Bhutan visa and Sustainable Development Fee
Most visitors need a visa, which costs a one-off USD 40 and is applied for online. On top of that comes the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 per adult per night, a rate fixed until 31 August 2027. You may book your trip yourself, but travelling with a licensed guide is mandatory.
Who needs a visa
Every visitor needs a visa except Indian nationals, who receive a permit instead. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives also need a visa but may apply in advance or on arrival. Everyone else applies in advance.
How to apply
- Apply online through the Department of Immigration portal at immi.gov.bt, or let your hotel or tour operator apply for you.
- Upload a digital copy of your passport and a recent passport photo, and enter your arrival and departure dates.
- Pay the visa fee and the SDF for all nights of your stay.
- Processing takes up to five working days.
A tourist visa allows a stay of up to 90 days; an extension must be requested before it expires.
What it costs
| Item | International visitors |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | USD 40, once, non-refundable |
| SDF, adults | USD 100 per person per night |
| SDF, children aged 6 to 11 | USD 50 per night |
| SDF, children under 6 | No fee |
The SDF was halved from USD 200 to USD 100 on 1 September 2023. The reduced rate applies until 31 August 2027; what happens after that date has not been announced. Indian nationals pay Nu 1,200 per night (Nu 600 for children aged 6 to 11). If a trip is cancelled or shortened, unused SDF can be refunded through the visa portal, minus bank charges.
For a seven-night trip, two adults therefore pay 2 × USD 40 in visa fees and 2 × 7 × USD 100 in SDF, a total of USD 1,480, before hotels, guide, transport and flights.
Guide and tour operator rules
Since September 2022 you may book every part of your journey yourself, without a tour operator. A licensed tour guide, however, is mandatory: a notification of the Department of Tourism of 8 April 2026 restates that all tourists must be accompanied by at least one licensed guide, and that every trek needs a licensed trekking guide. The notification exempts tours up to the first designated checkpoint. Tourists may only stay in approved, certified accommodation.
Money and insurance
The currency is the ngultrum, pegged one to one to the Indian rupee. Cards work in towns, less reliably elsewhere, so carry some cash. Travel insurance has not been mandatory since 23 April 2024, though the Department of Tourism strongly recommends it.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the Bhutan visa?
- USD 40, paid once when you apply.
- How much is the SDF in Bhutan?
- USD 100 per adult per night and USD 50 for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 pay nothing. This rate applies until 31 August 2027.
- Can I travel to Bhutan without a tour operator?
- Yes. You can book everything yourself, but travelling with a licensed guide is mandatory.
- Is travel insurance mandatory for Bhutan?
- No. The requirement was lifted on 23 April 2024, but insurance is strongly recommended.
Sources
- Department of Tourism Bhutan: Visa
- Department of Tourism Bhutan: FAQs
- Department of Tourism Bhutan: Press release on the SDF reduction (2023, PDF)
- Department of Tourism Bhutan: Notification on mandatory tour guides, 8 April 2026 (PDF)
- Department of Tourism Bhutan: Announcements, incl. certified accommodation notice of 22 October 2026