1.1. Yes, all visitors will need a visa to visit Bhutan, except for visitors from India, who will require a permit.

1.2. Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry.

1.3. Nationals of Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic and official passports shall be eligible for a visa on arrival at the port of entry.

1.4. Visitors from India will need a permit to visit Bhutan. This applies to anyone holding an Indian passport, or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals aged under 18 years, a passport or a birth certificate will suffice, and they must be accompanied by legal guardians.

2.1. Visitors can process a visa or permit online from the Department of Immigration or visitors can contact us – www.drukheritage.com – to process the travel documents and plan a trip. We will also offer customer service to help answer questions regarding visa applications and to answer questions about travel within the country – + 975 1714 0163.

2.2. 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.

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

3.2. Travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip; and

3.3. A recent passport size photograph.

4.1. 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.

5.1. 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.

5.2. Passport size photograph is also required.

5.3. Travel insurance is required and should be valid for the whole duration of the trip.

7.1. 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 programmes that preserve our cultural traditions, protect our heritage and environment, upgrade infrastructure, create opportunities for our young people, and build resilience.

8.1. 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.

8.2. Visitors from all other countries are levied SDF of USD 200 per person, per night.

8.3. 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.

8.4. 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.

9.1. The SDF must be paid during the visa or permit application via wire transfer or using a credit card.

9.2. The SDF must be paid in USD; however, Indians can also pay in INR.

9.3. A guest who is eligible for a visa on arrival, should also pay the applicable SDF in USD at the port of entry.

10.1. The SDF will be waived for visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India, until the first designated point identified by the Government. The SDF will be levied on visitors spending the night within border towns.

11.1. While visitors to Bhutan can plan their own trip, they can also engage local tourism service providers – www.drukheritage.com – who can provide more assistance. However, it is mandatory to stay in certified accommodation for the whole duration of the trip.

11.2. Guests visiting Bhutan shall arrange:

(1) Accommodation;

(2) A tour guide

(3) Travel insurance, and;

(4) Transportation around the country, including airport transfers.

12.1. All the tour operators active are licensed by the Government of Bhutan and guests can select the best tour operator based on their requirements.

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

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

15.1. The visa or permit extension can be processed by the Department of Immigration or your travel partner in Bhutan 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 or via your travel partner in Bhutan.

16.1. While the process is usually quite quick for visa or permit extensions. Keep up to five working days.

17.1. Visitors can extend their stay with the help of your travel partner in Bhutan.

18.1. A guest or www.drukheritage.com can process an application for a visa or permit extension.

19.1. 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.

20.1. Visitors can travel to Bhutan by taking flights from Bangladesh (Dhaka), India (Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra), Nepal (Kathmandu), Singapore (Changi) and Thailand (Bangkok).

20.2. For now, there are two airlines that fly into Bhutan – namely, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines.

20.3. Private jets can fly into Bhutan after getting the relevant approvals from the competent authorities.

20.4. All visitors can also enter via land from Phuentsholing. Indian guests can enter Bhutan via other land entry points (Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse).

 21.1. Visitors can pre-arrange a pick-up service from the airport with their accommodation or your travel partner.

22.1. There are domestic flights to Bumthang (Central Bhutan), Gelephu, Sarpang (Southern Bhutan) and Yongphula, Trashigang (Eastern Bhutan).

22.2. Visitors can also book helicopter services for special itineraries. 22.3. The other option is to hire a local tourism service provider who can arrange all the internal transfer and tour programs.

23.1. The most convenient transport facility is to hire a vehicle and driver from a car rental company or your travel partner. It is not possible to hire a vehicle without a driver in Bhutan.

23.2. You can also use an online app to book local transport (https://www.drukride.com/).

24.1. It is mandatory to arrange trekking trips that require overnight stays through your travel partner. Your travel partner can help you with all the logistical support for the hiking or trekking trip.

25.1. 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.

25.2. If visitors follow the itineraries or journeys set by hotels, they will not need a guide as they will already have a guide who will be arranged by the hotel.

26.1. All the tour guides listed are licensed by the Government.

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

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

30.1. Although we recommend all visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help stop the spread of the disease, there are now no COVID-19 vaccination requirements for adults or children to enter Bhutan from September 23, 2022. However, all individuals (12 years and above) entering Bhutan may be subjected to random RT-PCR testing at the formal points of entry or at the worksite to maintain COVID-19 surveillance for new variants. No fee shall be charged for the RT-PCR testing for surveillance.

31.1. Yes, unvaccinated guests can enter Bhutan and there will be no quarantine period.

32.1. If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 during their stay in Bhutan, they will be required to quarantine in their hotel until they test negative. The cost for the additional quarantine nights and PCR tests will be borne by the guest. The SDF will be waived during the quarantine period.

33.1. There will be no COVID-19 protocols to leave Bhutan, unless they will be required by the country the guest is travelling to.

34.1. The official currency of Bhutan is Ngultrum (Nu.) and only the local currency is accepted in the country.

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

35.2. Visitors can also use the digital wallet app called goBoB that can be operated with a local sim card and is also widely accepted throughout the country.

35.3. 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.

36.1. 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.

37.1. 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.

38.1. Visitors can get a sim card from visitor information centres on arrival, branch offices of Bhutan Telecom and Tashicell or from authorised agents in towns.

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

40.1. 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.

40.2. 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.

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

Bhutan is a year-round destination.

Spring is a botanist’s delight with nature in full bloom and wild flowers covering the meadows like a carpet. It’s a remarkable time of the year to explore nature. Summer is green, fresh and revitalising. The low hanging clouds draped over the head, hazy mist covering the green carpeted valleys, the place stems right out of the mystery. Most of the farming activities also take place in summer.

Autumn is a merry season of feast and festivals. As farmers reap the fruits of their work, the streets are covered with healthy harvests of the year. Winter is crisp and clear.

You can get the glimpse of the high snow glistening in the Himalayan mountains and view the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.

43.1. Yes, Bhutan is a very safe destination for visitors and crime is uncommon. However, petty crime sometimes happens and visitors should take care of themselves and their belongings.

43.2. Flooding and landslides can happen. In the monsoon season from June to September, transport and services can be affected. Check with your local travel partner for possible disruptions.

43.3. There are a number of stray dogs that roam freely around the city areas. While normally the dogs keep their distance and do not bite humans, sometimes dog attacks happen. It is recommended that visitors to Bhutan do not feed or pat the stray dogs. It is also recommended that guests take care around the stray dogs and keep their distance, especially if they have children.

44.1. Visitors can always contact the Tourism Council of Bhutan through [email protected] or call +975 17122257 or 2300 within Bhutan. Or call your travel partner +975 1714 0163

45.1. 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

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