Bhutan spouse visa and Immigration Card

Under the Immigration Rules, a foreigner married to a Bhutanese after 10 June 1985, and the son or daughter of such parents, is categorised as an immigrant after being issued an Immigration Card. Foreign spouses and children of Bhutanese citizens are also listed as a non-tourist category, applied for by the Bhutanese spouse or parent directly to the Department of Immigration.

A foreigner who is in Bhutan as a visitor, dependent, worker or student cannot process an Immigration Card from inside the country; they must have been outside Bhutan for at least one year before becoming eligible to apply.

The application consists of the forms prescribed by the Department, a marriage certificate issued by the Royal Court of Justice, a copy of the Bhutanese spouse's Citizenship Identity Card and the foreign spouse's passport or identity document. For a shorter non-tourist visit by the spouse or children, the Department accepts a marriage certificate from any country, but a spouse entering to seek immigrant status needs the Royal Court of Justice certificate.

For the non-tourist visa the Bhutanese spouse or parent submits an application letter, the marriage certificate, birth certificates for children, the Bhutanese citizen's identity card copy, the foreigner's passport valid at least six months beyond departure and the visa application form.

A foreigner whose application to marry a Bhutanese is under process, and children of such parentage, may receive an immigration permit that can be extended up to 90 days from entry. After that they must stay outside Bhutan for at least 30 days before returning.

A child born in Bhutan to a Bhutanese and a foreigner may stay on an immigration permit as decided by the Department, and must be registered within one year of birth; a child found living in Bhutan without registration attracts a fine of Nu. 25,800.

An Immigration Card holder may not work for any organisation in Bhutan without prior approval from the Department of Immigration, must live at the address shown on the card and report any change of address. During renewal both spouses may be asked to report in person to the Department.

If the Bhutanese spouse dies or the couple divorces and there are no children of the marriage, the foreign spouse loses immigrant status and residency and must leave Bhutan within the time the Department sets. Overstay fines for foreign spouses follow the non-tourist scale.