- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- Thimphu, Bhutan
Bhutan visa guide 2027
Bhutan visa and entry rules for 2027
Who needs a visa, what it costs, how long it takes and what the Sustainable Development Fee is. Written by our team in Thimphu and checked against government notices.
- USD 40 visa fee
- About 5 working days
- We file it for you
The short answer
Do you need a visa for Bhutan?
Yes, unless you hold an Indian passport. Everyone else needs visa clearance before they travel, and it is issued online through the Department of Immigration. Most visitors let their tour operator apply, because the application is tied to your booked dates, your guide and your SDF payment.
Once the visa is approved you receive a clearance letter. You show it when you check in for your Drukair or Bhutan Airlines flight, and the visa is stamped into your passport when you land at Paro or cross the border at Phuentsholing or Samdrup Jongkhar.
- Fee: USD 40 per person, paid once per trip
- Processing: normally about 5 working days
- Passport: valid for at least 6 months after you leave Bhutan
How to get a Bhutan visa
This is the process when you book with us. You can also apply yourself at immi.gov.bt.
Book your trip
Confirm your itinerary and dates with us. Your SDF nights are based on this plan.
Send your documents
A clear scan of your passport photo page and a recent passport-style photo. That is all we need.
We apply and pay
We submit the application, pay the USD 40 visa fee and the SDF to the government, and track the approval.
Fly with your letter
We email your visa clearance letter. Print it, show it at check-in, and get the visa stamped on arrival.
Fees and rules by nationality
Bhutan visa fees and SDF in 2027
The SDF rate below runs until 31 August 2027. The government has not yet announced the rate after that date.
| Traveller | Visa or permit | SDF per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| International visitors | E-visa, USD 40 | USD 100 per adult | Applied for online before travel |
| Children aged 6 to 11 | E-visa, USD 40 | USD 50 | Travelling with a parent or guardian |
| Children under 6 | E-visa, USD 40 | Free | A passport is still required |
| Indian nationals | Entry permit, no visa | INR 1,200 | Passport or voter ID accepted |
| Bangladeshi nationals | Visa clearance, fee waived | Regional rate | We confirm the current rate when you enquire |
| Maldivian nationals | Regional rules apply | Regional rate | We confirm the current rate when you enquire |
Day visits to the border towns of Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar carry no SDF if you stay inside the town zone and leave within 24 hours. Sources: Department of Tourism and Department of Immigration notices, checked October 2026.
About the SDF
What the Sustainable Development Fee pays for
The SDF is the reason Bhutan stays uncrowded. It is paid to the government, not to tour operators, and it funds services Bhutanese people rely on.
Free healthcare
Bhutan provides free basic healthcare to its citizens. SDF income helps pay for it.
Free education
Schooling is free, and the fee supports schools and teachers across the country.
Forests and climate
About 70 per cent of Bhutan is forest. The SDF supports conservation and carbon offset work.
Heritage
It helps maintain dzongs, temples and the trails visitors use.
Fewer crowds
Bhutan had 209,376 tourist arrivals in 2025. The fee keeps numbers at a level the country can manage.
Shown on its own line
In our quotes the SDF is listed separately, so you always see what goes to the government.
Other entry rules
Before you travel to Bhutan
Licensed guide
A Department of Tourism notice issued on 8 April 2026 confirms that visitors must be accompanied by a licensed guide beyond the first checkpoint. Treks need a licensed trekking guide.
Insurance
Travel insurance has not been compulsory since 23 April 2024. We still advise a policy with medical evacuation cover.
Entering by road
Third-country visitors can enter at Phuentsholing and, since 7 November 2024, at Samdrup Jongkhar. You need an Indian visa that allows you to leave India by land.
Route permits
Separate route permits for travel between districts were dropped in 2023. Some protected areas and treks still need special permits, which we arrange.
Fast track
If time is short, ask us about faster processing. We will tell you what is possible for your dates.
Same passport
Travel on the same passport you used for the application, or the visa will not match at immigration.
Guests on our visa and permit help
“Mr. Omanth did a fantastic job overall. He took care of all the cancellations of hotels due to government holidays, and booking it again on our previously planned dates, that too without charge.”
Munendra
Trip via Phuentsholing
“We did 7 nights 8 days tour with Deya Bhutan and had a wonderful experience. Om Naath was in regular touch with us before during and after the trip. He was always available on WhatsApp.”
ketan_fans
7 nights, 8 days
“I am a solo traveler most of the time and prefer planning on my own. But for a change this time used Deya for my trip to Bhutan and absolutely loved the idea of doing it.”
Suma K
Solo traveller
Bhutan visa questions
The visa fee is USD 40 per person, paid once per trip. On top of that, you pay the Sustainable Development Fee of USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027.
Approval normally takes about 5 working days once the application and payment are in. We suggest applying at least three weeks before you fly.
No. International visitors must have visa clearance before boarding the flight or reaching the border. Indian nationals receive a permit on arrival or can apply online.
No. Indian citizens need an entry permit, which they can get online or at the port of entry with a passport or voter ID. They pay an SDF of INR 1,200 per night.
Yes, at immi.gov.bt. In practice, because you must travel with a licensed guide and book your SDF nights, most visitors let their operator handle it as part of the trip.
No. The requirement was dropped on 23 April 2024. We still recommend insurance, especially for treks.
The USD 100 rate is confirmed until 31 August 2027. Nothing has been announced about the rate after that. If your trip falls after that date, we check the current rate before you pay.
Keep planning
More on visas, fees and travel rules
Free trip planning
Let us handle your visa and SDF
Send us your dates and we will take care of the visa, the SDF and the rest of your trip. You will know exactly what you pay and when.
- Free personalised consultation
- No booking fees, ever
- A reply within 24 hours
- Licensed Bhutanese tour operator
- +975 17533776
- +975 77495028
- info@deyabhutantours.com
- Thimphu, Bhutan
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