Marianne Martinez
Indian citizens intending to visit Bhutan are required to carry either a valid Indian passport or a Voter Identity Card, along with recent passport-sized photographs. If travelling with minor children, a birth certificate is required if they do not have a passport. Indians travelling by road must obtain an 'Entry Permit' from the Immigration Office of the Royal Government of Bhutan at Phuentsholing, while those travelling by air can obtain the permit at Paro International Airport. This 'entry permit' allows tourists to visit Thimphu and Paro only. Additionally, all visitors to Bhutan must pay a $100 per person, per night fee for sustainable development, with discounted rates for children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is PAN card sufficient to enter Bhutan? | No, a permit is required to enter Bhutan. |
| What documents are required to obtain the permit? | Any two valid ID proofs (Voter ID, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving License, etc.) |
| Where can the permit be obtained? | Indian Consulate/Immigration Office/Online |
| Is a passport mandatory for Indians? | No, but it is one of the accepted "Travel Documents" along with a Voter ID card. |
| What about children? | Birth certificate required for children below 18 years of age. |
| Any other requirements? | Recent passport-sized photographs, negative COVID-19 certificate, and a $100 per person, per night fee for sustainable development. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Permissible IDs for Indians travelling to Bhutan
Indians travelling to Bhutan are not required to have a visa due to a 1949 treaty between the two nations. However, they do need to obtain an entry permit, which can be done at the port of entry, such as Paro International Airport or the Phuentsholing land border. To obtain an entry permit, Indian citizens must provide valid documents, such as:
- An original passport with a minimum of six months' validity from the intended date of departure from Bhutan.
- An original Indian Voter ID card.
- For children under 18, either a passport with a minimum of six months' validity or a birth certificate in English is required. They must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian.
It is recommended that travellers confirm the validity of their entry permit with a registered Bhutanese travel agent or the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi, India, before their trip. Additionally, travellers should be aware that a negative COVID-19 certificate may be required to enter Bhutan, and there is a \$100 per person, per night, sustainable development fee for all visitors.
Broiling Pizza: Pan-Perfected
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Entry permits for Indians
Due to a 1949 treaty between Bhutan and India, Indian citizens can enter Bhutan without a visa. However, they must obtain an entry permit, which can be done online or at the port of entry. To obtain an entry permit, Indian citizens must provide either their original passport with a minimum of six months of validity or their original Indian Voter ID card. For children under the age of 18, a passport with six months of validity or a birth certificate in English is required. It is important to note that Indian travellers can only stay in Department of Tourism-certified accommodations and are required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200 per person per night.
Indian citizens are permitted to stay in Bhutan for a maximum of 15 or 7 days from the entry date with an entry permit. For extended stays, they can apply for an extension. Additionally, travellers need to obtain a special area permit from the RGoB Immigration Office at Thimphu for certain areas, such as Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, and Bumthang.
It is recommended to contact a registered Bhutanese travel agent or the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi, India, for detailed information on entry permit requirements and the application process. Indian travellers should also be aware of other requirements, such as the need to provide hotel details for the entry permit and the acceptance of Indian rupees for purchases in Bhutan, although denominations above 100 may not be accepted by most businesses.
Furthermore, the Government of Bhutan may require travellers to show a negative COVID-19 certificate for entry, and all visitors must obtain a Bhutanese visa to enter and exit the country. The visa application process can take up to five days, and travellers should be aware that airplane tickets to Bhutan cannot be purchased without visa clearance.
Pan-Roasted Pork Tenderloin Perfection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![$50 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51w6X7U3QnL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Passport requirements for Bhutan
All visitors to Bhutan, except for citizens of Bangladesh, India, and the Maldives, require a visa and a passport with at least six months' validity from their last travel date. This includes US citizens, who must obtain an e-visa prior to arrival. The visa fee is $40 per person per trip.
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Bhutan and can obtain a visa at the port of entry by presenting a valid passport with at least six months' validity or a Voter's Identity Card (VIC). Thai and Swiss citizens holding diplomatic passports are also exempt from obtaining a visa in advance.
All other foreign citizens must obtain a visa clearance letter from the Department of Immigration of Bhutan before travelling and present it at the point of entry, where the visa will be stamped into their passport. Visas are processed through an online system by a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, directly or through a foreign travel agent. Visitors are advised to allow sufficient time for visa processing, which can take up to two to three working days.
It is important to note that the Bhutanese government has implemented a "High Value, Low Volume" tourism policy to minimise the impact of tourism on the country's society and environment. As a result, tourists may be required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 per person per day, with children under five years of age exempt from this charge.
In addition to passport and visa requirements, visitors to Bhutan should be aware of other entry and exit rules, such as presenting negative COVID-19 test results and HIV/AIDS test results for stays longer than two weeks.
Hot Pot Hazard: Is a Quick Dip Enough?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Visa requirements for Bhutan
Indian citizens do not need a passport to enter Bhutan. They can instead use a Voter ID Card, along with their original and Xerox passport, and two passport-sized photos. Children between one month and 18 years old can use a birth certificate, Aadhar Card, school or college ID card, and two passport-sized photos.
For all other visitors, a Bhutanese visa is required to enter the country. This includes those on U.S. government business. The visa costs $40 and can be applied for on the Bhutanese Department of Immigration website. It may take up to five days to process a correctly filed visa application, and you cannot buy plane tickets to Bhutan without visa clearance. Your passport must be valid for at least six months past your date of arrival in Bhutan.
The Government of Bhutan may require travellers to show a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. Please visit the Government of Bhutan website for more information.
Please note that flights into and out of Paro Airport are restricted to daylight hours and are weather-dependent. Weather can delay or cancel flights, especially during the monsoon season from May to September. Passengers should allow at least 24 hours for connecting flights to and from Paro Airport.
Oil Pan Retapping: How Much Does It Cost?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Other necessary documents for Bhutan
Indian citizens do not require a visa to enter Bhutan and can use an original Indian Voter ID card or their passport as a travel document. However, Indian citizens travelling to Bhutan are required to obtain an entry permit to enter the country, which can be obtained at Paro International Airport or Phuentsholing land border. Children under the age of 18 can show their passport or birth certificate if it is in English and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
Citizens of Bangladesh and the Maldives can also enter Bhutan with just their passports, but the passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival. They also need to pay a "sustainable development fee" of USD 17 per day.
All other travellers must obtain a visa before entering Bhutan and pay a USD 65 sustainable development fee. This visa can be applied for on the Bhutanese Department of Immigration website, and a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival is required. A visa will be prepared by the Tourism Council of Bhutan once payment has been received, and the visa clearance letter must be shown at the point of entry.
Additionally, all travellers to Bhutan need to have travel insurance for the entire duration of their trip. Tourists who are not travelling with a tour operator in Bhutan must obtain their entry permit online and stay in accommodation certified by the Department of Tourism. They must also book a tour guide, transportation, and pay a charge of INR 1200 for every night, known as the Sustainable Development Fee.
Amonia: The Secret to Removing Water Stains from Pans
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
If you are an Indian citizen, you do not need a passport to enter Bhutan. You can use a Voter ID Card, PAN Card, or Aadhar Card to obtain an Entry Permit.
You must have a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months' validity from the date of arrival in Bhutan, or a Voter ID Card with a recent passport-sized photograph. If you are travelling with minor children (under 18), you must carry their birth certificate if they do not have a passport.
All visitors to Bhutan must obtain a visa to enter the country. You can apply for a visa on the Bhutanese Department of Immigration website.
