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Tourist e-Visa

BhutanShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Bhutan Read the five questions ↓

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

Nationals of all countries other than India must obtain an e-visa before entering Bhutan unless exempted by bilateral agreement, and any foreigner intending to visit Bhutan as a tourist must process the visa or permit application online at immi.gov.bt.

See recorded sources

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

The route covers visits to Bhutan as a tourist. A foreigner may change the purpose of visit only after properly exiting Bhutan for at least fifteen days; a foreigner already in Bhutan on a non-tourist visa or entry permit may, however, obtain a tourist visa or entry permit without exiting. The official source does not state which activities are permitted during a tourist visit.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No source consulted defines the activities a tourist may or may not carry out in Bhutan beyond the bar on changing the purpose of the visit without exiting.

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

A foreigner cleared as a tourist is permitted to stay in Bhutan for the actual duration of stay or ninety days, whichever is less, and the Immigration Act 2007 provides that the visa for a tourist is given for a maximum period of ninety days. The e-Visa alone does not guarantee entry or stay unless the entry permission is endorsed on the passport by an immigration officer at the port of entry, who endorses the visa for the actual duration of stay or thirty days, whichever is less. The official sources do not state how the ninety-day permitted stay and the thirty-day endorsement relate to each other, or any rolling-period rule.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

Entry permission must be endorsed on the passport by an immigration officer at the port of entry; the e-Visa alone does not guarantee the right to enter or stay in Bhutan. The official source does not state funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance or onward-travel evidence.

See recorded sources

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

A tourist visa or permit is applied for at immi.gov.bt, or through Bhutanese tourism service providers, and turnaround time is three working days from receipt of the complete application including payment of the applicable fee. The stay can be extended through the same online portal using the same log-in details, and the original passport must be produced at the nearest immigration office to obtain the extension.

See recorded sources
  • immi.gov.bt FAQ, Tourist tab, 'Where to apply for a tourist permit/visa application?', line 79
    A tourist visa/permit can be applied on https://immi.gov.bt or they can contact Bhutanese tourism service providersto process their visa or permit.Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives can process visas on arrival at the port of entry. Indiannationals can process permits on arrival at the port of entry. However, it is recommended to processonline for prior e-visa/e-permit to reduce wait time at the port of entry.
  • immi.gov.bt FAQ, Tourist tab, 'Can the visa/permit be extended while the guest is in Bhutan?', line 71
    Yes, guests can extend their stay via the online visa/permit application portal on the same site, using the same log-in details that were used to process the original visa/permit. The original passport must be produced at the nearest immigration office for obtaining visa extension. For those who obtained a permit/visa on arrival, the guest or the tour operator must visit the nearest immigration office to process the extension.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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