Bhutan Visa FAQs
Do you need a Visa for you trip to Bhutan?
Answer the two questions here and we'll show you if a visa or passport is required for your trip to Bhutan:
Answer the two questions here and we'll show you if a visa or passport is required for your trip to Bhutan:
All tourists must book their travel through a local licensed tour operator (or international partner). Visas are applied for online by your local tour operator and it is not required that you visit a Bhutanese Embassy or consulate. Your holiday must be paid in full, via a wire transfer, to the Tourism Council of Bhutan account before a tourist visa is issued. The money remains with the Tourism Council until your travel in-country is complete before the local tour operator is paid.
Visa clearance takes no longer than 72 hours, once full payment has been received. At your point of entry, the visa will be stamped in your passport on payment of USD40, also prepaid through your tour agent. Visa extensions can be obtained through your local tour operator at a cost of Nu.600 (1 Ngultrum = 1 Indian Rupee) and the tourist will also be subject to the daily tariff for the additional days.
Passport copy/Voter ID card + 2 Photographs (Please carry originals also for verification). For children below 18 years without valid passport, Birth Certificates and valid school ID are required to get Entry Permit. (Both are required in case of school going kid). Produce a Hotel Confirmation voucher at the counter. This is to make sure that all tourists visiting Bhutan has a proper address. So book a hotel prior to your arrival and have your hotel send you a confirmation voucher before entering Bhutan. The Entry permit granted by immigration officials in Phuntsholing is valid for travelling in Thimphu and Paro only. Once you arrive in Thimphu, you need to apply for Special area permit to visit any places other than Thimphu and Paro such as Punakha. Once you arrive in Thimphu, take a photocopy of your route permit to the Immigration office in Thimphu and process for the Special area permit. You need to fill up another form and attached your route permit along with it. You can collect your extension permits from the same office after 1 hour. If you are driving your own vehicle, you need to avail the Extension Permit from RSTA (Road safety and transport authority) located next to Lutenzampa School/bus parking.
Visa Permits are valid for a maximum of 7 days and if you want to spend more time than 7 days, you need to visit the Immigration office in Thimphu again and apply for extension of stay.
You'll find more detailed Bhutan visa FAQ's here
Typically, a visa takes anywhere from 2 days to 15+ days to process in the Bhutan Embassy/Consulate depending on the consulate that we need to send the application. The processing time for a visa is dependent on several factors and can change without notice at the consulate's discretion. Please refer to our service selection page for the most up-to-date processing times for Bhutan visas: https://www.passportsandvisas.com/visas/bhutan
A passport is an official government document that certifies one's identity and citizenship. The passport serves two purposes; to regain entry to the country of citizenship (i.e. the United States) and is a requirement by many countries to gain entry to the country you are visiting.
A Bhutan visa is an official government document that temporarily authorizes you to be in the country. Many countries require a visa to gain entry. The Bhutan visa is in the form of a stamp/sticker IN the passport and is obtained from a Bhutan Embassy in Washington DC or consulates around the country. We have staff spread around the country to hand carry your application for you and then overnight the passport back when it is completed.
All US Citizens require a visa and a US passport to travel to Bhutan, whether for business or tourism. MOST foreign nationals require a visa. We can help you to obtain a visa as well as a US passport.
A Bhutan visa is a stamp or endorsement placed by officials of Bhutan on a passport that allows the bearer to visit Bhutan. Visas are obtained from the Embassy or consulates of Bhutan for your visit. "Visit" is further defined as the reason for entry, usually business, tourist or transitory. There are over 270 countries that offer visas and literally thousands of different types of visas available based upon country, type of visit, and length of visit.
Answer the two questions here and we'll show you if a visa or passport is required for your trip to Bhutan: