The paperwork, handled
Every visitor needs a visa arranged through a licensed operator - here's exactly how it works and what the Sustainable Development Fee funds.
From enquiry to stamped passport
Four steps, and we handle three of them. Nothing here needs to happen in a government office you have to visit yourself.
Share your travel dates
Send us your passport details and rough dates - no fixed itinerary required before we start.
Confirm your itinerary & SDF
We lock in your route and calculate the Sustainable Development Fee for every day of your stay.
We file with the Department of Tourism
Your application is submitted through Bhutan's official online visa system - approval typically takes 3-5 business days.
Visa clearance arrives by email
Print your approval letter; the visa is stamped into your passport on arrival at Paro airport or a land border.
What the SDF funds
A nightly government fee, confirmed with your itinerary and paid once, in full, before your visa is issued - it goes straight back into the country, not into a trip price.
Healthcare and schooling
Bhutan provides free public healthcare and education to every citizen. The SDF is a direct contribution to both, which is why it's charged per night rather than folded into a trip price.
Forests and carbon
The constitution requires at least 60% forest cover in perpetuity, and the country absorbs more carbon than it emits. Conservation, reforestation, and wildlife protection are funded from the same pool.
Not our margin
The fee goes to the government in full - we collect it and pass it on, and we take nothing from it. It's always confirmed and quoted to you separately from your trip cost for exactly that reason.
It depends on your passport
Bhutan treats its regional neighbours differently from everyone else - tell us your nationality first, because it changes both the paperwork and the fee.
- Visa, arranged in advance
Most nationalities
Applied for through the Department of Tourism before you fly, always via a licensed operator. Your clearance letter arrives by email and the visa itself is stamped on arrival.
- Permit, not a visa
Indian nationals
Entry on a permit issued with a passport or voter ID, at a discounted SDF rate. Still worth arranging through us - the permit covers the districts on your itinerary, not the whole country.
- Regional arrangement
Bangladeshi & Maldivian
Both are handled under Bhutan's regional entry rules rather than the standard visa route. Tell us your nationality early and we'll confirm the current process before you book flights.
What you'll need
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates
- Visa clearance letter, arranged through a licensed operator (we handle this)
- Sustainable Development Fee paid in full before travel
- A one-time visa fee (ages 12+), separate from the nightly SDF
- Travel/medical insurance is strongly recommended, especially for trekking itineraries
Frequently asked
Yes - every non-Indian visitor needs a visa, arranged through a licensed Bhutanese operator like us or via the Department of Tourism's online portal. Indian, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian nationals travel on a permit instead of a visa.
A per-night government fee that funds Bhutan's free healthcare, education, and carbon-negative tourism model - it's charged on top of your trip cost, not folded into it. The rate varies by age and nationality and is government-set, so we confirm the current figure (plus the one-time visa fee) when we calculate your itinerary.
Once your itinerary and SDF payment are confirmed, we submit your application through the Department of Tourism's system and approval typically lands within 3-5 business days. We handle the paperwork; you just send your passport scan.
No - since Bhutan's 2022 policy reform, the old minimum daily package requirement was dropped. You only need a confirmed itinerary with a licensed operator and the SDF paid; accommodation and pace are entirely up to you.
Your Bhutan, Your way
Tell us what draws you to the Himalayas and we'll build an itinerary around it - no templates, no pressure.
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