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Bhutan Visa: Get Your Visa for Bhutan by Simple 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 a Bhutanese consulate or embassy. When there are, they do not provide visa services.
As a fact, there is no other way to apply for a Bhutan visa other than through a local travel agency or one of their international partners, which offer you the full travel service in Bhutan. An individual application is not accepted by the Bureau.
With our partner in Bhutan, we have successfully obtained Bhutan Visa during the past decades. 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
- Need to be Required through a Local Travel Agency
- Pay the Full Bill of Your Bhutan Tour
- Clear Scanned Copy of Your Passport
- Your Passport with at least Six Months Validity at the Point of Arrival in Bhutan
Bhutan Visa Application Procedure
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1
Book your Bhutan Tour and Do the Full Payment
The full payment of your Bhutan tour is the first thing required to apply for your Bhutan visa. Only after receiving the approval letter offered by the Tourism Council of Bhutan, the agency will make the final application for your visa.
It is unable to pay in installments. You need to pay the full price of your tour before you go.
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2
Provide the Colored Scanned copy of Your Passport
Once you do the payment, you need to send the scanned copy of your passport to your agency by e-mail. Remember, the copy needs to be colored and clear.
Since all procedures are doing online, you don't need to send the original passport to your Bhutan agency. Just keep your passport yourself with you.
Notice: Your passport needs to have at least 6 months of validity.
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3
Get the Visa Clearance Letter and Print It Out
After receiving the final application from your agency, the Department of Immigration of Bhutan will issue a visa clearance letter within 72 working hours. You should expect only between 10 to 3 days before your departure, which comes as an electronic document in your inbox.
Notice: Please don't forget to print it out, since you need to show the hard copy to get the boarding pass while check-in at the airport.
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4
Get the Visa Stamped on Your Passport upon Arrival
At your point of entry, the Paro International airport or the land border with India, the visa will be stamped into your passport. Kindly note that the Initial Reference letter issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not valid for travel. Any passengers without a valid visa clearance letter will be denied at the check-in counter.
Special Notice
The whole procedure of getting your Bhutan Visa may take about 3 weeks. So it is suggested to book your Bhutan tour and finish the payment at least 1 month in advance.
Bhutan Visa Online Application
We offer quick online application for Bhutan Tourist Visa. Just filling out the following form, you will get quick and professional guidance on how to get your Bhutan Visa.
Bhutan Visa Fee and Tour Cost
The overall cost of visiting Bhutan can be divided into two parts: the visa fee, which is a fixed USD 40 per person, and the minimum daily package rate.
Price for Group Size of Minimum 3 People
For most tourists, traveling in a group of 3 people or more in peak season, which consists of the months of March, April, May, September, October, and November, you will be charged USD 250 per person per night halt, while in low season - the months of January, February, June, July, August, and December - it’s USD 200.
Either way, the daily package covers the following services:
A minimum of 3-star accommodation (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium)
All meals
A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay
All internal transport (excluding internal flights)
Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
USD 65 per person per night for Sustainable Development Fee (SDF, also known as Royalty)
These rates are applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan and must be paid in US dollars prior to arrival in Bhutan.
Surcharges
On the other hand, although there are no limitations in the number of people in a Bhutan tour group, tourists travelling in a group of two people or less shall be subject to a surcharge, in addition to the minimum daily package rates. Individual tourist will have to pay an extra USD $40 per night halt, while members in a group of 2 people will be surcharged USD $30 per person per night halt. However, representatives of foreign travel agents on business study or promotional visit duly approved and cleared by TCB will be exempt from this surcharge.
Daily Package Discount
There are some tariff exceptions. 25% discount is applicable on Diplomatic visas and for full-time students below 25 years old holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions. Besides, children below 5 years old are charge-free other than the visa fee of USD 40. For those between the ages of 5 - 12 years accompanied by elders/ guardians, a 50% discount on minimum daily rates is offered.
A discount of 50% or 100% on daily rates shall also be respectively given to one person in a group of 11 to 15 people or a group exceeding 16 people. A 50% duration discount on SDF shall be provided as well after the 8th night and 100% discount after 14th night.
Please Note: Children below 5 years will not be eligible for group size discounts, duration discounts, and SDF. And all children and students will not be eligible for duration discounts.
Common Questions on Bhutan Visa
1. How long can I stay in Bhutan?
The Bhutan visa, by default, comes with a 7 to 14 days stay in Thimphu and/or Paro. The rest of Bhutan is considered a restricted area, and foreigners need a "Restricted-Area Permit" to enter. Extension of visa is available through the help of your tour operator if the guest has to stay longer, then the concerned Ministry/Organization, etc. need to write a letter addressed to Dy. Chief of Protocol.
2. Do Indian citizens need visa to visit Bhutan?
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:
Indian Passport
A Voter ID card with photograph
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 us.
3. More Visa-free to Bhutan?
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.
Quick Inquiry
Still have questions about how to get a visa for your Bhutan tour?
Please feel free to leave any of your questions or comments below. We will reply to you within 24 hours.
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