Bhutan

Bhutan visa guide

9 visa types
checked 24 October 2026

How visas for Bhutan work

Entry to Bhutan is controlled by the Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Thimphu. Every foreigner except Indian nationals needs a visa, and Bhutanese embassies abroad do not issue visas themselves: applications go to the Department, almost always through the online portal immi.gov.bt. Indian nationals receive an entry permit instead, while nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives may obtain their visa on arrival.

Tourists apply for an e-visa online, either themselves or through a licensed tour operator or hotel, and pay a one-off visa fee of USD 40 together with the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for every night of the trip. The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night, USD 50 for children aged 6 to 11 and nothing for children under 6. Tourists may stay up to 90 days and must be accompanied by a guide certified by the Department of Tourism.

Everyone who is not a tourist falls into one of the non-tourist categories set out in the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 and the Department's list of non-tourist categories. Each category needs a recommending Bhutanese agency, for example the Department of Labour for foreign workers, an approved institute for students, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment for business guests and investors, or a Bhutanese citizen for personal guests. Non-tourist visa fees start at Nu. 5,000 and rise with the length of stay.

Since 26 February 2026 Bhutan runs a stamp-less visa regime: extensions, re-entry endorsements and transfers of a visa to a new passport are handled online, and approvals are digital. Foreigners admitted as non-immigrants cannot apply for permanent residence or citizenship; only foreign spouses of Bhutanese citizens follow an immigrant route through the Immigration Card.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, trekking or a cultural trip: tourist e-visa through immi.gov.bt with the USD 40 fee and the SDF for each night.

Bangladeshi or Maldivian passport: visa on arrival at the port of entry, or the same online application in advance.

Meetings with a Bhutanese company or exploring an investment: business guest visa with approval from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment; an approved FDI promoter receives an Investor Permit.

A job offer in Bhutan: the employer first obtains Department of Labour approval, then the employment visa and work permit are processed.

Enrolment at a recognised school, college or monastic institution: student visa applied for by the institute at least 15 working days before arrival.

Visiting a Bhutanese friend or relative without the tourist regime: personal guest visa requested by the host, at most two guests a year for up to 30 days.

Married to a Bhutanese citizen: Immigration Card; spouse and children of a professional foreign worker or investor: dependent permit.

Visa types for Bhutan

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Tourist e-visa with Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
All tourists except Indian nationals need a Bhutan visa approved before travel (Bangladeshi and Maldivian visitors may also get it on arrival).
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days from the date of entry
Family and friends visit visa Personal guest visa (guest of a Bhutanese citizen)
A Bhutanese citizen who has lived in Bhutan for at least a year may invite up to two personal guests a year for the actual visit or 30 days, whichever is less.
Maximum stay: Actual duration of the visit or 30 days, whichever is less

Business and self-employment

Business visa Business visa and official guest of a corporation or business entity
Business visitors to Bhutan are not tourists: they come as official guests of a corporation or business entity, approved by the Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE).
Maximum stay: Actual duration of the visit or 30 days, whichever is less
Investor visa Investor Permit for promoters and investors of FDI companies
Foreigners cleared as promoters or investors of an approved foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bhutan receive an Investor Permit from the Department of Immigration.
Maximum stay: As permitted under section 43(e) of the Immigration Act for cleared investors

Study and training

Student visa Student visa and student permit
International students in Bhutan are sponsored by their Bhutanese institute, which applies to the Department of Immigration at least 15 working days before the student arrives under the Visa/Entry Permit Guideline for International Students, in force since 1 May 2026.
Maximum stay: Length of the course or five years, whichever is less

Work

Work visa Employment visa and work permit
Foreigners can work in Bhutan only when a Bhutanese employer has obtained recruitment approval from the Department of Labour before they arrive.
Maximum stay: Up to one year per employment visa, renewable with the work permit

Family

Spouse and partner visa Immigration Card for foreign spouses of Bhutanese citizens
A foreigner married to a Bhutanese citizen (after 10 June 1985), and the children of such a marriage, are treated as immigrants once the Department of Immigration issues them an Immigration Card.
Maximum stay: As long as the Immigration Card is valid and renewed
Family reunification visa Dependent visa and dependent permit
Bhutan lets only certain foreigners bring their family: professional-category work permit holders whose work lasts at least three months, promoters and investors of an established FDI, staff of resident missions and international organisations, and a few other groups.
Maximum stay: Same tenure as the principal permit holder

Online travel permits

Visa on arrival Visa on arrival (Bangladesh, Maldives; Thai and Swiss diplomatic and official passports)
Bhutan grants visas on arrival only under bilateral agreements: to nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives holding valid passports, and to Thai and Swiss nationals with diplomatic or official passports.
Maximum stay: Tourists up to 90 days; other purposes as approved

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Bhutan visa at a Bhutanese embassy?

No. Bhutanese visas are issued only by the Department of Immigration in Bhutan. Tourists apply online at immi.gov.bt or through a licensed tour operator or hotel; non-tourists are sponsored by a Bhutanese agency or host.

How much does a tourist trip to Bhutan cost in official fees?

The visa fee is USD 40 once, plus the Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per adult per night (USD 50 for children aged 6 to 11, none under 6). Both are paid online when the visa application is submitted.

How long can I stay in Bhutan on a tourist visa?

Up to 90 days from the date of entry. The visa is issued for the dates of your planned trip, and extensions must be requested online before the visa expires, paying the extension fee and the SDF for the extra nights.

Do I need a guide and a tour operator?

A guide certified by the Department of Tourism is mandatory at all times, including beyond the border towns for land arrivals. A tour operator is no longer required since 23 September 2022; you can book flights, hotels and the guide yourself.

Where can I enter Bhutan?

The designated ports of entry are Paro International Airport and the land checkpoints at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse. Gelephu also has an international airport according to the Department of Tourism.

What happens if I overstay in Bhutan?

Tourists are fined Nu. 18,215 for each day of overstay, and non-tourists a lump sum of Nu. 6,450 plus Nu. 215 per day. Overstays also bring re-entry bans of three months to one year depending on their length.

Is travel insurance required for Bhutan?

No. Mandatory travel insurance was lifted on 23 April 2024, although the Department of Tourism still strongly recommends it.