Bhutan Visa

The Bhutanese visa process may appear complicated, but is actually quite straight forward once you understand it. Most countries issue visas from their embassies abroad and stamp it in your passport, but not Bhutan. Bhutanese embassies abroad cannot issue Visas for travel to Bhutan. You must apply in advance through a tour operator such as Wind Horse Tours and receive approval before you travel to Bhutan. Visas are approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thimphu, with which you allowed to enter Bhutan or board the Druk Air flight.

The actual visa is stamped on the passport upon arrival in the country, either at Paro airport or (if entering by road) at Phuentsholing. You can download and complete the application and fax, mail etc. or simply email the details required by it; - your name, permanent address, occupation, nationality, date and place of birth, passport number and its date and place of issue and date of expiration. There is no need to send the pictures or sign the visa application at this time. Double-check that the information you send is correct; if there are any discrepancies when you arrive in Bhutan, there'll be further delays and complications.

All applications for tourist visas must be initialised by a Bhutanese tour operator such as Wind Horse Tours. The operator submits the visa application to Department of Tourism (DOT) in Thimphu. It, in turn, checks that you have completely paid for the trip and then issues an approval letter to the tour operator. With this approval in hand, the tour operator then makes a final application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which then takes about a week to process the Visa. In emergencies we are able to make special request for expediated process.

When the visa clearance is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it sends a visa confirmation number to the tour operator and to Druk Air. Druk Air will not allow you to board the flight if it does not receive this confirmation number. Wind Horse will ensure that these are coordinated well and we will also provide you with the copy of this clearance. The actual visa endorsement is stamped in your passport when you arrive at one of the two ports of entry for tourists. When the visa is issued, you need to pay US$20 and present a passport photo with your passport number written on the back. You will then receive a visa for the exact period you have arranged to be in Bhutan. If some unusual event requires that you obtain a visa extension, Wind Horse Tours will arrange it.

It's an amazingly efficient system considering all the time, distance and various levels of bureaucracy involved. When you arrive in Bhutan, the visa officer will invariably be able to produce your approval form from the file and the visa will be issued on the spot. It's helpful, however, to have the reference number or even a faxed copy of the visa authority available to aid the immigration officials and Druk Air to find your information quickly.

Wind Horse Tours does not charge any fees for Visa processing.

Visa Extension

A visa extension for a period not exceeding six months costs Nu 510. Since tourist visas are issued for the full period you have arranged to stay in Bhutan, it's unlikely that you would need a visa extension.

Restricted Area Permits

All of Bhutan outside of the Paro and Thimphu valleys is classified as a restricted area. Wind Horse or your operators obtain a permit for the places on your itinerary, and this permit is checked and endorsed by the police at immigration checkpoints strategically located at important road junc­tions.

Permits to enter Temples

After 2001 the rules were changed to allow tourists to visit the courtyards of dzongs and, where feasible, one designated lhakhang (temple) in each dzong but only when accompanied by a licensed Bhutanese guide. This provision is subject to certain restrictions, including visiting hours, dress standards and other rules that vary by district. Because dzongs are open to all during the time of a tsechu, you may visit the courtyard, but not the lhakhangs, if your trip coincides with a festival.

If you are a practising Buddhist, you may apply for a permit to visit specific dzongs and religious institutions. This is issued by the National Commission for Cultural Affairs, and application should be made in advance through Wind Horse Tours. The credibility of your application will be enhanced if you include a letter of reference from a recognised Buddhist organisation in your home country.