Embassy
Embassy of India, Thimphu
Thimphu
PO Box:193, Jungshina
Bhutan visa requirements for Indian citizens
Entry to Bhutan is restricted for indian citizens: a visa plus special approval.
Passport
IND
India
Going to
BTN
Bhutan
Entry is restricted
An entry permit for Indian tourists, available online or on arrival.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Fee
- Daily visitor fee applies; permit charge unclear
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for Indian citizens in Bhutan
Indians need no visa for Bhutan
- Bring your Indian passport or Voter ID card with photo.
- Enter by land: Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar; by air: Paro.
- Without a permit, stay in Phuentsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar.
- Going beyond these towns? Get a permit online or on arrival.
- Beyond these towns, pay BTN 1,200 per day.
What to do
Read the extra conditions for your passport below: Bhutan limits where and how you can enter.
Apply for the visa at the embassy well ahead, and expect extra checks.
Enter only through the allowed border points and register with the police if required.
Get your Bhutan visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Bhutan
Apply online before travel, or use an eligible arrival route.
Other route For your passportIndian tourist entry permitAn entry permit for Indian tourists, available online or on arrival.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Daily visitor fee applies; permit charge unclear
How to apply
- Apply at immi.gov.bt or at the entry point.
- Provide your identity document and passport photo.
- Pay the daily visitor fee.
- Complete the entry permit checks.
Documents required
- Indian passport or voter identity card
- Child's passport or birth certificate
- Passport photo
- Children under 18 must travel with a legal guardian.
- Apply before travel to reduce waiting at the border.
eVisaTourist online visaAn online visa for tourists who need approval before travel.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- US$40
- Processing
- 5 days
How to apply
- Read and sign the Pledge of Friendship.
- Create an account at immi.gov.bt.
- Add travel dates, your passport copy and photo.
- Pay the visa fee and daily visitor fee.
- Submit and wait for approval before travel.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months after departure
- Digital passport copy
- Recent digital passport photo
- Arrival and departure dates
- Payment details
- Processing time counts working days.
- The standard adult visitor fee is 100 USD daily; children get discounts.
Sources (25)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs
- Bhutan Immigration Services Portal
- Department of Immigration — Tourists
- Department of Tourism — Visa
- Department of Tourism — Frequently asked questions
- Department of Tourism — official announcements
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade — Visa for coming to Bhutan
- Consulate General of Bhutan, New York — Visa Information
- Royal Bhutanese Embassy, New Delhi — Visa for Visiting Bhutan
- Royal Bhutanese Embassy, Brussels — visiting Bhutan guidance
- Department of Immigration — non-tourist portal launch, 30 June 2025
- Department of Immigration — Transit Visa Application Form 2026
- Immigration Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2007
- Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 — immigration-hosted copy
- Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023
- Department of Immigration — Non-Tourists categories
- Department of Immigration — Business Visa
- Department of Immigration — Employment Visa
- Department of Immigration — Student Visa
- Visa/Entry Permit Guideline for International Students 2026
- Department of Immigration — Dependent Visa
- Department of Immigration — Dependent Permit
- Department of Immigration — Visa on Arrival
- Department of Immigration — Requirements for Personal Guest of Bhutanese
- Department of Immigration — published diplomatic and official visa requirements
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Consulate general
Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing
Phuntsholing
Trips to Bhutan
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from India
- Plugs C D F G MNo adapter
- MoneyBTN Nu.Same as home
- Time+30m
- DrivingOn the leftSame as home
- LanguageDzongkha
- Emergency113 police112 ambulance
Planning your Bhutan trip
Best time to go: March to June for flowering jacaranda and rhododendron trees, or October to December for clear views of the snowy Himalayas. Weather varies greatly with altitude.
- Paro and ThimphuBoth are popular stops on cultural tours of Bhutan.
- PunakhaA popular cultural destination in a lower valley, with pleasant winters and hot summers.
- Phobjikha and JakarBoth are among Bhutan's popular cultural tour destinations.
- ZhemgangThis region offers birdwatching and excellent wildlife viewing.
Scams to watch for in Bhutan
- Counterfeit “baby yak wool” shawlsCheap, brightly coloured shawls are sold as “baby yak wool”. Most shawls sold this way are imports from Nepal and contain no yak fibre. You may pay for a material you are not getting.
- Theft from vehicles at tourist sitesMoney and valuables left in vehicles have been stolen while travellers visit tourist sites. Bhutan's peaceful atmosphere can make visitors less careful about leaving belongings behind.
About Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked kingdom in the eastern Himalayas, sitting between China and India.
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Money
- Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu.), Indian rupee (₹)
- Languages
- Dzongkha
- Time zone
- UTC+06:00
- Cars drive on the
- left side
- Calling code
- +975
Other Asia passports
Going to Bhutan
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Bhutan with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Is entry to Bhutan restricted for Indian citizens?
Indian citizens do not need a visa. Travel without a permit is limited to three border towns. Travel beyond them requires a permit and a daily fee. Indian citizens do not need a visa to enter Bhutan. Travel without a permit is limited to Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar.
Can Indian citizens visit any city in Bhutan?
No. Visas are limited to: Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar without a permit..
Where can Indian citizens enter Bhutan?
Only through: Phuntsholing (land), Gelephu (land), Samdrup Jongkhar (land), Paro (air).
Do indian citizens need a visa for Bhutan?
Indian citizens can visit, live and work in Bhutan without a visa.
Do bhutanese citizens need a visa for India?
Bhutanese citizens can visit, live and work in India without a visa.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to Bhutan?
Bangladesh and Maldives can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Bhutan are easier for indian citizens?
Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan Macau, and 3 more let indian citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Bhutan?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Bhutan?
Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu.) and Indian rupee (₹). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Bhutan?
Dzongkha.
How strong is the India passport?
It ranks #79 and reaches 53 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck