Indian citizens do not need a visa to visit Bhutan, but they do need a Bhutan Entry Permit. The permit is issued by the Department of Immigration, Royal Government of Bhutan. Indian travellers can apply in advance or obtain the permit at a designated port of entry.
If you are planning a holiday, explore our Bhutan tour packages for curated itineraries covering accommodation, transportation, sightseeing and guided travel.
Do Indians Need a Visa for Bhutan?
No. Indian nationals do not require a tourist visa for Bhutan. However, an Entry Permit is mandatory for Indian visitors.
Indian adults can enter Bhutan using either:
- A valid Indian passport, or
- An original Indian Voter Identity Card (Voter ID).
Indian travellers below 18 years of age may use a passport or birth certificate, provided they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Bhutan Entry Permit Requirements for Indians
For a tourist permit, Indian travellers should prepare:
- Valid Indian passport or original Voter ID card.
- Recent passport-size photograph.
- Passport or birth certificate for travellers below 18, as applicable.
- Details of the proposed Bhutan trip, including entry and travel dates.
- Additional documents if requested by the Department of Immigration.
If you are travelling with an Indian passport, it should have at least six months’ validity from the intended date of departure from Bhutan.
How to Apply for a Bhutan Entry Permit Online
Indian tourists can apply for their Bhutan tourist permit through the official Bhutan Immigration Services Portal. A tourism service provider can also assist with the application.
- Create an account on the Bhutan Immigration Services Portal: https://immi.gov.bt/
- Enter the traveller’s personal details.
- Upload the required identity document and recent photograph.
- Provide the proposed travel information.
- Complete the applicable Sustainable Development Fee payment.
- Submit the application.
- Keep the approved permit and payment records available while travelling.
Applying before departure is recommended because it can reduce processing time at the border, particularly during weekends, public holidays and peak travel periods.
Can Indians Get a Bhutan Entry Permit on Arrival?
Yes. Indian nationals are eligible to obtain an Entry Permit at the port of entry.
Travellers should carry their original passport or Voter ID and a recent passport-size photograph. Children below 18 should carry the applicable passport or birth certificate and travel with their parent or legal guardian.
Although the on-arrival facility remains available, applying in advance is preferable if you want to minimise waiting time at the border.
Bhutan Entry Points for Indian Travellers
Indian tourists can enter Bhutan by road through four official land entry points:
- Phuentsholing
- Gelephu
- Samdrup Jongkhar
- Samtse
Travellers can also arrive by air through Paro International Airport, subject to the applicable immigration and permit requirements.
Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for Indians
The current Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for Indian nationals is:
| Traveller | SDF |
|---|---|
| Adult Indian traveller | ₹1,200 per person per night |
| Child aged 6 to below 12 years | ₹600 per person per night |
| Child below 6 years | No SDF |
The SDF is calculated according to the number of nights covered by the traveller’s stay in Bhutan.
24-Hour Bhutan Border-Town SDF Waiver
Bhutan also has a special 24-hour SDF waiver for tourists visiting designated border-town areas.
From 2 June 2026, tourists visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar for up to 24 hours can qualify for the waiver, provided they remain within the designated zones.
The waiver does not apply when travellers move beyond the specified border-town zones. The current programme is scheduled to remain in force until August 2027.
Do Indians Need a Tour Operator to Visit Bhutan?
No. Indian tourists can arrange their Bhutan trip independently. However, using a recognised tourism service provider can simplify accommodation, transportation, permits, guides and sightseeing arrangements.
For travellers planning a longer holiday, our Bhutan tour packages provide an easier way to combine the major destinations into a single itinerary.
Is a Tour Guide Mandatory in Bhutan?
Bhutan’s current tourism rules require tourists to travel with a Department of Tourism-certified guide under the applicable guide requirements.
A certified local guide is particularly important when travelling beyond the designated border-town areas. Restricted and prohibited areas continue to have additional requirements, while designated trekking routes may require an appropriately certified trekking guide.
Do Indians Need a Route Permit in Bhutan?
Not for ordinary tourist travel. Bhutan removed the general Route Permit requirement for tourists under its negative-list approach.
Tourists travelling around Bhutan with the required certified guide can generally visit destinations without obtaining a separate Route Permit, except where specific areas are classified as restricted or prohibited.
This means travellers can plan journeys covering destinations such as Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Haa Valley, Phobjikha, Gangtey and Bumthang without relying on the old Paro-Thimphu-only permit information found in some older travel guides.
Restricted and Prohibited Areas in Bhutan: Do You Need Special Permission?
Bhutan no longer requires a general Route Permit for ordinary tourist travel. Under the country’s negative-list approach, tourists accompanied by a Department of Tourism (DoT)-certified guide can travel around Bhutan without stopping at interior immigration checkpoints or producing a Route Permit.
However, this does not mean that every location in Bhutan is open to tourists. Certain locations remain classified as prohibited areas or restricted areas, and separate permission or a specially qualified guide may be required depending on the location and purpose of travel.
Prohibited Areas in Bhutan
The current Department of Tourism list identifies the following locations as prohibited areas for ordinary tourist access:
| Prohibited Place | Dzongkhag |
|---|---|
| Chekha | Paro |
| Changju | Samtse |
| Singi Dzong | Lhuentse |
| Tobrang | Tashi Yangtse |
| Takpang | Lhuentse |
| Singphey | Tashi Yangtse |
| Tshampa | Bumthang |
| Beyond Haa Damthang | Haa |
These locations should not be included in a normal Bhutan sightseeing itinerary unless the traveller has obtained whatever specific authorisation is applicable to the particular area and purpose of travel.
Restricted Areas in Bhutan
The Department of Tourism’s current published restricted-area list includes:
| Restricted Place | Dzongkhag |
|---|---|
| Gunichawa | Paro |
| Soi | Thimphu |
| Khatang | Bumthang |
| Lingshi | Thimphu |
| Beyond Bumdeling | Tashi Yangtse |
These locations are different from the ordinary tourist destinations such as Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Haa, Phobjikha and Bumthang. Travellers should not assume that visiting a Dzongkhag automatically gives permission to enter every remote location within it.
Can Tourists Visit Restricted Trekking Areas?
Yes, certain areas classified as restricted trekking routes may be accessible to tourists when accompanied by an appropriately DoT-certified trekking guide.
This is particularly important for travellers planning high-altitude treks or remote Himalayan routes. Trekking access should therefore be arranged in advance rather than treated as ordinary sightseeing.
Do You Need a Special Permit for Paro, Thimphu or Punakha?
No general special-area permit is required for ordinary tourist visits to Paro, Thimphu or Punakha. Older Bhutan travel information stating that tourists could initially visit only Paro and Thimphu and then needed a Special Area Permit to travel elsewhere is outdated.
The current system allows tourists accompanied by a DoT-certified guide to travel throughout the country, except for locations falling under the prohibited or restricted categories.
If you are planning to explore the country’s major destinations, our detailed guide to tourist places to visit in Bhutan covers the principal sightseeing areas and attractions.
What Permission Is Needed for Restricted Areas?
There is no single additional permit that covers every restricted location in Bhutan. The applicable permission depends on the location, activity and purpose of travel.
For trekking routes, the appropriate certified trekking guide and applicable trekking arrangements are required. For other restricted or controlled locations, travellers should obtain confirmation from the relevant Bhutanese authorities or a certified Bhutanese tourism service provider before including the location in their itinerary.
Do not rely on an old Route Permit or a standard tourist Entry Permit as permission to enter a restricted or prohibited location.
What About National Parks?
National Parks are not automatically treated as prohibited areas simply because they are protected areas. However, separate permits are required to enter Bhutan’s National Parks, and the application process is handled separately from the ordinary tourist Entry Permit.
If your itinerary includes wildlife, conservation areas, trekking or remote mountain regions, the required park or trekking permissions should be arranged before travelling.
Important Rule for Bhutan Travellers
The easiest way to understand Bhutan’s current system is:
- Entry Permit: Required for Indian nationals entering Bhutan.
- Route Permit: No longer required for ordinary tourist movement.
- Certified Guide: Tourists must travel with a DoT-certified guide under the current tourism rules.
- Restricted Areas: Additional conditions or permissions may apply.
- Restricted Trekking Routes: A DoT-certified trekking guide is required.
- Prohibited Areas: Ordinary tourist access is not permitted.
- National Parks: Separate entry permits are required.
For travellers looking for a conventional Bhutan holiday, these restrictions normally do not affect the main tourist circuit. You can comfortably combine Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Haa Valley, Phobjikha, Gangtey and other established tourist destinations with the required certified guide.
Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for Bhutan?
No. Bhutan withdrew the mandatory travel-insurance requirement on 23 April 2024.
Travel insurance is nevertheless strongly recommended for Indian travellers, particularly for medical emergencies, trip interruptions, baggage problems and other unexpected situations.
Can Indians Take Their Own Car to Bhutan?
Yes. Indian visitors can enter Bhutan with their own vehicle, subject to the applicable Bhutanese vehicle and immigration requirements.
The current charge for bringing a private vehicle into Bhutan is Nu. 4,500 per vehicle per day. A guide is additionally required.
The vehicle should have the necessary documentation, including:
- Valid driving licence.
- Vehicle insurance.
- Pollution-control documentation.
- Bhutan entry permit.
- Valid vehicle registration documents.
A valid Indian driving licence is accepted for driving in Bhutan. If the vehicle is not owned by the traveller, appropriate authorisation documentation should also be carried.
Bhutan Entry Permit for Indians: Important Points
- Indian citizens do not need a tourist visa.
- An Entry Permit is required.
- Indian adults can use a valid passport or original Voter ID.
- Children below 18 can use a passport or birth certificate and must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
- Advance permit application is recommended to reduce border-processing time.
- The current Indian SDF is ₹1,200 per person per night.
- Children aged 6 to below 12 pay ₹600 per night.
- Children below 6 are exempt from SDF.
- Travel insurance is recommended but is not mandatory.
- Tourists should travel with a certified Bhutanese guide under the current tourism rules.
- Ordinary tourist movement does not require the old-style Route Permit.
- Restricted and prohibited areas remain subject to separate regulations.
- Indian visitors bringing their own vehicle pay Nu. 4,500 per vehicle per day, in addition to guide-related costs.
Plan Your Bhutan Trip from India
For Indian travellers, visiting Bhutan is relatively straightforward once the Entry Permit, SDF, accommodation, transportation and guide arrangements are organised.
Whether you want to explore the monasteries and viewpoints of Paro, the capital city of Thimphu, the historic Punakha Dzong, the valleys of Gangtey and Phobjikha or the more remote landscapes of Bhutan, planning the route in advance makes the journey smoother.
Explore our Bhutan tour packages for ready-made and customisable itineraries, or read our detailed guide to places to visit in Bhutan before choosing your route.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bhutan Entry Permit for Indians
Is a visa required for Indians travelling to Bhutan?
No. Indians do not need a tourist visa, but an Entry Permit is required.
Can I use my Voter ID to enter Bhutan?
Yes. An original Indian Voter Identity Card is accepted for eligible Indian adult travellers.
Can I get the Bhutan Entry Permit at the border?
Yes. Indian nationals can obtain an Entry Permit at designated ports of entry. Advance application is recommended to reduce waiting time.
How much is the Bhutan SDF for Indians?
The current SDF for Indian adults is ₹1,200 per person per night. Children aged 6 to below 12 pay ₹600 per night, while children below 6 are exempt.
Is travel insurance compulsory for Bhutan?
No. Travel insurance is currently recommended but not mandatory.
Can Indians travel beyond Paro and Thimphu?
Yes. The old Paro-Thimphu-only restriction is outdated. Indian tourists can plan travel across Bhutan subject to current guide requirements and restrictions applicable to specific areas.
Do I need a Route Permit to visit Punakha or Bumthang?
Ordinary tourists do not generally require the old Route Permit for normal tourist movement. Restricted areas and certain trekking routes may have additional requirements.
Can I take my Indian car to Bhutan?
Yes, subject to Bhutan’s vehicle-entry requirements. The current vehicle charge is Nu. 4,500 per car per day, and a guide is additionally required.
