Indian Nationals Travelling to Bhutan
Guidelines for Indians visiting Bhutan
Indian nationals visiting Bhutan do not require visa. However, they will need to obtain an ‘Entry Permit issued by the Department of Immigration in the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing on the basis of a valid Travel Document. Tourists/visitors from India are required to carry the following Travel Documents:
1. Original Indian Passport (with minimum six months validity) or Original Voter ID card;
(scanned/printed copies of the voter cards are not accepted)
Note: It may be noted that no document other than the two mentioned above are accepted.
2. For children below 18 years, original birth certificate (only in English language) or passport. Children must be accompanied by their parents.
3. 02 passport size photographs are required.
Tourists should have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. There is also an option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers at the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing. Details are available on Bhutan Insurance Limited website: https://www.bhutaninsurance.com.bt/index.php?Page_id=112 .
For more information, visitors can visit the website of Department of Immigration: https://www.doi.gov.bt/?lang=en and Department of Tourism website: https://www.tourism.gov.bt/ .
2. Indian tourists:
Indian tourists can enter Bhutan either by planning their own trip or they can avail the services of local tour operators to process the travel documents & plan a trip [list of tour operators, please visit www.bhutan.travel and Department of Tourism website: https://www.tourism.gov.bt/ .
Indian tourists who are planning their own trip is advised to make following arrangements:
Obtain entry permit online [to apply please visit ‘visa section on website www.bhutan.travel ]
Accommodation: It is mandatory to stay in Department of Tourism certified accommodation for the whole duration of trip.
A tour guide
Travel insurance
Transportation around the country
3. Sustainable Development Fee:
Indian tourists are required to pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200/- per person per night. Children aged 5 years and below are exempted from SDF and children between the age of 6-12 years are given 50 % concession on SDF. Tourist visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar towns for less than 24 hours need not pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). Incase individual stays at above places for more than 24 hour needs to pay penalty as well as SDF.
4. Indian-registered vehicles:
Indian-registered vehicles will be allowed within the designated zone without any charges . However, if any vehicle goes beyond Rinchending Check Post in Phuentsholing, they will be required to pay Nu 4,500 per day as Green Tax. They further need to register on Check Post Management System (CPMS) [https://1010.bt/epass/apply/] to cross the RBP check points.
1. Documents required:
2. Original driving license
3. Original Registration Certificate (Vehicle Registration shall not be more than 10 years from date of registration).
4. Vehicle insurance
5. Vehicle emission and road worthiness certificate
6. Owner of the vehicle must be driving the vehicle. If driver and owner are different, an authority letter from owner to driver is required.
5. Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing located at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border:
The Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing located at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border remains open 24x7. Entry Permit for less than 24 hrs is not required for daily visitors who will be visiting Phuentsholing only. An online pre-registration system has been developed to pass through the pedestrian terminal at website https://bms.doi.gov.bt. On successful registration, a QR code will be generated. The registered person is required to present the QR code at the immigration counter along with the required identity document. Pre-registration is one time and there is no need to register again. Daily visitors can visit until Rinchending Check Post and Amochu Bridge and not beyond this points. SDF will be applicable beyond this point and they will also have to obtain a permit from the Regional Immigration Office. Casual visitors who make night halt beyond 24 hours in Phuentsholing will have to pay SDF.
6. Other entry/exit points:
Other entry/exit points on the southern Indo-Bhutan border are in Samtse, Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang/Gelephu. Condition for entry of individual and vehicles are same as in para 6 above. Condition for entry of individuals and to vehicles are same as in para 6 above.
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