Everyone coming to Bhutan need to know the procedure of visa formalities and entry permit to Bhutan.
After confirmation of Air tickets with the Bhutan tour operator for entry and exit dates, the next step is to find out getting a visa or entry permit to Bhutan from the tour operator. Tour operator undergoes series of formalities. Tour operator will provide you information on visa or entry permit to Bhutan. All nationalities excluding India, Maldives and Bangladesh need to follow the procedure of obtaining a visa through the tour operator. Immigration Department plays a vital role to issue the visa. Entry permit to Bhutan is for India, Maldives and Bangladesh.
Bhutan tariff is US$250 per person per night which includes 3-4 star hotels (twin sharing), all meals, standard quality transport with trained driver & certified an English speaking guide. The Visa fee is US$40 per person for the whole tour is not included in the Tariff. If the traveller is FIT’s the client need to pay an extra US$30-40 per person per night. After the finalization Bhutan tourist tariff and confirmation payment through the wire. The tour operator in Bhutan will continue to process online visa formalities.
Bhutan Tour Cost US$250 is not applicable to Indians, Maldivians and Bangladeshis. They can obtain an entry permit at the point of entry with a valid passport (6 months validity). For Indian National can produce passport with six months validity & also voter card. Now for nationalities of India, Maldives and Bangladesh can process visas or entry permits to Bhutan online by your tour operator in Bhutan.
Indian travellers shooting up recently for visiting Bhutan. No Visa is required for Indian passport holders. Voter card can process entry permit visiting immigration office but not e-permit. Tour operators can help with voter cards but entry permits will be provided on arrival. A valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity can be processed online by the tour operator. Contacting a tour operator is hassle-free and you will not waste your precious time to go immigration office.
Tour operators in Bhutan play an important role. Any letter issued by the Ministry of Foreign affairs is not a valid visa or e-permit. Tourist visas and entry permits process through Tour operators for tourists visiting Bhutan. Tourism council of Bhutan play a vital role to process visa and route permit through an online system. Immigration Department of
Bhutan is playing an important role to check the documents online submitted by the tour operator. You will be provided with an entry permit for Thimphu and Paro. When you want to visit beyond Paro and Thimphu you need to process a permit in the Thimphu immigration office. For all Indian travellers travelling by road, you need to take note of the timing of Immigration offices. It is closed during Saturday, Sunday and national holidays of Bhutan.
While filling up the form for children you need to attach a birth certificate and Identity proof for processing the permit.
One has to fill up a custom declaration form of equipment and gadgets. Please don’t forget to produce the form duly filled up while exit. It is important to track tourist equipment and gadget. If you lose the form try to intimate guide and tour operator. Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco is ban in Bhutan.
For tourists, you can import and declare with a certain quantity. One can have 1 litre of liquor-free duty. Carry 300 sticks of cigarettes allowed with 200% duty imposed in Bhutan. Smoking tobacco is ban in Bhutan. You cannot smoke everywhere in public places in Bhutan. The government provide designated areas to smoke.
Indian Currency is valid in Bhutan but you can carry 100 denominations only. You can access Indian ATM’s in Bhutan freely with the minimum transaction in a day. Export and antiques and wild-wife products are banned in Bhutan. Please consult with a guide or tour operator for the export of statues and thangkas. Bhutan government follow a set of rules for export.
The nearest Indian Airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri and West Bengal State. From Bagdogra to reach the Bhutan border is nearly 5-6 hours by car if the road is clear. Phuentsholing is the nearest town to Bhutan. You can process an entry permit or visa from Phuentsholing during working hours. The Nearest Railway station is Hasimara under West Bengal. It is 30 Minutes drive to Phuentsholing Bhutan. The other railway station nearest to Bhutan is Alipurduar under the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. New Jalpaiguri Junction (NJP) under Siliguri jurisdiction is far but the frequency of trains is more.
Yes !! for Indian passport and voter cardholder. You need to process -permit and route permit through a tour operator or individually.
if you are coming through a tour operator you don’t require to produce any details. it is hassle-free. Tour operators in Bhutan will carry out any logistics in Bhutan. For backpacking, you need to carry out all formalities for e-permit/entry permit/route permit by yourself. Hotel booking before is a necessity before your travel to Bhutan.
You can get your permit in the immigration office in Bhutan during working hours. Saturday, Sunday and national holidays are close. Working hours from morning 9 o’clock till 5 in the evening. Submission of documents and forms are done during morning hours. Now immigration undergoes the bio-metric process for the safety of travellers and country. While travelling to Bhutan by Air you can get to Paro Airport. Always carry two colour passport size photographs while travelling to Bhutan.
You can stay as long as you got permission to stay in Bhutan. Once you are coming to Bhutan through any tour operator you can stay as long as you are undergoing sightseeing or trekking. Tour operator will process e-permit. Backpacking a maximum period of 7 days will be given an Entry permit/route permit to you but after 7 days you need to visit the immigration office in Thimphu for an update of another 7 days more.
If you don’t have travel documents while travelling by road via Phuentsholing. Please contact the Indian consulate in Phuentsholing after processing through “Identification slip” with proper proof of Indian citizen. You can show Aadhar card and Pan card. Bhutan immigration department never accepts Aadhar cards and Pan cards for travelling Bhutan as a tourist. Most tour operators only accept valid passports for processing e-permit/route permits in advance. Voter card is allowed only on arrival with full documentation.