Bhutan Permit for Indians 2026: Documents, SDF and Rules

Published 2026-10-28 · 7 min read · By the Travlys visa team

Indians do not need a visa for Bhutan, but you do need an entry permit, a valid passport or voter ID, and a Sustainable Development Fee of Rs 1,200 per night. Here is how the permit, the fee, guides and the border-town waiver work in 2026.

Indians do not need a visa for Bhutan, but you do need an entry permit. You get it online through Bhutan's Department of Immigration before you travel, or on arrival at Paro airport or a land border office such as Phuentsholing, using a valid Indian passport or an original voter ID card. You also pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of Nu 1,200, which equals Rs 1,200, per person per night.

At a glance: Visa: Not needed for Indian nationals. Permit: Entry permit required, online or at the point of entry. Documents: Indian passport (six months' validity) or original voter ID; birth certificate for minors without a passport. SDF: Rs 1,200 per adult per night; Rs 600 for ages 6 to under 12; free under 6. Border-town waiver: No SDF for up to 24 hours in Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar, from 2 June 2026 to August 2027. Guide: Licensed guide mandatory beyond the first checkpoint. Entry points: Paro and Gelephu airports; Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar and Samtse by road.

Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?

No. Indian nationals do not need a visa for Bhutan, but you cannot simply walk in either. You need an entry permit, which is issued against your passport or voter ID once you pay the SDF for the nights you plan to stay.

Documents Bhutan accepts from Indians

The Embassy of India in Thimphu lists two accepted travel documents for Indian nationals. Carry one of them, in original:

• Indian passport with at least six months of validity left.
• Voter ID card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India.
• Children under 18 without a passport can use their original birth certificate, and must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
• Recent passport-size photographs. Keep two or three handy for the permit and any later permits or extensions.

Aadhaar, PAN cards and driving licences are not accepted as travel documents. A common mistake is to bring a laminated photocopy of a voter ID or a DigiLocker copy. Bring the physical original.

The SDF for Indians in 2026

According to the Department of Tourism, the SDF for Indian nationals showing a valid Indian passport or voter ID is Nu 1,200 per person per night, payable in ngultrum or the equivalent in Indian rupees. The ngultrum is pegged to the rupee, so the amount is the same.

• Adults and children 12 and above: Rs 1,200 per night.
• Children aged 6 to under 12: Rs 600 per night.
• Children under 6: no SDF.

We found no change to the Indian rate in 2024, 2025 or 2026. The 50% discount that brought the fee down to USD 100 a night runs until 31 August 2027, but it applies only to tourists who pay in US dollars, not to Indians. A family of two adults and one 8-year-old on a five-night trip pays (1,200 + 1,200 + 600) x 5 = Rs 15,000 in SDF, before hotels, guide and transport.

The border-town SDF waiver

From 2 June 2026 until August 2027, tourists visiting Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu or Samdrup Jongkhar for up to 24 hours do not pay the SDF, according to the Department of Tourism. You must stay inside the designated zone. In Phuentsholing the fee applies once you go beyond the Rinchending checkpoint, and in Samtse beyond Gurung Basti. For Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar, the Department lists Aipoli Bridge and the Pinchinna checkpoint as zone limits. Ask the immigration office to confirm the exact boundary on the day. The waiver cannot be combined with other SDF incentives.

Where to get the entry permit

Online, before you travel

The Department of Tourism says Indian visitors can apply online through the Department of Immigration portal (immi.gov.bt). A tour operator or hotel can also apply for you. The SDF is paid when the permit is processed, and no other permit fee is payable in advance. Applying online saves time at the border, especially in peak months.

By road

Most Indians enter at Phuentsholing, opposite Jaigaon in West Bengal, where the Regional Immigration Office issues permits. The Embassy of India also lists regional immigration offices at Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar (both on the Assam border) and Samtse. Visitor information centres operate at the four land entry points. If you apply on arrival, the Department of Tourism warns of long waits at busy times.

By air

If you fly in, the permit is issued at Paro International Airport. The Department of Tourism lists flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodhgaya and Guwahati. Gelephu now also has an international airport, and Drukair began a Gelephu-Kolkata service in December 2025, as reported by Daily Bhutan. Flights there are few, so check Drukair's current schedule and confirm with immigration that your permit can be processed on arrival there.

Travelling beyond Thimphu and Paro

The standard entry permit is for Thimphu and Paro. Going further, to Punakha, Phobjikha, Bumthang or Haa, needs more planning, and official sources word this differently:

• The Embassy of India in Thimphu says tourists going beyond Thimphu and Paro need a special area permit from the Immigration Office in Thimphu, on working days (Monday to Friday). It names Punakha, Wangdiphodrang and Bumthang.
• The Department of Tourism says route permits for tourists were lifted in March 2023 for tourists travelling with a Department-certified guide. Route permits still apply for business and official visits. National Park permits are still needed and can be applied for online.

In practice, if you travel with a licensed guide through a registered operator, they arrange whatever the checkpoints need. If you plan to go independently beyond Thimphu, confirm with the Department of Immigration first, and do not plan a Friday-evening arrival in Thimphu if you might need an office visit.

The guide rule (April 2026 notice)

On 8 April 2026, the Department of Tourism issued a notification after seeing "various interpretations" of the guide rule. It said all tourists must be accompanied by a licensed guide at all times, including at monument sites and while travelling from Paro International Airport to other districts. Under the Tourism Rules and Regulations 2024, the only exception is travel up to the first designated checkpoint, which in practice means the border towns. Treks need a licensed trekking guide. Budget for a guide on any trip beyond Phuentsholing or Gelephu town.

Practical tips for Indian travellers

• Self-drive is allowed, with a guide. The Department of Tourism says a valid Indian driving licence is accepted for self-driving within Bhutan, but a guide is still required at all times.
• Carry rupees carefully. The Embassy of India says Indian notes up to Rs 500 are allowed. If you carry more than Rs 25,000 in total, the amount above that must be in Rs 100 notes or smaller.
• Book certified stays only. On 22 October 2026 the Department of Tourism reminded accommodation providers, including village homestays, that they need official certification before hosting tourists. Ask your hotel or homestay to confirm it is certified.
• Extensions are in person. If you want to stay longer, Indian nationals extend at the Department of Immigration and pay in rupees.
• Travel insurance is optional but wise. Bhutan dropped mandatory insurance in April 2024. Mountain roads and remote areas still make cover worth having.
• Keep your permit on you. You will show it, with your passport or voter ID, at interior checkpoints.

Who should plan carefully

Bhutan suits families, couples and road-trippers from the east of India, and the short hop from Kolkata, Bagdogra or Guwahati makes it a good long-weekend option. A one-day visit to Phuentsholing now costs nothing in SDF if you stay inside the zone. If you are on a tight budget and want to go deep into central Bhutan, the nightly SDF, mandatory guide and vehicle add up quickly, so price the whole trip before booking. If your only valid document is an Aadhaar card, you cannot enter; apply for a passport or carry your voter ID.

Planning more of Asia this winter? Thailand's visa-free stay is now 30 days, Malaysia is visa-free until 31 December 2026 with an MDAC, and Sri Lanka's ETA has been free since 25 May 2026. Our visa-free countries list for Indians covers the rest.

How Travlys helps

Travlys plans holiday packages with hotels and private transfers, and our team can check your documents and Bhutan's current entry rules before you fly. We do not issue Bhutan permits; you or your operator apply through Bhutan's official portal. Travlys has filed 5,000+ visas with a 98% approval rate for other destinations. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 82009 18967 to plan your trip.

Last checked: Rules in this guide were checked on 28 October 2026 against the Department of Tourism Bhutan, the Department of Immigration portal and the Embassy of India in Thimphu, listed below. Bhutan revises tourism rules often, so check the official sites before you travel.