Important Notes

All tourists (except Indian nationals) must book their travel through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or one of their international partners. The tour operator will handle the visa application process. The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is USD 100 per person per night (as of 2024) and is separate from the visa fee. This fee supports Bhutan's high-value, low-impact tourism policy. The visa is processed and approved before arrival, and a visa clearance letter is issued, which must be presented at immigration upon arrival to get the visa stamped in the passport. The processing time can vary, but typically takes about 1 week after all documents and payments are submitted to the tour operator.