Bhutan Tourist Visa & Entry Policy

Who Needs a Tourist Visa / Who’s Exempt

Visa Required: Most foreign nationals (outside certain neighbouring countries) must obtain a Bhutan tourist visa in advance. You cannot simply turn up and get a visa on arrival if you are from a typical non‑exempt country.
Exemptions / Special Cases:
- Citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives do not need a traditional tourist visa; they are issued entry permits.
- Officials / diplomatic passport holders from some countries might have different rules (visa on arrival etc.) depending on bilateral agreements.

Applications for tourism visas must be submitted through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. Independent direct applications by tourists are generally not accepted.
The tour operator helps with itinerary, hotel, transport arrangements etc., and handles submission of the visa application (with required payments).

Here’s what you’ll typically need when applying for a Bhutan tourist visa (for international visitors):

Item	Details / Notes
Passport	Must be valid for at least six months from date of intended entry.
Passport‑size photo	Recent, colour photo as specified by the Bhutanese authorities.
Completed visa application form	Usually filled out with tourist operator’s help.
Tour itinerary and bookings	Proof of lodging, internal transport etc., all organised via the tour operator.
Payment of fees	Includes visa processing fee and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). The tour cost including minimum lodging etc. must often be paid in advance.
Visa clearance letter	Once all documentation & payment are in, an electronic “visa clearance letter” is issued. Traveller must present this to board flights / at the point of entry. Actual visa stamp happens on arrival.

Visa Processing Fee: USD 40 per person (non‑refundable).
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF): An additional fee per night per person, intended to support Bhutan’s infrastructure, health, education, environmental protection etc. The rate may vary depending on whether it is “peak” or “low” season.
Other costs (hotel, meals, transport, licensed guide) are usually bundled into the tour cost.

Generally, visa processing takes around 2‑5 business days after submission by tour operator, including payment. Some sources say up to 7 working days.
In some special/official cases, or depending on nationality or peak seasons, it may take slightly longer. It is advisable to apply well in advance (at least a couple of weeks) to avoid delays.

The visa is usually valid only for the duration of the planned (booked) itinerary. Extended stays require applying for an extension with justifiable reasons.
Upon arrival, the tourist visa is stamped into the passport. Before that, you need the visa clearance letter.
For regional guests (e.g. India, Bangladesh, Maldives), the stay and entry permissions are under “entry permit” rules rather than full visa rules. The validity, permissible duration may differ.

As mentioned, citizens of India, Bangladesh, Maldives are exempt from a prior visa but must have entry permit.
Entry Permits are issued at border crossings or airports when arriving from these countries.
There may be minimal fees (SDF) applicable even for these guests depending on duration and where in Bhutan they travel.