VISA
Most countries issue visas from their embassies abroad and stamp it in your passport, but not Bhutan. Visas are issued only when you arrive in the country, either at Paro airport or Phuentsholing (if entering by road).
You must apply in advance through a tour operator and receive approval before you travel to Bhutan. All applications for tourist visas must be initialized by a Bhutanese tour operator like us and are approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thimphu.
After we receive your full payments for the tour, the tour operator then makes a final application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which takes up to a week to process the visa. When the visa clearance is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a copy of visa confirmation number send to you and to Druk Air. Druk Air will not issue your tickets to Paro until it receives this confirmation number and then rechecks the visa information when you check in for the flight.
The actual visa endorsement is stamped in your passport when you arrive at entry ports. All visitors should carry their visa approval letter with them to be shown at the Druk Air check-in counter and for immigration on arrival.
BHUTAN VISA REQUIREMENTS
• Every visitors to Bhutan requires a tourist visa. Exception are India and Bangladesh passports holders.
• Visas are only issued to tourists whom booked tour packages with local tour operators, directly or through a foreign travel agent.
• Visa application is submitted by tour operator on behalf of visitors.
• Visa is issued by Tourism Council of Bhutan in Thimphu, Bhutan.
• The Royal Government of Bhutan sets minimum selling prices for packages to Bhutan and this must be paid in US dollars prior to arrival in Bhutan.
Visa Extensions
A visa extension for a period not exceeding six months costs Ngultrum 510. Since tourist visas are issued for the full period you have arranged to stay in Bhutan, it’s unlikely that you would need a visa extension.
Visas for Indian Nationals
Upon arrival, Indian visitors are issued a 14-days permit for Paro and Thimpu only, which may be extended in Thimphu. No passport or visa is required, but some form of identification such as a passport or voter’s ID card is necessary. Indians arriving by road at Phuentsholingor arriving by air at Paro need two photos.