Bhutan Visa: Requirements, Application, Cost, Extension and Useful Tips

▶ Who Needs a Bhutan Visa - According to rules and regulations from Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), except for Indians, Bangladeshis, and Maldivians, all other international tourists must obtain a Bhutan visa prior to visit Bhutan.

▶ How Long Does It Take to Get a Bhutan Visa - After your confirm your Bhutan tour with your agent and send the required doucments, you many need about one week to have your visa approved by the Tourism Council of Bhutan. Remember to print out a copy of your visa so that you can present it at the airport Check-in counter and also at immigration point.

▶ Bhutan Visa Cost - The Bhutan Visa costs USD 40 for each international tourist. The visa fee will be collected along with the total tour payment before application. All the payments shall be in US dollar.

Note: All transfers shall be directly credited to the bank account of Tourism Council of Bhutan, not into the account of individual tour operate instead. Telegraphic Transfer is the most preferred way to make the transfer, while any cash and cheque are not encouraged and generally will not be accepted. Visitors should keep in mind that no visa fee will be refunded under any circumstances, including your delay of departure, arrival or cancellation of your trip to Bhutan.

▶ Bhutan Tourist Visa - It is an official single entry visa allowing single traveler or a group of tourists to travel to Bhutan. Your Bhutanese tour operator will handle the visa application, and accommodations and detailed itinerary included in your daily Bhutan tour package. Once approved, a visa clearance letter will be given to the agency. When landing on Bhutan, the immigration officer at entry ports will check the letter and stamp the Bhutan Tourist Visa on your valid passport based on your itinerary duration, normally no exceeding 30 days. Visitors can also extend Bhutan Tourist Visa to no more than one month from date of entry.

▶ To Whom Should I Apply for a Bhutan Visa - The Bhutan Visa, together with air tickets and all Bhutan tours can only be applied for and operated by licensed Bhutanese tour operators. And only with the obtained Bhutan Visa clearance, the travel agency can buy you airline tickets to or off Bhutan, and the visa clearance will be checked in and out at the airport and entry points.

▶ Bhutan Visa for Indian - With a valid passport of a minimum of 6 months validity, Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian citizens can get a Bhutan Visa at entry points, including Bhutan Paro Airport and land ports on Bhutan - India borders. Besides, Indians can also use their Voters Identity Card (VIC) to obtain Entry Permit. There is no cost incurred for citizens from India, Bangladesh and Maldives.

Welcome to Bhutan

Bhutan Visa Fee

Paro Airport

Visitors wishing to travel to Bhutan can not apply for the Bhutan Visa on their own. The Bhutan Visa application and all Bhutan tours must be arranged by a licensed Bhutanese travel agency or one of their international partners. Here are some easy steps to obtain your Bhutan Visa:

1. Select an authorized tour operator to arrange your trip to Bhutan, work out your itinerary of Bhutan tour and confirm the schedule;

2. Make the full payment of tour package and Bhutan Visa fee (USD 40) to Bhutan National Bank in advance;

3. Send the tour operator a clear scanned copy of your valid passport. The photo-page of your passport should be provided. They will complete and submit your Bhutan Visa application online to the Tourism Council of Bhutan and Department of Immigration;

4. Once receive the transfer in full, the Tourism Council of Bhutan will process your visa application within a maximum of one week. If approved, a visa clearance letter will be given to the respective agency.

5. Get a copy of visa clearance letter. The operator will email the copy of visa clearance letter to you once it is issued, and it is required at the check-in counter of airlines;

6. Obtain your Bhutan Visa to visit Bhutan. Show your copy of visa clearance letter to the Immigration officer at the port of entry, and they will stamp the Bhutan Visa on your passport upon immigration formalities. The exact visa validity is based on the length of your itinerary.

The visa clearance letter covers lots of information, like your name, nationality, passport number, visa number and travel date, and name and guide of tour operator. Only the stamped visa issued by immigration officer guarantees the entry permission to Bhutan, and a visa clearance letter doesn’t ensure the entry and stay in Bhutan.

Passport Required

Bhutan Visa Clearance Letter

A Bhutan trip usually starts from Paro where the Bhutan’s only international airport is located in, then travel eastward to Thimphu and Punakha, which is the most classic itinerary in Bhutan, taking 5~6 days to finish. Never miss the icon of Bhutan - Tiger’s Nest (the symbol of Bhutan) in Paro. If your time is quite limited, you can skip Punakha. If you want an in-depth Bhutan tour, we suggest you extend your trip to Phobjikha, Gangtey, Trongsa and Bumthang in central Bhutan, which costs you about 9~10 days. You can also spend more time in Bhutan to explore more features of Bhutan, such as trekking, birding, Tshechu festival, etc. It is strongly recommended to travel Bhutan with Nepal. Check Nepal Bhutan tours to find a suitable tour or contact us to customize your own unique experience.

☞ 5 Days Bhutan Classic Tour (Paro & Thimphu & Punakha)

☞ 9 Days Bhutan In-depth Natural and Cultural Tour

☞ 12 Days Nepal Bhutan Leisure Vacation Tour Package

Travel with Us

Traveling with Himalayas Discovery, you are assured to use our high-quality travel services, including vehicles, professional tour guide and experienced driver, well-organized itinerary, assistance of visa and permits application and other travel related services. We will settle all arrangements in advance to make sure you always enjoy a worry-free journey.

Our dear guests visiting Bhutan