Before you travel

Bhutan travel rules & documents

Guide, Sustainable Development Fee, visa or entry permit and the documents to carry — summarised from official sources in October 2026.

Bhutan’s rules and fees change. This page was checked on 25 October 2026. Items marked confirm at booking were not fully clear in the official sources, and we re-confirm them with you when you book. Always check bhutan.travel and the Department of Immigration before you travel.

🧭 A licensed guide is required

Every tourist must be accompanied by a Department of Tourism (DoT) certified guide.
If you enter by road, you need a guide to travel beyond the border towns (Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samtse, Samdrup Jongkhar).
This applies to Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian tourists too. It does not apply to Bhutanese citizens.
Treks are allowed only with an accredited tour operator or guide.
Tourists with a certified guide no longer need a separate route permit for most areas; only restricted areas need special permission. Some older pages still mention a route permit — confirm at booking.

🛂 Visa or entry permit

International guests: e-visa before travel at visit.doi.gov.bt. Visa fee USD 40 per person, non-refundable; processing up to 5 working days. Flights to Bhutan can’t be bought without visa clearance.
Indian nationals: an entry permit, not a visa. Apply online in advance, or on arrival at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse or Paro airport.
Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals: visa on arrival or online — online is recommended.
You can apply yourself, or a tourism service provider can apply for you. We help with the paperwork when you book.
Tourist stays of up to 90 days; extensions through the same portal.

💚 Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) — per person, per night

Guest	SDF
International (USD-paying)	USD 100 until 31 Aug 2027 (full rate USD 200; a government review is pending) — confirm at booking
Indian	₹ / Nu 1,200 (reported to stay at this rate until Sep 2028)
Bangladeshi	USD 15 for the first 15,000 Bangladeshi tourists each year (scheme “till 2027”); USD 100 after the quota — confirm at booking
Maldivian	USD 100
Children 6–11	50% of the adult rate
Children under 6	Free
Bhutanese	None

Border towns: a 24-hour SDF waiver applies in Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samtse and Samdrup Jongkhar. SDF applies beyond the checkpoint (Rinchending for Phuentsholing). The USD 100 rate can’t be combined with this waiver.
SDF is paid online with the visa or permit application (card or wire transfer), and refunded if the trip is cancelled, minus bank charges.
SDF is separate from your tour price. Your quote says clearly whether it is included.

📄 Documents — bring the ORIGINALS

Original documents are checked at entry. Photocopies or phone photos are not accepted at the border.

Indian guests

Original Indian passport (valid 6+ months) or original Voter ID card (Election Commission of India).
2 passport-size photos.
Aadhaar, PAN card and driving licence are not accepted as travel documents.

Indian children (under 18)

Original birth certificate (in English) or passport.
Must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
Travelling with a guardian who is not a parent? Extra papers may be needed — confirm at booking.

International guests

Passport valid at least 6 months after you leave Bhutan — the same passport your e-visa was issued against.
For the online application: a digital passport copy and a recent photo.

Bangladeshi & Maldivian guests

Valid passport (6+ months).

We don’t collect ID on this website. After we confirm your trip, you can send document copies and the guest names list by email to reservationgreentravel@gmail.com or WhatsApp +975 17 30 28 62 — the originals still travel with you.

🏨 Certified hotels

Tourists must stay in DoT-certified accommodation, including homestays (DoT reminder, 22 Oct 2026).
All hotels in our trip planner are chosen with this in mind; we confirm certification when booking.

🩺 Travel insurance

No longer mandatory according to DoT (April 2024), but strongly recommended.
The Indian Consulate in Phuentsholing still advises Indian tourists to have it; Bhutanese insurance can be bought at the Phuentsholing terminal.

🚐 Vehicles

Self-drive rental cars are not available — our vehicles come with a driver.
Own car: Nu 4,500 per car per day plus a mandatory guide; the vehicle must meet RSTA rules — confirm at booking.
Indian-registered vehicles are allowed free in the designated border zone.

🔗 Official sources (checked 25 Oct 2026)

Questions about your documents?

Tell us your nationality and dates — we’ll confirm exactly what you need before you travel.

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