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How to apply Bhutan Visa in 2024?

4 Steps to Get Your Bhutan Visa in 2024

Design your Bhutan tour, then apply for your Bhutan visa online by completing an application form, or you can choose a tour operator like us to apply for the visa on your behalf. Send us a digital copy of a valid passport, a recent digital passport photo, arrival and departure dates, and valid travel insurance for the duration of your travel, and we will do the rest for you.
After getting the full payment of your Bhutan tour, we will submit a visa application while do the payment of the visa fee (USD 40 per person) and the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$200 per night on your behalf. When the payment reaches the Tourism Council of Bhutan, an email notification will be offered. Note: The visa application fee of US$40 is non-refundable.
After the submission of your visa application with the payment of the visa fee and SDF, the Department of Immigration of Bhutan will issue a visa clearance letter (Bhutan E-visa) within 5 working days. Before your departure, we will send the electronic document to your e-mail box. Note: Do print your Bhutan E-visa out, as it is needed to check in at the airport.
At your point of entry, no matter in the Paro International airport or on the land border with India, the Bhutan visa will be stamped into your passport. Kindly note that the visa clearance letter issued by Department of Immigration of Bhutan is not valid for travel. Note: Any passengers without a valid visa clearance letter (do print it out in advance) will be denied at the check-in counter.

How to Get Bhutan Visa by Online Application?

Bhutan Visa is required for all international tourists to Bhutan, except for those who travel to Bhutan with a passport from India, Bangladesh, and Maldivian.

Unlike visas for most countries, Bhutan Visa can be only applied online. Even you could find Bhutanese consulates or embassies, they do not provide visa services. For Bhutan Visa, you can apply by yourself online or through a local travel agency or a international travel service like us, which offer you the full travel service in Bhutan.

We have successfully obtained Bhutan Visa during the past 10 years. We offer various kinds of trips in Bhutan together with Bhutan Visa application. To make the puzzling things clear, we are going to provide the ultimate guide to get your Bhutan Visa online.

Bhutan Visa Application Requirements

  • 1. Need to be applied through Online Application.
  • 2. Pay the Full Bill of visa fee (USD 40 per person) and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).
  • 3. Clear Scanned Digital Copy of Your Valid Passport.
  • 4. A Recent Digital Passport Photo.
  • 5. Valid travel insurance for the duration of your travel.
  • 6. Arrival and departure dates.
  • 7. Your Passport with at least 6 Months Validity at the Point of Arrival in Bhutan.

  • Check the PDF for screenshots of the Bhutan Visa Online Application Process
    Bhutan E-visa online apply steps .pdf

Online Bhutan Visa Application
We have helped thousands of travelers obtain their Bhutan Visa since 2013. Tell us your ideas and get a quick response within 6-8 hours from Asia Odyssey Travel Team. We aiming at providing the best private & customized Bhutan tour service for our clients at the most reasonable cost.
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Visitor by Nationality by Bhutan Visa Apply

  • Countries
  • Total
  • % shared
  • India
  • 191836
  • 69.99
  • USA
  • 10561
  • 3.85
  • Bangladesh
  • 10450
  • 3.81
  • China
  • 6878
  • 2.51
  • Singapore
  • 3886
  • 1.42
  • Thailand
  • 3886
  • 1.42
  • United Kingdom
  • 3585
  • 1.31
  • Germany
  • 3422
  • 1.25
  • Malaysia
  • 3140
  • 1.15
  • Australia
  • 2739
  • 1.00
  • Japan
  • 2674
  • 0.98
  • Viet Nam
  • 1961
  • 0.72
  • Canada
  • 1807
  • 0.66
  • France
  • 1773
  • 0.65
  • Taiwan Province of China
  • 1496
  • 0.55
  • Spain
  • 1397
  • 0.51
  • Switzerland
  • 1379
  • 0.50
  • Italy
  • 1229
  • 0.45
  • Indonesia
  • 1033
  • 0.38
  • Republic of Korea
  • 998
  • 0.36

Frequently Asked Questions on Bhutan Visa (FAQ)

  • How long can I stay in Bhutan 2023? Can I extend my Bhutan visa?

    The Bhutan visa allows you to remain in Bhutan for a maximum of 90 days from the date of entry. Extension of visa is available.

    You can extend your visa while you are in Bhutan. Provided the extension is applied for before the original visa or permit expires. You can extend your stay via the online visa application portal, using the same log-in details that were used to process your original visa. The fees for processing your extension application, and daily SDF (USD 200 per people per night) for the duration of your extended stay, will be payable via the same portal. Read more about visa apply by 2023 updated Bhutan Visa Online Application Guide

    Source : bhutan.travel (Sept. 2022)

    Here is a Bhutan e-visa from our group for your reference:

    Bhutan e-visa 2023

    Bhutan E-visa

  • Do Indian citizens need a visa to visit Bhutan in 2023?

    As mentioned, Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian don't need a pre-applied visa to enter Bhutan. But all nationals need to bear passports with a minimum of 6 months' validity before the travel date. Especially for Indians, they're free to enter Bhutan by air or land because of the free movement treaty between Bhutan and India.

    Any of the following documents are applicable upon entry:

    1.Indian Passport

    2.A Voter ID card with photograph

    3.Identification Slip issued by the Indian Consulate Office in Phuentsholing upon presenting proof of Indian citizenship.

     

    For more information about traveling to Bhutan with Indian Passport, please feel free to contact Asia Odyssey Travel and we are happy to help with your Bhutan Visa.

     

  • Which country enjoys the Bhutan Visa-free policy in 2023?
    Besides Indian citizens and those who travel to Bhutan with passports from Bangladesh and Maldives, some other people can enjoy the visa-free policy to Bhutan.

    Those Officials carrying diplomatic, UN & official passports will be issued gratis visas, which are free of charge.
    Those who receive a formal invitation to Bhutan from "a citizen of some standing" or a volunteer organization.
    Those who come as guests of the Bhutanese government.
    Thailand and Switzerland nationals holding diplomatic or official/service passport: a non-pre-applied visa with a maximum stay in Bhutan of 90 days will be stamped into their passports at entry.
  • How to apply for Official Visa to Bhutan?
    1.Official Guest of the Ministry
    •Forwarding letter from the head of the Department addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol)
    •Notesheet from the concern Ministry
    •Filled up Visa application form (need to be filled up by the guests only)
    •Passport photocopy of the visitor

     

    2.Official Guest of the Non-Governmental Organization
    •Forwarding letter from the Head of Organization
    •Approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    •Filled up visa applications(need to filled up by the guests only)
    •Passport photocopy of the visitor

    3.Official Guest of the Corporate & Autonomous Agencies
    •Forwarding letter from the Head of Institutions addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol
    •Approval Letter from the Chairman
    •Filled up visa application forms(need to be filled up by the guests only)
    •Passport photocopy of the guest

    4.Official Guest of the Sport Association
    •Forwarding letter from the General Secretary addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol
    •Approval Letter from the President
    •Filled up visa application form (need to be filled by the guests only)
    •Passport photocopy of the visiting guests

    5.Long Term Foreign Expatriate's Guests
    •Forwarding letter from the concern organizations addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol
    •Tenure of Host(Only long term are allowed to apply)
    •The host must complete six months prior to their arrival in the country
    •Filled up personal guest application
    •Filled up visa application form
    •Passport copy of the visitor as well as the host
    •Dependents of expatriates shall be allowed to join them in Bhutan for a period not exceeding the duration of their assignment
    •Term "Dependents" is defined to include the spouse and children of the expatriates
    •The duration of the stay of the guests do not exceed one month

    6.Official Guests of the Private Organizations
    •Forwarding letter from the MoEA
    •Filled up visa applications form
    •Passport photocopy of the guests

  • Any other tips about Bhutan Visa?


    •If the Government or any Private organizations wants to employee an foreigner, approval must be sought from Chief Labour Officer, Department of Labour with valid work permit.
    •The visa forms can be downloaded from the MoHCA website.
    •The maximum period of days required for processing visa is two working days; hence all the applications applying for visa should be submitted before two days from the prior date of arrival of the guests.
    •The visa clearance from the visa section should be collected only during the afternoon by 2: 00 P.M. to 5: 00 P.M.

    Nationals exempt from advance visa to enter Bhutan:
    •Bangladeshi, Maldivian & Indian nationals do not require visa while coming to Bhutan.
    •Thai and Swiss nationals holding official and diplomatic passports while coming to Bhutan do not require visa. The visa will by stamped upon arrival at the Paro International airport or any other port of entry by Immigration authorities. But those carrying ordinary passports need to process Bhutanese visa in advance. 

    Gratis Visas:
    •Only those Officials carrying diplomatic, UN & official passports will be issued gratis visas.
    •If there is a MoU signed indicating some points about the free charges, then the visiting guests will be issued gratis visas.

    Extension of Visa for the Visiting Guests:
    •If the guest has to stay back for more than three days, then the concerned Ministry/Organization etc need to write a letter addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol. The letter must mention the genuine reasons for the extension.
    •A copy of earlier visa which was issued by the Immigration.

  • What Kind of Photo is Required for Bhutan Visa Application 2023?

    What is the Photograph Requirements for Bhutan Visa?Your passport application for Bhutan Visa must be affixed with a recent passport photograph (not more than six months old). The size of the photograph should be 45 mm x 35 mm with your facial image taking up 70 to 80 % of the photograph, taken with a white background and without border.

    the Photograph Requirements for Bhutan E-visa 2023

    The Photograph Requirements for Bhutan E-visa 2023

    The photograph for Bhutan Visa must:

    1. Show you looking directly at the camera. No looking over one shoulder (portrait style).

    2. Show eyes open and clearly visible. If you wear glasses there should be no flash reflection, no tinted lenses and the frames should not cover any part of your eyes.

    3. Be in sharp focus and clear – no shadows.

    4. Be of high quality with no ink marks or creases. Photographs taken with a digital camera must be printed on photo-quality paper.

    5. Be clean with no smudge marks.

    6. Be glued and not stapled or pinned to the application form.

    Your passport photograph for Bhutan E-visa is the primary form of identification and following these minimum ICAO standards would facilitate proper identification at immigration checks while avoiding the need for the Passport Section to ask you to resubmit your photograph.

    PHOTO OK:(Background white,and facial image covering around 70% of the photograph)

    PHOTO NOT OK: (Background not white,frame of glass over the eyes and facial image small)