Bhutan Visa Requirements
- Every vistiors to Bhutan reqires a tourist visa. Exception are India and Bangladesh passports holders.
- Visas are only issued to tourists whom booked tour packages with local tour operators, directly or through a foreign travel agent.
- Visa application is submitted by tour operator on behalf of visitors.
- Visa is issued by Tourism Council of Bhutan in Thimphu, Bhutan.
- The Royal Government of Bhutan sets minimum selling prices for packages to Bhutan and this must be paid in US dollars prior to arrival in Bhutan.
Daily Tariff
The minimum tariff for tourist visiting in a group of 3 persons or more are as follows:
High Season Tariff:
USD 100/person/night halt (March, April, May, September, October & November)
Low Season Tariff:
USD 100/person/night halt (January, February, June, July, August & December)
The minimum price includes:
- All internal Taxes and charges (including the royalty)
- Accommodation
- All Meals
- All travel with a licensed Bhutanese Tour Guide
- All internal Transport
- Camping Equipment and Haulage for Trekking
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)
- The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) enables investment in transformative programmes that sustain our cultural traditions, protect our environment, upgrade infrastructure, and build our resilience. Critically, it supports the creation of training, mentorships and further education that will create long-term opportunities for our young people. Your contribution is not only a critical investment, it is a gesture of belief in our ambitions and our capacity to achieve them. We like to believe that the SDF will create additional value to guests who come to Bhutan, rather than an additional cost. Another way of looking at the SDF is a ‘pay it forward’ concept, whereby you will ensure that the future visitors to Bhutan will get an as good, or even better experience.
We use the SDF responsibly!
Article 14 of our constitution mandates that all taxes, fees and levies, which include the SDF, are deposited into a Consolidated Account. By law, funds from this general account must cover government recurrent expenditure, to ensure the stability and reliability of government operations. Residual revenue from this account is allocated to specific developmental activities, including building schools, providing free healthcare, skilling youth, maintaining forests and wildlife, providing fresh drinking water sources, renovating historical Dzongs, and other initiatives.
In short, funds from this consolidated general account, including SDF contributions, finance:
- Recurrent expenditures, which includes salaries and interest payment on loans, to maintain stable and operational government services for the Bhutanese people;
- Development projects selected by the government and outlined in Bhutan’s successive Five Year Plan issued by The Royal Government of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Commission
Frequently Asked Questions
Guaranteed Visa Issuance for our travellers
How and where do I apply for Visa?
Your Visa to Bhutan can only be applied and processed by an authorized and registered travel agent such as us. The Visa will come together with your travel package to Bhutan. You can’t apply Visa yourself and Bhutan embassy does not have travel visa services.
What does my tariff pay for?
USD 65 per night (frequently termed as royalty) actually goes toward a development fund for free health care, free education and road building in Bhutan. The remainder of the tariff goes to accommodation, meals, and services such as tour guides, transportation, drivers and entrance fees to places of attractions.
Drukair departs early in the morning during my last day and I won't be visiting any attractions, will I be exempted from the tariff on the last day?
Yes. Drukair generally departs Paro by 10 am everyday. Travelers departing by Drukair will be exempted from daily tariff on the last day when departing Bhutan.
How long does it take to get my Bhutan Visa?
Visa is usually released about 1 – 2 weeks before your arrival in Bhutan. This is to accommodate travelers who have to make last minute change of plan. We can arrange for your Visa within a one week period. So it is possible to book your trip this week and be in Bhutan in 7 day.
I would like to travel alone, backpack style and free-and-easy. How can I just the Visa without the accompanying tour package?
It is not possible to separate Visa application from tour package. Having said so you can still travel alone and free-and-easy. A guide and driver will be accompanying you and the activities within the day is really up you. You don’t have complete the tourism circuit.
Is there a tourist quota to the number of people who can visit Bhutan every year?
There is no tourist quota set by the Royal Government of Bhutan. Tourist number is about 29,000 per year (2010) largely because of the limited flight capacity and shortages of good hotels currently.
Can I stay at exclusive resorts like Uma and Amankora?
Visitors who opt for more exclusive resorts like Uma Paro, Taj Tashi and Amankora will have to pay for their accommodation on top of the daily tariff specified.
I can't find embassy of Bhutan in my country. How do I apply for the Visa?
Your Visa will be applied by your travel agency or tour operator. You would not need to make an appointment with Bhutan embassy. Embassy of Bhutan does not provide tourist Visa services.
I travel frequently and I can't send my passport for Visa application. How can I get the Visa?
We don’t need your physical passport to apply for tourist Visa. We simply need a color scanned copy of your passport to make the Visa application.
Reference
1. Tourism Council of Bhutan