Bhutan visa & passport guide
Everything Indian passport holders need to visit Bhutan — visa type, fees, processing time, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
Bhutan Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Bhutan. You travel on an Entry Permit, which can be applied for online through Bhutan's Department of Immigration or arranged by a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, and Indians may enter on a valid passport or a Voter ID card. The permit itself is free, but you must pay the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), currently Nu 1,200 per adult per night, which is the main cost of entry.
Visa Type
Visa-free for Indian nationals; Entry Permit required (apply online or at the Phuentsholing land border)
Visa Fee
Entry Permit is free. Sustainable Development Fee of Nu 1,200 per adult per night (Nu 1 = ₹1), so roughly ₹6,000 for a 5-night trip. Children 6-12 years pay half; under 6 are exempt. Rates are revised periodically, so confirm at booking.
Processing Time
Online permit applications are typically processed in about 5-7 working days. Permits issued at the Phuentsholing immigration office are usually same-day if you arrive early on a working day.
Stay Duration
Permit is issued for the duration of your confirmed itinerary and paid SDF nights, commonly 7 days initially, extendable at the Immigration Office in Thimphu
Passport Validity
Passport valid at least 6 months from date of entry, with a blank page. Alternatively, Indian nationals may enter on a valid Voter ID (EPIC) card.
Documents Required
- Indian passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, or a valid Voter ID card
- Recent passport-size photograph with white background
- Confirmed hotel booking with a Bhutan Tourism Council certified hotel
- Day-wise travel itinerary
- Proof of SDF payment for each night of stay
- Confirmed flight tickets to Paro or details of land entry via Phuentsholing
- Travel insurance valid in Bhutan (strongly advised, sometimes asked for)
- For children under 18: birth certificate or school ID, plus passport/Voter ID of accompanying parent
How to Apply
- 1Fix your dates and book a certified hotel in Bhutan, or book through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator who will file the permit for you.
- 2Create an account on the Department of Immigration portal and upload your passport or Voter ID, photograph, hotel confirmation and itinerary.
- 3Pay the Sustainable Development Fee online for the full number of nights and save the receipt.
- 4Wait for permit approval by email, usually within a week, and print the approved permit.
- 5Carry the printed permit plus original ID to Paro airport immigration or the Phuentsholing land border for endorsement on arrival.
- 6If travelling beyond Thimphu and Paro, get a route permit endorsed at the Immigration Office in Thimphu (usually handled by your tour operator).
Good to Know
- Vehicles with Indian registration entering Bhutan need a separate vehicle permit from the Regional Transport Office in Phuentsholing, along with RC, insurance and driving licence.
- Phuentsholing immigration office is closed on Bhutanese public holidays and weekends, which can strand self-drive travellers for a day. Check the calendar before planning a land crossing.
- Indian rupees are accepted at par with the Ngultrum, but ₹500 notes are refused by many small shops and taxis outside Thimphu and Paro. Carry ₹100 and ₹200 notes and some cash for remote areas.
- Aadhaar card and PAN card are not accepted for entry. Only passport or Voter ID works for adults.
- Paro's runway allows only visual approach, so flights are frequently delayed in monsoon (June to August) fog. Keep a buffer day before any onward international connection.
- Best windows are March to May for rhododendrons and Paro Tsechu, and late September to November for clear Himalayan views and Thimphu Tshechu. December to February is cold, with Thimphu dropping to near zero at night, but rates are lower.
- Smoking in public is prohibited and tobacco import is heavily restricted. Do not carry cigarettes across the border in quantity.
- Mobile roaming is expensive. Buy a Bhutan Telecom or TashiCell SIM at Paro airport or in Thimphu for cheap data.
Visa rules and fees change — verify with the official embassy or immigration website before booking travel.
