Bhutan Visa Cost 2026: $40 Fee, Documents & How to Apply

A Bhutan visa costs US$40 per person — a one-off, non-refundable application fee, paid online at the time you apply. It is charged once per visitor, whatever the length of your stay.

The visa fee sits apart from Bhutan's nightly Sustainable Development Fee, which accounts for the larger share of what it costs to enter the country. Current rates, the reductions that apply to children, and the concessions for some regional nationalities are all set out in that guide.

If your plans change, the visa fee cannot be refunded — the nightly fee can be, which that guide also covers. Cancellation terms for the trip itself are set out in our booking terms.

Every nationality other than India applies for the same US$40 visa, whichever passport they hold. If you are travelling from Singapore, our travel from Singapore to Bhutan page sets out what to expect from a Singapore starting point.

How far in advance should I apply?

Apply at least 2 weeks before travel as processing takes about 5 working days. For festival periods, book 4-6 months in advance.

Can I extend my visa?

Yes, provided you apply before your current visa expires. Extensions are made through the same online portal used for the original application, with the same log-in details.

Two costs apply: a fee for processing the extension application, and the nightly Sustainable Development Fee for each additional day you stay. Both are paid through the portal. If we arranged your visa, we will take care of the extension as well — do mention it to your guide while there is still time left on the original visa.

A Bhutan visa is not issued on its own. It is tied to your travel dates, and to the government fees covering those dates being settled first.

• Step 1: Settle the government fees
  These are the nightly Sustainable Development Fee for the length of your stay, together with the one-off $40 USD visa fee. Both are paid before the application is processed.

• Step 2: Complete the visa application
  Once the fees are received, your application is processed and a Visa Clearance Letter is sent to you by email. You will need to show it at the airport in order to board your flight.

What payment methods are accepted?

Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted on the official portal. Tour operators may also accept bank transfers. All fees are charged in USD.

Two things are needed before an application can be submitted: proof of who you are, and a recent photograph. Have both ready as digital files.

1. A digital copy of your identity document. For travellers of every nationality this means a passport. Indian nationals who do not hold one may use a Voter ID instead, and Indian children under 18 without a passport may use a birth certificate.
   • The passport must remain valid for at least six months beyond the date you intend to leave Bhutan.
   • The copy should be supplied as a JPEG or PNG file.

   

2. A passport-size photograph.
   • Taken within the last six months.
   • In colour and portrait orientation, with your eyes open and your forehead and ears clearly visible.
   • Against a plain white background, with no border.

   

Send both across to us and we will take care of the application itself.

Whether you need a visa turns on nationality rather than on the kind of trip you are taking — and every nationality is welcome to apply. Bhutan keeps no list of restricted nationalities, so no passport is turned away on principle.

• Indian nationals do not need a visa. A permit is issued instead, on production of a valid passport or Voter ID, and it can be obtained at the border.
• Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals do need a visa, but may obtain it on arrival rather than in advance.
• Every other nationality must hold an approved visa before travelling. There is no visa on arrival.

Reductions on the nightly Sustainable Development Fee — for children, and for some regional nationalities — follow different rules from the visa itself, and are set out in that guide.

Do I need a visa to visit Bhutan?

There are no restricted nationalities for Bhutan - every passport holder is free to apply. All nationalities except Indian need a visa; Bangladeshi and Maldivian nationals can obtain theirs on arrival, while all other visitors must apply in advance. Indian nationals need a permit rather than a visa. You can apply for the visa yourself on the official government portal, or a licensed tour operator like Byways Tours and Travels can process it for you.

Byways Tours and Travels will handle the entire visa process on your behalf. You provide your documents, we will submit the application, collect payments, and send you the Visa Clearance Letter.

Can I apply for the visa myself or do I need a tour operator?

Both options are available. You can apply directly through the Department of Immigration portal (immi.gov.bt) or have a licensed tour operator handle the process for you. Direct application is ideal if you only plan to visit Thimphu and Paro.

The last step of the visa process happens at the immigration counter:

• Documents ready: have your passport and printed Visa Clearance Letter to hand. The immigration officer checks your details against the approved application.

• Visa stamp: your visa is stamped into your passport at the counter, which usually takes five to ten minutes. There is nothing to pay here — the fees were settled with your application.

What comes after that — the arrivals hall, meeting your guide, picking up a local SIM — is covered in our first-timer's guide to Bhutan.

Bhutan can also be entered overland from India. Crossing by land changes nothing about the visa: the same rules apply as they do on arrival by air, as set out earlier in this guide.

Indian nationals are the one exception. They need a permit rather than a visa, and it can be issued at the border immigration office on production of a valid passport or Voter ID.

Which crossings are open, and how to reach each of them, is covered in our guide to how to get to Bhutan.