Bhutan Tour FAQs

Visitors can process a visa or permit online from the website of the Department of Immigration. Visitors can also engage tourism service providers such as Bhutan Signature Tours to process the travel documents and plan a trip.

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

A passport copy is required. The passport must be valid for six months from the intended date of departure from the Kingdom;

• Travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip; and
• A recent digital passport size photograph.

The visa fee is USD 40 per person and it is non-refundable. While the process to issue the visa is usually quick, the visa can take up to five working days to process.

Visitors from India can use a passport or voter ID card. Children under 18 years of age can use a birth certificate or passport, and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

• Passport size photograph is also required.
• Travel insurance is required and should be valid for the whole duration of the trip.

There is also an option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers at the port of entry during arrivals. There are also tourism information officers stationed at all ports of entry who can assist travellers. Click here to get details on the insurance from Bhutan Insurance Limited.

From our reopening on September 23, visitors to Bhutan will make an active contribution to Bhutan's economic, social and cultural development. The Sustainable Development Fee enables investment in transformative programs that preserve our cultural traditions, protect our heritage and environment, upgrade infrastructure, create opportunities for our young people, and build resilience.

• Guests from India are levied SDF of Nu. 1,200 or equivalent amount in INR per person per night, which will remain in effect for two years, following which time it may be reviewed and revised in keeping with the principle of the preferential rate after two years.
• Visitors from all other countries are levied SDF of USD 200 per person, per night (currently we have 50% discount on SDF until 31st august, 2023).
• There will be a concessionary levy of 50% on the SDF for children between the ages of 6-12 years and exemptions of SDF for children aged 5 years and below.
• The SDF funds go to the national exchequer and are allocated to various projects that enhance facilities, services and infrastructure for nationals and guests who visit Bhutan, 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 must be paid in USD; however, Indians can also pay in INR.
• A guest who is eligible for a visa on arrival, should also pay the applicable SDF in USD at the port of entry.

The SDF will be waived for visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India, until the first designated point identified by the Government.

All payments can be made directly to the business accounts of the service providers as per the policy of the service provider.

The visa or permit will be issued for a maximum of 90 days.

The visa or permit extension can be processed by the Department of Immigration before the expiry of the visa or permit, whichever is applicable. The applicable SDF and visa or permit extension fees shall be paid to the Department of Immigration.

While the process is usually quite quick for visa or permit extensions, it can take up to five working days.

Visitors can extend their stay via the online visa application portal, using the same log-in details that were used to process the original visa or your service provider can apply for you. The SDF payment can also be made via the same portal.

A guest or a service provider can process an application for a visa or permit extension.

Yes, the SDF will be refunded by the Department of Immigration for any cancelled or shortened trips, and any bank charges will be deducted from the amount that is refunded. A refund request of the SDF shall be submitted online using the immigration system. The refund will be processed only after the exit of the visitors from the Kingdom.

• There are domestic flights to Bumthang (Central Bhutan), Gelephu, Sarpang (Southern Bhutan) and Yongphula, Trashigang (Eastern Bhutan).
• Visitors can also book helicopter services for special itineraries.
• The other option is to hire a local Tour operator who can arrange all the internal transfer and tour programs.

It is mandatory to arrange trekking trips that require overnight stays through a local tour operator. The local tour operator can help you with all the logistical support for the hiking or trekking trip.

A guide is strongly recommended for all visitors to Bhutan. This is to ensure that all visitors have a good experience while visiting our country, and see the best that Bhutan has to offer. Guides also help look after the safety and security of the visitors, as there are wild animals in the countryside, and the altitude and landscape can sometimes pose unique challenges. While the guides do not have to accompany visitors for all experiences (such as restaurants and shopping), it is recommended that guides accompany visitors for experiences such as visiting temples and local places of interest, and it is mandatory to have a guide for all trekking activities and for any journeys that extend beyond Thimphu and Paro. For any visitors who enter Bhutan via the land borders, guides are mandatory when the visitors leave the border towns.

Bhutan offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, from luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy homestays in traditional village settings.

Guests must stay in an accommodation certified by DOT or if trekking, camp at the designated areas only.

The official currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum (Nu.). US dollars are widely accepted in most of the places.

International credit cards are widely used in the urban areas in Bhutan. However, this service may not be available in some parts of the country.

Visitors are recommended to inform their card issuer banks about their trip to Bhutan, in order to avoid card usage restrictions by the issuing bank.

There is a currency exchange facility at the airport, and currency can also be exchanged at the banks, hotels and at the authorized money changers in the city areas.

There are no restrictions on dress code in general. However, respectable dress code covering your knees and shoulders (smart casual) is recommended while visiting temples and religious places.

Visitors can get a sim card from visitor information centers on arrival, branch offices of Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell or from authorized agents in towns. But for our guests we provide local sim cards with internet data free of cost.

Visitors can bring cash equivalent up to USD 10,000.

The Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) outlet, handicraft shops, the OGOP outlets, and the Centenary Farmers Market are some of the popular shopping areas for visitors.  

Guests are required to process export permits online [https://mocp.doc.gov.bt/] for non-antique products such as statues, ritual objects and religious handicrafts from the Department of Culture before exiting the country.

For a detailed list of prohibited, restricted or declarable items, please visit the website of the Ministry of Finance [https://www.mof.gov.bt].

The hotline number for general enquiries about tourism is +975 17122257 or 2300 if within Bhutan

• Medical emergency - 112
• Police - 113
• Disaster Communication helpline - 999

Yes, there are visitor information centers at the arrival area just before immigration checkpoint at the airport and in all entry points.