Bhutan Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Indian passport holders can enter Bhutan visa-free for up to Unlimited (for border areas); 7 days for Paro/Thimphu (extendable). There is no visa application and no fee for eligible nationalities.
Bhutan visa at a glance
- Government fee
- The official Bhutan visa fee set by the authorities — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Visa types
- 2
Do you need a visa for Bhutan?
Other nationalities may need a visa arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator. A visa or entry permit does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Check the Department of Immigration, Bhutan visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling.
Bhutan visa types
- Visa-free / Entry Permit
- Tourism, leisure — Unlimited (border areas); 7 days for Paro/Thimphu (extendable) — Free
- Tourist visa via tour operator
- Tourism — Varies by package — Varies
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Bhutan depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or tour operator responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Bhutan visa-free — notably Indian passport holders can enter with a valid passport or Voter ID for land entry.
Visa-required nationalities must arrange their visa through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator.
Documents required for a Bhutan visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisa-free / Entry Permit · 6+ months validity.
- Passport photosVisa-free / Entry Permit · 2 photos for entry permit.
- Entry permit formVisa-free / Entry Permit · filled at the border or airport where applicable.
- Return ticketVisa-free / Entry Permit · Return ticket.
- Hotel booking confirmationVisa-free / Entry Permit · Hotel booking confirmation.
- Valid passportTourist visa via tour operator · 6+ months validity.
- Passport photosTourist visa via tour operator · Passport photos.
- Tour operator itinerary and sponsorship documentsTourist visa via tour operator · Tour operator itinerary and sponsorship documents.
- Return ticketTourist visa via tour operator · Return ticket.
- Hotel booking confirmationTourist visa via tour operator · Hotel booking confirmation.
Bhutan visa fees and processing time
- Processing fee
- Expedify's fee for checking, preparing, and filing your application — Expedify — fixed, shown upfront
- Government fee
- The official Bhutan visa fee set by the authorities — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Total
- Processing fee + government fee — What you pay — shown before you start
- Visa-free entry / Entry Permit
- On arrival at border or airport
- Tourist visa via tour operator
- Varies by operator
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Bhutan visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm your documents
Ensure your passport has 6+ months validity (or carry Voter ID for land entry from India).
Prepare photos and forms
Bring 2 passport photos and be ready to complete the entry permit form at the border or airport.
Arrive and clear entry
Show your documents at the border or airport, complete the entry permit form, and proceed to immigration.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Bhutan's entry rules yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your nationality
Document check
- Apply yourself
- You verify passport, photos, and forms
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before you travel
Border entry
- Apply yourself
- You complete forms at the border
- With Expedify
- We prepare your checklist and guide you
Other travel docs
- Apply yourself
- You arrange separately
- With Expedify
- We can help with IDPs and document review
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — no visa fee for eligible nationalities
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Bhutan is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your entry permit or visa exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than the permitted maximum.
- A tourist visa or entry permit is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa or entry permit.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Bhutan visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Failure to use a licensed tour operator
required for many nationalities.
Insufficient funds
limited evidence you can cover your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Bhutan visa questions, answered.
More for your Bhutan trip
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.