00
29 $5,800.00 $3,400.00 $2,400.00
30 $6,000.00 $3,600.00 $2,400.00
*SDF table for adult

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FAQ

How and where do I apply for Visa?

Your Visa to Bhutan can be processed online from the website of the Department of Immigration. Or it can be processed by an authorized and registered travel agent such as us.

My Bhutan travel visa is issued on my old passport which was close to expiring. Will there be any problems when I reach the immigration in Bhutan?

If your Bhutan travel visa is issued on your old passport, you will have to bring along your old passport with you to Bhutan. The Department of Immigration will need to verify your details on your old passport too. A fine of up to 10,000 Nu will be imposed if traveller fail to present both the traveller's old and new passport. Alternatively, please inform your Bhutan travel agent to update your visa if there's still a week to go before your trip.

How much is the visa fee and how long does it take to issue?

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.

I can't find embassy of Bhutan in my country. How do I apply for the Visa?

Your Visa will be applied by your tour operator. You would not need to make an appointment with Bhutan embassy. Embassy of Bhutan does not provide tourist Visa services.

I travel frequently and I can't send my passport for Visa application. How can I get the Visa?

We don't need your physical passport to apply for tourist Visa. We simply need a color scanned copy of your passport to make the Visa application

When is the best time to travel to Bhutan?

You can travel to Bhutan all year round, but the best months are March to May and September to November. For more information please visit Best Time To Visit Bhutan

What is the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)?

From the country’s 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.

How much is the SDF and where do the funds go?

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. Visitors from all other countries are levied SDF of USD 200 per person, per night. 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. 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.

How can the SDF payment be made?

The SDF must be paid during the visa or permit application via wire transfer or using a credit card. The SDF must be paid in USD; however, Indians can also pay in INR. A guest who is eligible for a visa on arrival, should also pay the applicable SDF in USD at the port of entry.

Will day visitors be levied SDF?

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.

Can guest combing the SDF Incentives with the 24-hour border -town SDF Waiver

No. This incentive is not combinable with the SDF waiver for border towns.

Can the various SDF incentives be combined or repeated?

The different SDF incentives cannot be combined; however, they can be repeated. For instance, for a long-stay guest cannot select a 4+4 and a 7+7 option in the same trip. However, they can select the 4+4 option twice for stays of 16 nights.

Reference Further Readings

Embassies, Consulates and Missions

Bhutan embassies and consulates do not process tourists visa for visitors. Tourists visas are processed by travel agents on behalf of them in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Bangkok
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
375/1 Soi Ratchadanivej, Pracha – Uthit Road,
Samsen nod, Huay Kwang,
Bangkok 10320.
Phone : 66-2-2744740 / 41 / 42
Fax : 66-2-2744743
Brussels
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
Avenue Jules César 70
1150 Bruxelles
Belgium
Phone : 00 32 2 761 95 70
Fax : 00 32 2 761 95 77
Dhaka
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
House No. 12, Road No. 107,
Gulshan-2,
Dhaka 1212.
Phone : 880-2-8826863 / 8827160
Fax : 880-2-8823939
Geneva
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the UN,
17-19 Chemin du Champ d’Anier, 1209
Geneva
Phone : 41-22-7990890
Fax : 41-22-7990899
Geneva
Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Kuwait
P.O.Box 1510, Safat 13016
South Surra, Al Salaam, Block 3, Street 308, House 3
Telephone : (+965) 25213601/25213602
Fax : (+965) 25213603
Email : admin@rbekuwait.bt
New Delhi
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
Chandragupta Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110021.
Phone : 91-11-26889230 / 9809 / 9807
Fax : 91-11-26876710 / 24674664 / 24102231
New York
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the UN,
763 United Nations (1st Avenue),
New York, N.Y. 10017.
Phone : 212-6822268 / 6822312 / 6822371 / 6822752
Fax : 212-6610551
Kolkata
Royal Bhutan Consulate,
Bhutan House,No 6/1,
Mall Road, Dum Dum,
Kolkata,
West Bengal – 700 080,
India.
Phone : +91 33 2559 3676
Fax : +91 33 2560 0755