Visa
Your keys to the kingdom
Applying for a visa (or permit) is simple and straightforward – and brings your journey to Bhutan one step closer.
All visitors require a visa before travelling to Bhutan (except those from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives, for whom the relevant processes and fees are outlined separately below).
As part of the visa application process, you will be required to pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$100 per day (per adult; concessionary rates apply for children). More information about the SDF can be found here.
A non-refundable, one-off visa application fee of US$40 is also payable.
You can apply online for a visa or permit by completing an application form, or if you’re travelling with a tour operator or staying at a hotel, they can apply on your behalf.
You can apply for yourself and anyone you’re travelling with, provided you have the required information for each person travelling.
To apply for a visa online you will need:
A digital copy of a valid passport
A recent digital passport photo
Arrival and departure dates
Valid travel insurance for the duration of your travel
Payment details
There are a few simple steps to follow when you apply for your visa:
Sign our Pledge of Friendship, thus committing to protecting, preserving and positively contributing to our kingdom
Create an account
Add your travel information
Pay for your visa application and the SDF fee for your planned stay
You can save your application at any time and return to complete it at a later date. Once submitted, it will be reviewed within five working days.
If you have any questions, please contact our host team or a certified tour operator or guide.
Visitors from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives
Visitors from India require a permit. You may apply for this before travelling here, or if you’re travelling with a tour operator or staying at a hotel, they can apply on your behalf. No fees are payable in advance.
You can also apply at your point of entry, but please be aware that there may be a long wait depending on the number of applicants at the time. If you are applying for a permit on arrival, you will need a passport-size photograph. You must also have insurance for the duration of your visit, which you can prearrange or purchase upon arrival. Your SDF is payable when applying for your permit, either online or in person.
Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives require a visa, but the process is the same as the one outlined above for Indian nationals: you may apply and pay the relevant SDF online and prearrange your travel insurance before travelling, or you can do this in person upon arrival.
We recommend arranging your permit or visa beforehand.
Visa
Our pledge of friendship
To the people of Bhutan,
I pledge to be not only a guest, but a friend to the kingdom:
To understand and respect its sacred places.
To connect to its living culture.
To preserve its peace and that of my hosts.
To leave its wild spaces, plants and animals undisturbed.
To remove no artefacts that belong to future generations.
And to take actions that preserve its natural beauty for them.
I am pleased to contribute the Sustainable Development Fee towards Bhutan’s preservation and development, and am privileged to act as one of its custodians on my journey and beyond.
