Indian travellers do not need a visa for Bhutan, but you do need an entry permit, and you pay a daily fee called the Sustainable Development Fee.
The permit is issued by the Bhutan government, and you can get it through the official online system before you travel, or on arrival at the border town of Phuentsholing. You carry your passport or your voter identity card. Bhutan is close, kind and beautiful, and this is a simple trip once you know the steps.
Who needs a permit
Every Indian traveller entering Bhutan needs an entry permit, including children with their own identity. You do not need a visa. The permit is free to apply for, but the daily Sustainable Development Fee is a separate charge set by the Bhutan government, and you pay it for each day of your stay.
No visa, but a permit, in plain words
Bhutan is one of the few countries an Indian can visit without a visa. In its place you get an entry permit from the Bhutan Department of Immigration. The permit names the places you may visit and the dates. If you want to go beyond the first towns, into the inner districts, you take a further route permit, which your hotel or a Bhutan tour operator arranges.
The daily fee
The Sustainable Development Fee is a daily charge the Bhutan government sets for visitors, to protect the country's nature and culture. For Indian travellers it is charged at a special lower rate per person per night, with a reduced rate for children, and young children are usually exempt. Because this fee changes, we do not print the figure here. You will see the current fee on the official Bhutan site. [The exact Sustainable Development Fee per night is set by the Bhutan government and is to confirm on the official site. Last checked 14 September 2026.]
How to get the permit, step by step
You have two ways:
- Online, before you travel. Apply through the official Bhutan government permit system, upload your passport or voter identity card and a photo, book your hotel and pay the daily fee, and get your permit approved.
- On arrival at Phuentsholing, the border town next to Jaigaon in West Bengal. You reach the immigration office, apply with your documents, pay the fee, and get the permit.
Many travellers use a registered Bhutan tour operator or their hotel to do the paperwork, which is easy and saves time.
Where you can go
The basic permit usually covers Thimphu, the capital, and Paro, home of the famous Tiger's Nest monastery. To go further, to Punakha, Bumthang and the inner valleys, you take the extra route permit, which is arranged along the way. Plan your route first, because the permit is tied to it.
What to carry
- A valid passport, or an Indian voter identity card, for each traveller. Other identity cards are usually not accepted, so carry one of these two.
- For children, a passport or a birth certificate with a school identity, as the rules ask.
- Passport size photos.
- Your hotel booking and your fee payment, for the online permit.
[The exact accepted documents are set by the Bhutan government and are to confirm on the official site. Last checked 14 September 2026.]
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is carrying only an Aadhaar or a driving licence, which are usually not accepted; carry a passport or a voter identity card. The next is forgetting the extra route permit for the inner valleys. Do not underrate the daily fee when you budget, because it adds up over several nights. Do not overstay the dates on your permit.
Questions people ask
Do Indians need a visa for Bhutan?
No. You need an entry permit, not a visa.
What is the Sustainable Development Fee?
A daily charge the Bhutan government sets for visitors, at a special lower rate for Indians, with a reduced rate for children. Confirm the current figure on the official site.
What identity do I carry?
A passport or an Indian voter identity card. Aadhaar and driving licences are usually not accepted.
Can I get the permit online?
Yes, through the official Bhutan government permit system, or on arrival at Phuentsholing.
Where can I go on the basic permit?
Usually Thimphu and Paro. For the inner valleys you take an extra route permit.