Yes, all visitors need a visa to enter Bhutan, except for visitors from India, who require a permit.

Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives, as well as nationals of Switzerland and Thailand who hold diplomatic or government-official passports, are also eligible for a visa on arrival at their port of entry.

Visitors from India will need a permit to enter Bhutan and are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. Indian nationals under the age of 18 may enter with a birth certificate or passport and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Visitors can apply for their visa or permit through email Us, We can engage tourism service providers to process their travel documents. 

Although visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives can process their visas on arrival at their port of entry and visitors from India can process their permits on arrival, it is recommended that these be applied for online instead in order to reduce the wait time at the port of entry.

• A digital copy of your passport if applying online (or the hard copy of your passport if applying in person). The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan.

• A recent digital passport-appropriate photograph (or recent passport-size photograph if applying in person).

• Valid travel insurance for the duration of the trip.

The Bhutan travel cost 2024 / 2025 for international tourists visiting Bhutan includes sustainable development fee (SDF) / Government tax of US $ 100 per person per night stay in Bhutan (Except for Indian nationals). This applies to all individuals above the age of 12 years.  

It may take up to five working days to process a correctly input visa application.  

• As a visitor from India you will need a digital copy of your passport or voter ID card if applying online (or the hard copy of your passport or voter ID card if applying in person). The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan. Those under the age of 18 can use a birth certificate or passport and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.  

• A recent digital passport-appropriate photograph (or recent passport-size photograph if applying in person).

• Valid travel insurance for the duration of the trip.

The visa allows you to remain in Bhutan only for the number days for which SDF is paid.  

Yes, provided the extension is applied for before the original visa or permit expires. 

Visitors can extend their stay via the online visa application portal on this site, using the same log-in details that were used to process the original visa. 

The fees for processing your extension application, and daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for the duration of your extended stay, are payable via the same portal.

There is a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) applicable for all tourists visiting Bhutan. For Indians, the Sustainable Development is Rs. 1200. There is no fee applicable for children below 5 years, however the there is a 50% concession on SDF for children between 6 years and 12 years old. 

For all visitors, except those from India, the SDF is US$200 per person, per night. For guests from India, the SDF is 1,200 ngultrum, or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees, per person, per night. 

Children aged 6 to 12 at the time of travel receive a 50% concessionary discount on the SDF. Those aged 5 or younger are exempt. 

Day visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India are also exempt from paying the SDF until they reach a point designated by the Bhutanese government.

The SDF is collected by the national exchequer and funds are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for Bhutanese nationals and visitors, as well as funding free healthcare and education.

The SDF must be paid during the visa or permit application via wire transfer or using a credit card. 

The SDF is paid in US dollars. Indian nationals applying for a permit can pay in Indian rupees.

Visitors eligible for a visa on arrival pay the applicable SDF in US dollars at the port of entry.

Yes, the SDF will be refunded by the Department of Immigration for any cancelled or shortened trips; any bank charges will be deducted from the total refunded. Requests for SDF refunds should be submitted online using the visa portal. The refund will be processed after visitors leave Bhutan. 

Yes. All visitors must have full, valid travel insurance for the duration of their visit. For all visitors except for those from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives this is required to be in place when you make your visa application. 

Visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives have the option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers at their port of entry. Please contact tourism information officers stationed at all ports of entry if you need assistance, or click here for more information on travel insurance sold by Bhutan Insurance Limited.

The Documents Required Are As Follows:

 1) Passport/Travel Visa/National ID Card

2) COVID 19 Travel Document (COVID Travel Itinerary if available. COVID-– 19 Vaccine Certificate)

3) Travel Itinerary if available. 

4) COVID-– 19 Vaccine Certificate) 19 Test Result if additional COVID 19 coverage is required.

5) Baggage Details if additional Loss of Baggage cover is required.

You can travel to Bhutan all year round, but the best months are March to May and September to November. 

That’s Not Possible. Your Visa Is Tied To You Purchasing Or Spending The Minimum Spending Above.

Yes. Bhutan can be an excellent destination for travellers who want to step away from constant notifications, screens and crowded tourist environments. Its quiet valleys, Himalayan landscapes, monasteries, nature-based experiences and traditional wellness practices create opportunities to slow down and reconnect with the surroundings.

A digital detox journey in Bhutan does not necessarily mean completely disconnecting from technology. It is about creating more space for nature, meaningful experiences, conversation and personal time, rather than allowing digital connectivity to dominate the holiday.

Yes. Bhutan is well suited to travellers who want to combine digital detox with slow travel. Instead of moving quickly from one attraction to another, the journey can be planned around fewer destinations, longer stays, quieter surroundings and meaningful experiences.

Time can be given to monasteries, local communities, nature, traditional wellness experiences, scenic journeys and simply enjoying the destination without constantly following a sightseeing checklist. This approach allows Bhutan to be experienced at a more comfortable and immersive pace.

Slow travel in Bhutan means giving yourself enough time to experience a place rather than simply passing through it. Instead of trying to cover as many attractions as possible, the journey can allow time for local culture, monasteries, nature, traditional food, scenic drives, wellness experiences and quieter moments.

For some travellers, slow travel may mean spending an additional night in a destination, reducing daily driving, or leaving part of the day unplanned. The focus is on the quality of the journey rather than the number of places visited.

Yes. Bhutan can be experienced through a combination of wellness and nature, with the itinerary designed around relaxation, natural surroundings and meaningful experiences. Depending on the journey, this can include traditional hot-stone baths, meditation, yoga, nature immersion, traditional wellness practices and peaceful stays.

Sightseeing can still be included, but it does not have to dominate the itinerary. The balance between exploration, nature and wellbeing can be planned around the traveller's interests and preferred pace.

For travellers looking beyond conventional sightseeing, Bhutan can offer a more immersive way to travel. Its living culture, Buddhist traditions, Himalayan landscapes, monasteries and local communities provide opportunities to experience the destination rather than simply collect sightseeing points.

A thoughtfully planned journey can leave room for cultural encounters, quiet moments, nature and local experiences. This makes Bhutan particularly interesting for travellers who value depth and connection over trying to see everything in a limited amount of time.

Yes. Bhutan naturally brings culture, nature and wellness together. A well-planned journey can include monasteries and dzongs, Himalayan landscapes, local experiences, nature walks, traditional food, hot-stone baths, meditation and other wellness activities.

The combination can be adjusted according to the traveller's interests. Some may prefer more cultural exploration, while others may want greater emphasis on nature, relaxation or wellness. A customized itinerary allows these elements to be balanced rather than following a fixed sightseeing programme.

A personalized Bhutan journey is built around the traveller rather than around a fixed sightseeing checklist. Travel pace, hotel preferences, destinations, cultural interests, wellness experiences, walking requirements, transportation and available time can all influence the itinerary.

Personalization can also mean knowing when not to add another sightseeing stop. Leaving enough time to enjoy a destination, choosing accommodation that suits the traveller and avoiding unnecessary rushing can make the journey feel considerably more personal.

Yes. Bhutan can be particularly appealing to travellers who prefer quieter surroundings, personal space and a more unhurried style of travel. Its landscapes, valleys, monasteries and smaller communities provide opportunities to experience the destination away from the atmosphere of conventional mass tourism.

A carefully planned journey can further emphasize privacy through private transportation, thoughtfully selected accommodation, flexible sightseeing and a comfortable pace.

Yes. A Bhutan journey can be designed around specific interests rather than following a standard sightseeing programme. Depending on the traveller, the itinerary can focus more strongly on wellness, spirituality, photography, nature, festivals, food, local traditions, family experiences or a combination of several interests.

This approach allows the purpose of the trip to shape the itinerary, rather than asking the traveller to fit into a predetermined package.

Luxury in Bhutan can extend well beyond the category of the hotel. For many travellers, it can mean privacy, space, exceptional surroundings, thoughtful service, meaningful cultural experiences, wellness, comfortable transportation and the freedom to travel at an unhurried pace.

A refined Bhutan journey can combine carefully selected accommodation with private experiences, scenic routes, local culture and enough time to appreciate each destination. In this sense, luxury is less about adding more to the itinerary and more about making the journey feel effortless and personal.

Yes. Bhutan can suit travellers who want a holiday with fewer distractions and more time away from the usual pace of urban life. Its natural surroundings, monasteries, traditional culture and slower rhythm can create an environment where travellers have more opportunity to disconnect from routine and focus on the experience.

The itinerary can also be deliberately paced, with fewer daily activities, comfortable travel times and time for nature, local experiences or simply enjoying the surroundings.

Yes. A Bhutan holiday can be customized around your interests, travel dates, group size, preferred accommodation and desired pace. You may wish to emphasize culture, nature, wellness, festivals, photography, local experiences or simply have more time in fewer places.

Customized planning allows these priorities to influence the itinerary from the beginning instead of adding them as optional activities to a standard package.

Bhutan can be an excellent choice for travellers looking for a Himalayan journey with a different rhythm from conventional mountain tourism. Its landscapes are closely connected with its culture, Buddhist traditions, conservation efforts and local way of life.

A well-paced itinerary can combine scenic valleys, monasteries, local experiences, nature and comfortable stays without making the journey feel like a race between attractions.

Yes. A Bhutan holiday can be built around experiences rather than simply counting attractions. Depending on the itinerary, travellers can include cultural encounters, monastery visits, traditional food, nature, festivals, photography, wellness, local activities and time in quieter surroundings.

This approach allows the journey to have a clear purpose and rhythm, while sightseeing becomes part of the overall experience rather than the sole objective of the trip.

Yes. Bhutan can work well for families travelling across different generations when the itinerary is planned with everyone's comfort and interests in mind.

Travel time, walking requirements, sightseeing duration, accommodation, meal preferences and leisure periods can be balanced so that grandparents, parents and younger travellers can enjoy the journey together. A thoughtfully paced itinerary can avoid unnecessary rushing while still giving each generation opportunities to experience Bhutan.

Yes. Bhutan's connection with Buddhist philosophy, nature, monasteries and traditional practices makes it particularly interesting for travellers seeking a quieter and more reflective journey.

Meditation, yoga, monastery visits, nature immersion, traditional wellness experiences and unhurried time in peaceful surroundings can become part of the journey. The experience does not need to be structured as a formal retreat; simply travelling at a slower pace can create opportunities for reflection.

Responsible, high-value travel in Bhutan means experiencing the country while respecting its environment, culture and communities. Bhutan's tourism approach places importance on conservation, cultural preservation and sustainable development.

For travellers, this can mean choosing appropriate accommodation and experiences, respecting local traditions, travelling thoughtfully and allowing the destination to be experienced without unnecessary pressure on its environment or communities.

The Sustainable Development Fee also forms part of Bhutan's tourism framework and contributes to national priorities connected with sustainable development, conservation, culture and community wellbeing.

Yes. Bhutan does not have to be limited to either an adventure holiday or a relaxed luxury escape. Depending on the itinerary, travellers can combine nature walks, cycling, rafting or other outdoor experiences with comfortable accommodation, scenic drives, traditional food, wellness and leisure time.

The balance can be adjusted according to fitness, interests and preferred pace, allowing active experiences to sit comfortably alongside periods of rest.

Yes. Bhutan can be particularly appealing to experienced travellers who have already explored many conventional destinations and are looking for a journey with a stronger sense of place.

Beyond the familiar highlights, the experience can be shaped around local culture, seasonal festivals, nature, wellness, quieter valleys, traditional experiences and a slower style of travel. The objective can be to discover Bhutan rather than simply complete a standard itinerary.

Bhutan is a destination where thoughtful itinerary planning can make a significant difference to the overall experience. Geography, driving times, elevation, season, interests, accommodation preferences and the pace of travel all influence how comfortably different destinations can be combined.

Personalized planning helps bring these factors together before the journey begins. Instead of simply selecting a standard itinerary, travellers can decide what they genuinely want from Bhutan and build the journey around those priorities.