Bhutan investor visa and Investor Permit

The non-tourist category list covers promoters, investors, board directors and technical or managerial personnel of FDI companies, including potential investors who come to explore a project. All are vetted by the Department of Industry at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, which must approve the visit before the Department of Immigration processes the visa.

Once a foreigner has been cleared as a promoter or investor operating an approved FDI under section 43 of the Immigration Act, rule 53 of the Immigration Rules entitles them to stay as that section allows and the Department issues an Investor Permit. Investors hold an Investor Card, which their family members must present for their own permits.

Non-tourist visas cost Nu. 5,000 for 30 days or less, Nu. 12,000 for 31 to 90 days, Nu. 17,000 for 91 days to one year, Nu. 22,000 for one to two years and Nu. 27,000 for two to three years. Extensions cost Nu. 2,000 for up to three months, Nu. 3,000 for up to six months and Nu. 5,000 for up to one year.

Cards other than work permits cost Nu. 300 for one year, Nu. 600 for one to two years and Nu. 900 for two to three years, with Nu. 500 for loss or damage. Fees are non-refundable.

The applicant or the FDI company obtains approval from the Director of the Department of Industry, then submits to the Department of Immigration a passport copy valid at least six months beyond departure, the completed visa application form and a detailed day-wise programme of the visit. The Department needs at least five working days to issue the visa clearance once it has all documents, and it may ask for more during assessment.

The Department of Immigration also publishes a separate application form and declaration of compliance for the Investor Permit. Investors who work in Bhutan must keep their permit valid, renew it before expiry and carry the original at every checkpoint; late renewal is fined Nu. 215 per day.

The spouse and children under 18 of promoters or investors of an established FDI receive dependent permits. The investor applies directly to the Department of Immigration with a copy of the valid Investor Card, the dependent permit application form, passports, a notarised marriage certificate for the spouse and notarised birth certificates for children.

Adult children, parents and parents-in-law are not dependents but may visit once a year for the actual duration or 30 days, whichever is less. Their visits require approval from Invest Bhutan at the Ministry, the investor card copy, passports, notarised evidence of the relationship and a day-wise programme.