Bhutan visa requirements for Maldivian citizens
Entry to Bhutan is restricted for maldivian citizens: a visa plus special approval.
MDV
Maldives
BTN
Bhutan
Entry is restricted
Special approval or set entry points.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for Maldivian citizens in Bhutan
Visit Bhutan visa-free for up to 14 days
- Maldives passport holders need no visa for up to 14 days.
- By land, enter only through Phuntsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar.
- By air, enter only through Paro.
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.
eVisa For your passportAdvance tourist visaAn online visa for Bangladeshi and Maldivian tourists who want approval before arrival.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Daily visitor fee applies; visa charge unclear
How to apply
- Create an account at immi.gov.bt.
- Fill in the tourist form and upload your documents.
- Pay the required fees and submit.
- Wait for approval.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months after departure
- Digital passport copy
- Recent digital passport photo
- Travel dates
- You can also apply on arrival.
- The immigration portal recommends applying before travel.
Visa on arrival For your passportTourist visa on arrivalA visa for Bangladeshi and Maldivian tourists, available when they arrive.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Daily visitor fee applies; visa charge unclear
How to apply
- Bring your passport and a recent passport photo.
- Ask immigration for a tourist visa on arrival.
- Complete the checks and pay required fees.
Documents required
- Passport valid 6 months after departure
- Recent passport photo
- Apply online before travel to reduce waiting.
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
Trips to Bhutan
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from Maldives
- Plugs C D F G MAdapter for some
- MoneyBTN Nu.
- Time+1h
- 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 Maldivian citizens?
Maldives passport holders can visit Bhutan without a visa for up to 14 days. They must use one of the listed entry points. Maldives passport holders may enter Bhutan without a visa for up to 14 days. Entry by land is only allowed through Phuntsholing, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar.
Where can Maldivian citizens enter Bhutan?
Only through: Phuntsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Paro.
Do maldivian citizens need a visa for Bhutan?
Maldivian citizens get a visa on arrival in Bhutan.
Can I get the Bhutan visa at the airport?
Yes. Maldivian citizens get the visa when they land in Bhutan. Carry cash for the fee, a passport photo, your return ticket and hotel details.
Do bhutanese citizens need a visa for the Maldives?
Bhutanese citizens get a visa on arrival in the Maldives, for up to 30 days.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to Bhutan?
India and Bangladesh can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Bhutan are easier for maldivian citizens?
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal Sri Lanka, and 3 more let maldivian citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Bhutan?
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo. Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
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 Maldives passport?
It ranks #55 and reaches 81 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck