Arrival in Bhutan

Bhutan requires a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended departure date. Use the same passport or identity document during clearance and keep a digital passport copy, a recent photograph, arrival and departure dates and proof of payment available. Tourist applications can take up to five working days; the Department of Immigration states three working days for non-tourist applications. Entry rules depend on nationality. Indian nationals generally need an Entry Permit and may use a passport or Voter ID; Indian minors under 18 need a passport or birth certificate and a legal guardian. Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives need a visa, either in advance or on arrival. Nationals of Switzerland and Thailand can receive visas on arrival only when travelling with diplomatic or official passports. Other foreign nationals normally need an e-Visa before entry. A valid SAARC Visa Exemption Sticker can remove the visa requirement, and holders of prior clearance do not need pre-registration. Eligible on-arrival applicants can pre-register through bms.doi.gov.bt and upload a passport copy. Tourists pay a one-time, non-refundable visa application fee of USD 40. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per night for adults and USD 50 for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 are exempt. Indian visitors pay Nu. or INR 1,200 per night, while children aged 6 to 11 pay Nu. or INR 600. From 2 June 2026, a 24-hour SDF waiver applies in designated border-town zones of Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. The official validity is stated as running until August 2027, and the waiver cannot be combined with other SDF incentives. Paro International Airport is Bhutan’s main international gateway. Designated land-entry points include Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse. The Department of Air Transport also lists Gelephu International Airport, Bumthang and Yongphula, but schedules and operational status should be checked before travel. An immigration officer compares the traveller with the travel document and permit. Clearance alone does not guarantee admission; the decision at the port of entry determines whether entry is granted. Keep the original permit available at checkpoints. Bhutanese citizens entering through land ports use a passport or CID and complete immigration formalities, while other residents may need a permit based on records held by the Department of Immigration or the Dzongkha Revenue and Customs authority. Customs requires a passenger declaration. Use the Red Channel for goods to declare and the Green Channel when nothing requires declaration, although both channels can be inspected randomly. Declare commercial quantities, restricted or prohibited goods, items above the free-baggage allowance and offloaded or unaccompanied baggage. Examples of restricted goods include weapons, ammunition, explosives, pharmaceuticals, live animals or animal products, plants, chemicals, fertilizer and antiques; the responsible authority may require a separate permit. False declarations can result in fines or other penalties. Foreign cash or bearer negotiable instruments worth at least USD 10,000 must be declared. The usual limit for carrying Ngultrum into or out of Bhutan is Nu. 25,000 without clearance from the Royal Monetary Authority. The Ngultrum is pegged one-to-one to the Indian rupee. Exchange services are available at Paro Airport, banks, larger hotels and authorized exchangers. Cards and ATMs are more reliable in urban areas than in remote locations, and Indian UPI Global QR is supported. Travel insurance has not been mandatory for tourists since 23 April 2024, but it remains advisable. Tourists should use certified tourism accommodation and service providers. Current Department of Tourism guidance requires a certified guide for tourist travel, while a separate permit for the planned journey is not required when the guide accompanies the tourist. Business or official travel may require such a permit. A tourist visa can last up to 90 days from entry and must be extended through the same portal before expiry. Bhutan has no evidenced nationwide registration or one-stop arrival service for every newcomer. Foreign residents other than tourists must register at the nearest police station within 10 days and register again after changing address. Non-tourist permits and visas must be extended before expiry, and original immigration documents should remain available at checkpoints. Inter-Dzongkhag buses and taxis are regulated by the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority, which has regional offices in Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Gelephu, Samdrupjongkhar and Mongar. A foreign driving licence or valid international licence is generally accepted for up to three months; longer stays require endorsement by the authority, a valid visa or work permit and the prescribed fee. Road conditions and limited public transport make a pre-arranged transfer useful, especially for remote or high-altitude destinations. The Ministry of Health operates hospitals, Basic Health Units and outreach services nationwide. The Health Help Center coordinates land ambulance and aeromedical responses through 112, but visitors should not assume that foreign newcomers receive free treatment. Carry medication documentation and consider insurance. Emergency numbers are 110 for fire, 111 for traffic, 112 for ambulance or medical help, 113 for police and 999 for disaster communication; the Department of Tourism provides tourism assistance on 2300 within Bhutan. Remote access, altitude and road delays make it sensible to identify the destination health facility and save the relevant emergency numbers before travelling onward.