Visa Assistance

Bhutan

Visa requirements, fees, validity and documents for travel to Bhutan.

  • 2 visa types
  • Starting from ₹600
  • Checked 24 Sept 2026

1. Visa Types

Open a type to see processing time, stay, fees, and documents.

Processing time

Online: up to 5 days (tourism FAQ). Also on arrival — queues can be long.

Stay period

Actual stay or 90 days, whichever is less

Validity

As endorsed at the port of entry. Online clearance alone does not guarantee entry.

Visa Fees and Charges

Single entry

SDF — adult (Indian passport or voter ID)

₹1,200

Single entry

SDF — child aged 6 and not yet 12

₹600

Single entry

SDF — child not yet 6

₹0
EntryLabelFee
Single entrySDF — adult (Indian passport or voter ID)₹1,200
Single entrySDF — child aged 6 and not yet 12₹600
Single entrySDF — child not yet 6₹0

About This Visa

Indian ordinary-passport holders do not get a Bhutan visa. They need an Entry Permit from the Department of Immigration in Bhutan. The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate in Kolkata do not issue visas or permits.

Apply on https://visit.doi.gov.bt before travel, or let a licensed hotel or tour operator apply. Permit on arrival is allowed, but the official sites recommend applying online to cut the wait. There is no USD 40 visa fee for this Indian permit. Tourism says no fees are payable in advance; the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is paid when the permit is applied for, online or in person.

Carry the same original Indian passport or voter ID used in the application. No other Indian ID is accepted. A passport must stay valid at least six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan.

Documents Required

  • Original Indian passport (six months from intended departure from Bhutan) or original Indian voter ID — no other ID
  • Under 18: passport or birth certificate, and travel with a parent or legal guardian
  • Recent digital passport-size photograph (on arrival: a physical passport-size photo)
  • Travel dates

The DOI tourist e-Permit page still lists valid travel insurance. The official tourism FAQ says mandatory insurance was lifted on 23 April 2024 and is only recommended. Do not treat insurance as required unless the portal asks for it on the day.

Processing time

Processed in Bhutan by the counterpart. On arrival is also used when the host has arranged it.

Stay period

Business guest: actual stay or 30 days, whichever is less (Immigration Rules). Tourist stay rules do not apply.

Validity

As endorsed at the port of entry

Visa Fees and Charges

Single entry

SDF — confirm with immigration if the visit is billed as tourist

Check applicable fees
EntryLabelFee
Single entrySDF — confirm with immigration if the visit is billed as touristCheck applicable fees

About This Visa

The New Delhi embassy says business visas must be processed by the inviting organisation or company in Bhutan. The Kolkata consulate says India / Bangladesh / Maldives business and work permits are processed by the organiser in Bhutan; Indians may use a voter ID if they have no passport. Passport, if used, needs six months’ validity.

This is still an Entry Permit for Indian nationals, not a download-only e-Visa. Do not send the traveller to Chanakyapuri or Dum Dum for a sticker.

Documents Required

  • Completed entry-permit form
  • Valid Indian passport or voter ID (passport: six months from intended departure from Bhutan)
  • Birth certificate if under 18
  • Recommendation letter from the local host / counterpart
  • Any extra papers immigration asks for during assessment

2. Good to Know

Rules and notes that apply to every visa type

How to apply

  1. Open https://visit.doi.gov.bt (Department of Immigration e-Visa / e-Permit).
  2. Create an account, add the guest, and submit the permit application. A hotel or licensed operator can do this for the traveller.
  3. Pay the SDF on the portal (or in person if applying on arrival).
  4. Travel with the same original passport or voter ID. Admission is decided at the port of entry.

Kolkata’s tourist page still says every foreigner must use a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Official tourism says independent booking has been allowed since 23 September 2022. Follow visit.doi.gov.bt and bhutan.travel for tourist permits.

Who can apply

  • Indian nationals need an Entry Permit, not a visa. Passport or voter ID only.
  • Under 18: passport or birth certificate, with a parent or legal guardian. Immigration Rules also allow a parent/guardian consent path if the child is not travelling with them — confirm with DOI.
  • Bangladesh and Maldives use a visa (including on arrival), not this Indian permit.
  • A trader permit is a separate DOI product for Indian traders in the southern border towns, on Ministry of Economic Affairs recommendation.

Missions in India

Neither mission issues visas or entry permits.

Royal Bhutanese Embassy, New Delhi
Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
+91 11 2688 9230 / 9809 / 9807
Monday–Friday 09:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00. Closed Saturday–Sunday. Formal / semi-formal dress.

Royal Bhutanese Consulate General, Kolkata
6/1 Mall Road, Dum Dum, Kolkata 700080
+91 33 2560 0049 · rbc.kolkata@mfa.gov.bt
Monday–Friday 09:00–17:00 (lunch 13:00–14:00). Closed Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

How to track

Use the same login on https://visit.doi.gov.bt. Permit questions: permit@moha.gov.bt. Visa Division: visa@moha.gov.bt.

Photo and uploads

  • Recent digital passport-size photograph for the online form
  • On arrival: a physical passport-size photograph
  • Digital copy of the passport or voter ID (birth certificate if under 18)

SDF and 24-hour border waiver

Indian SDF on both official tourism pages: Nu 1,200 (or INR) per person per night; ages 6 and not yet 12 pay Nu/INR 600; children not yet 6 pay nothing. The DOI visit FAQ lists the same Indian rate. It still lists USD 200 per night for other nationalities; bhutan.travel lists USD 100 — that conflict is not the Indian rate.

From 2 June 2026 until August 2027, tourists staying up to 24 hours only in the designated zones of Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar do not pay SDF. SDF applies beyond Gurung Basti (Samtse), Rinchending Checkpost (Phuentsholing), Aipoli Bridge (Gelephu) and Pinchinna checkpost (Samdrup Jongkhar).

Extend before the permit expires. The DOI visit FAQ says extend on the same portal. The tourism FAQ says Indians extend in person at the Department of Immigration and pay in INR. Use the instruction immigration gives at the time.

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