Visa

All travellers must secure visa clearance before travelling to Bhutan, except visitors from countries with separate permit or visa arrangements. Asian Tours and Travel, as a licensed Bhutanese tour operator, can assist you with the visa application process and help ensure that all required travel details are submitted correctly.

To apply for your Bhutan visa, travellers are required to provide a digital copy of the photo page of a valid passport, a recent passport-size photograph, arrival and departure dates, and the required payment details. The visa application includes a one-time, non-refundable visa fee of USD 40, along with the applicable Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for the planned duration of stay.

Once the visa application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the relevant Bhutanese authorities. Upon approval, travellers will receive a visa clearance letter, which must be presented on arrival in Bhutan. The visa will then be stamped into your passport at the port of entry, marking the official beginning of your journey in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)

The Sustainable Development Fee, commonly known as the SDF, is a mandatory daily fee paid by visitors to Bhutan. This contribution supports Bhutan’s sustainable development initiatives, including environmental conservation, cultural preservation, infrastructure improvement, free healthcare, education, and community development.

The current SDF for US Dollar-paying adult tourists is USD 100 per person per night. Children are eligible for concessionary rates according to Bhutan’s official tourism policy. The SDF is separate from personal travel expenses such as accommodation upgrades, meals outside the package, shopping, insurance, tips, and other optional activities.

By visiting Bhutan, travellers directly contribute to the country’s commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism. The SDF helps preserve Bhutan’s unique identity, protect its pristine environment, and ensure that tourism continues to benefit both visitors and local communities.

Discount and Incentive for Bhutan travel visa (2023-2027)

The Royal Government of Bhutan is pleased to introduce additional incentives and policy measures to strengthen the tourism sector, recognizing its crucial role in employment creation, foreign exchange earnings, potential benefits for ancillary industries, and overall economic growth.

The key incentives and measures include

  • A fifty percent discount on the prevailing Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 200 for US Dollar-paying tourists visiting Bhutan. This results in an effective SDF of USD 100 per person per day for US Dollar-paying tourists.

  • Furthermore, a fifty percent discount on the SDF will be applied to rates for children aged between 6 to 12 years who are US Dollar-paying tourists.

  • The 24-hour SDF waiver for tourists staying in border towns will be extended.

These incentives are implemented from September 1, 2023, and will remain in effect for four years until August 31, 2027. The Royal Government will conduct periodic assessments of domestic and international tourism scenarios, with the possibility of discontinuing these incentives after August 31, 2027, to uphold and promote Bhutan’s High Value Low Volume Tourism Policy.