Bhutan · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for Bhutan?

Entry rules for Bhutan by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026.

In brief

Citizens of 1 countries and territories can visit Bhutan without a visa. 2 get a visa on arrival. Everyone else, 195 nationalities, applies online for an eVisa or ETA.

Visa-free: 1
On arrival: 2
eVisa or ETA: 195
Visa required: 0

About 6.5 bn people (80% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to Bhutan: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 3 Nov 2026Source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government…Report a change

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Bhutan entry rules at a glance

Group	Stay	Nationalities	Examples	Source
Visa-free	Not stated	1	India	Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government…
Visa on arrival	90 days from entry	2	Bangladesh, Maldives	Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government…
eVisa	90 days from entry	197	China, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan	Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government…

Visa-free: India

1 nationality

Entry permit instead of a visa, issued on arrival or online in advance; Indian passport or voter ID card (birth certificate for under-18s with a guardian); Sustainable Development Fee Nu. 1,200 per night.

India

Source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026Indian nationals are eligible for permit on arrival, but it is recommended that a permit is obtained in advance, to reduce the processing time at the port of entry.

Visa on arrival for 90 days from entry: Bangladesh and the Maldives

2 nationalities

Sustainable Development Fee payable per night (reduced rate for the first 15,000 Bangladeshi visitors); applying online in advance is recommended.

Source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives, as well as nationals of Switzerland and Thailand who hold diplomatic or government-official passports, are also eligible for a visa on arrival at their port of entry.

eVisa for 90 days from entry: China, the US, Indonesia and 194 more

197 nationalities

Visa must be approved before travel (except Bangladesh and Maldives); Sustainable Development Fee USD 100 per adult per night plus a USD 40 visa fee; processed within 5 working days.

Source: Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026Tourist can apply for their visa or permit through this website, or they can engage tourism service providers to process their visa or permit.

Where to apply

Apply for the eVisa only on the official site, immi.gov.bt. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules.

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FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit Bhutan?

It depends on your passport: 1 nationalities are visa-free, 2 get a visa on arrival and 195 can use an eVisa or ETA. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Bhutan?

No, not for a short stay. Indian citizens can visit Bhutan visa-free (entry permit instead of a visa, issued on arrival or online in advance; Indian passport or voter ID card (birth certificate for under-18s with a guardian); Sustainable Development Fee Nu. 1,200 per night) (Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026).

Do US citizens need a visa for Bhutan?

Yes, but online: US citizens apply for an eVisa before they travel (90 days from entry); visa must be approved before travel (except Bangladesh and Maldives); Sustainable Development Fee USD 100 per adult per night plus a USD 40 visa fee; processed within 5 working days (Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, checked 3 Nov 2026).

Can I apply for a Bhutan visa online?

Yes, if you are eligible: 195 nationalities can apply online for an eVisa or ETA. Apply only at immi.gov.bt.

Sources and changes

Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutanimmi.gov.bt · checked 3 Nov 2026
Department of Tourism: visabhutan.travel · checked 3 Nov 2026
Bhutan Immigration Services Portal (official visa and permit applications)immi.gov.bt · checked 3 Nov 2026
Department of Tourism: FAQsbhutan.travel · checked 3 Nov 2026

3 Nov 2026All groups checked against Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan. No change since.

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