How to Visit Bhutan from India: A Complete & Updated Guide (2025)   

Planning a trip to Bhutan from India in 2025? This complete guide covers permits, travel requirements, SDF fees, documents, costs, and border crossing tips for Indian citizens.

Bhutan is one of the most enchanting Himalayan travel destinations, known for its pristine natural landscapes, ancient Buddhist monasteries, terraced farming fields, and majestic snow-capped peaks. What makes Bhutan unique is its commitment to sustainable tourism, promoting a “high-value, low-impact” approach that preserves its rich cultural heritage and unspoiled environment.

For Indian travellers, the process is simpler than for many other nationalities. This guide covers:

• How to visit Bhutan from India
• Travel requirements for Indian citizens visiting Bhutan
• Do Indians need visa for Bhutan?
• Entry permits for Indians
• Bhutan travel cost for Indians
• Bhutan SDF fees for Indians
• Latest updates, lesser-known facts, and practical tips

1. Do Indians Need a Visa for Bhutan?

No. Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Bhutan. Instead, they are issued an Entry Permit.
This is codified by Bhutan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Immigration.

Key points:

• For citizens of India, Bangladesh, and Maldives, visa exemption applies; they receive Entry Permits instead.
• Entry Permits for Indian travellers are processed at immigration counters (air or land) or in advance via Bhutan’s Department of Immigration.
• However, the Entry Permit generally allows travel only in Paro and Thimphu by default. To travel beyond those zones (e.g., Punakha, Bumthang, eastern Bhutan), you’ll need a Special Area Permit (or route permit) from Bhutan’s Immigration Office in Thimphu on working days.

In essence, Indian nationals do not go through a visa process – travel to Bhutan is managed through permits.

2. Travel Requirements for Indian Citizens Visiting Bhutan

To ensure a smooth entry and stay, here is an up‑to‑date checklist for 2025.

Documents & Permits

• Valid travel document:
    • Indian passport (minimum 6 months validity)
    • OR Indian voter ID card (original) — accepted for permit issuance.
• Children under 18:
    • If no passport, bring birth certificate in English
    • Must travel with a legal guardian.
• Photographs: 2 passport-size photos, typically required at immigration counters.
• Travel insurance: strongly recommended; Bhutan immigration sometimes offers purchase of domestic insurance at the border.
• Pre-registration for vehicles: If you plan to bring an Indian-registered vehicle (car or motorcycle), you must register via the Check Post Management System (CPMS) to cross certain Bhutan check posts.
• Currency restrictions: Indian citizens travelling to Bhutan may carry Indian currency up to ₹25,000 in denominations of ₹500; higher amounts must be in ₹100 or lower denominations.

3.  How to travel to Bhutan

Entry / Border Crossing Points & Permits

• Land entry:
    • The main border crossing is Phuentsholing / Jaegwon (West Bengal) — via the pedestrian terminal.
    • Other southern border crossings: Samtse, Gelephu / Sarpang, Samdrup Jongkhar.
• Air entry: via Paro International Airport — Entry Permit issued on arrival, subject to document verification.
• Special Area / Route Permits: Needed if you plan to travel beyond Paro/Thimphu regions. These are issued by the Department of Immigration in Thimphu (only on working days).
• SDF waiver zones & 24‑h rule: Tourists visiting border towns (Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar) for up to 24 hours and not going beyond designated zones are exempt from Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).

Accommodation & Guide Requirements

• Must stay exclusively in Department of Tourism–certified accommodations for the duration of the trip.
• A guide is typically required, especially for travel beyond main towns. Some border‑area rules make guide mandatory when driving your own vehicle.
• For Indian‑registered vehicles inside Bhutan:
    • No charge within designated zones
    • If vehicle passes beyond Rinchending Check Post (Phuentsholing area), a Green Tax of Nu 4,500 per day applies.

Other Rules

• User fee: A small Nu. 10 is charged per person each time entering through the pedestrian terminal (for both Bhutanese and foreigners.)
• Weekend / holiday restrictions: Special permits cannot be processed on weekends in Thimphu, so if you enter Bhutan on Friday and plan to cross into special zones on weekend, you may face delays. (Reported by travellers; official sources imply permit issuance only applies on working days)

4.Bhutan Travel Cost for Indians & SDF Fees for Indians

Understanding cost structure is essential for planning. Let’s break it down with the official numbers and ancillary costs.

Bhutan SDF Fees for Indian Nationals (2025)

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is Bhutan’s unique approach to responsible tourism — a daily contribution that supports environmental protection, cultural preservation, and the wellbeing of its people. When you visit, you’re helping sustain what makes Bhutan so special.

As per Bhutan Tourism Corporation and Consulate guidelines:

• The SDF is mandatory for every night spent in Bhutan (unless exempted by 24‑h border rule).
• 24‑hour waiver: If an Indian tourist stays only in border towns (Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar) for up to 24 hours and does not cross designated zones, SDF is waived for that stay.
• Note: This waiver cannot be combined with other discounts.

For non-Indian tourists, SDF is USD 100 per person per night (with concessions for children).

Other Cost Components

Here are typical costs you should budget for:

• Accommodation: modest / mid-range guesthouses to hotels: ~ INR 1,500 – 3,000+ per night (varies by town, season)
• Meals: ~ INR 200 to 1,000+ per meal depending on level of restaurant
• Transport: shared taxis, local buses, private vehicles for inter‑city travel
• Guide / driver: around INR 1,500–2,500/day (shared costs)
• Sightseeing / entry fees: charges for monasteries, dzongs, museums (varies)
• Border / permit / user fees (e.g. the small Nu. 10 pedestrian fee, etc.)

Note: pedestrian fees is maintenance and operational costs of the terminal (electricity, staff, cleaning, etc.).

5. Step-by-Step Itinerary & How to Visit Bhutan from India

Below is a practical roadmap to help you execute a trip from India to Bhutan.

Step 1: Planning & Route Decision

• Decide between land entry or air entry (via Paro)
• If by land, plan your approach to border towns (e.g. via Kolkata → Siliguri → Jaigaon)
• Choose your destination zones (Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Eastern Bhutan) to know if you’ll need special permits

Step 2: Document & Permit Preparation

• Confirm you have passport or voter ID, birth certificate if needed
• Arrange accommodation in certified hotels
• Register your vehicle on CPMS if bringing your vehicle
• Pre-communicate with a Bhutan licensed guide / operator if needed
• Optionally, you may apply for Entry Permit in advance via online Bhutan immigration portal (especially during peak times)

Step 3: Crossing Border & Entry Formalities

• At the Pedestrian Terminal / immigration counter in Phuentsholing (land) or Paro Airport (air), present documents, photos, insurance
• Pay SDF where applicable and small user fee (Nu.10) if entering via pedestrian terminal
• Obtain Entry Permit
• If you plan to go beyond Paro / Thimphu, apply for Special Area Permit at Thimphu on working days

Step 4: Travel Inside Bhutan

• Use licensed taxis, private vehicles, or local buses
• Always carry copies of your Entry / Route / Special Permits
• Check if guides are required for certain areas or treks
• Respect cultural norms (dress modestly, follow photography rules, etc.)

Step 5: Return Exit Formalities

• At the exit immigration counter, present your permit again
• Settle any outstanding fees, if applicable
• Re-enter India via your chosen route

6. Latest Updates, Lesser-Known Facts & Insider Tips

To enhance credibility, here are updated info and interesting titbits.

Lesser-Known/Useful Facts

• Green tax for Indian vehicles: Indian-registered vehicles passing beyond Rinchending must pay Nu 4,500/day as green tax. If remaining within the designated zone, no charge
• Tourism policy philosophy: Bhutan operates under a “High Value, Low Volume” tourism model — meaning it limits total tourist numbers to preserve environment, culture, and quality of experience.
• Airport expansion plans: Bhutan has discussed development of Gelephu airport for southern connectivity to ease reliance on Paro (still in planning stages).
• Trek access: Some high-altitude multi-day treks (like Snowman, Trans-Bhutan) may have stricter logistics or permit requirements; Indian travellers should verify with local tour operators ahead of time.

7.  FAQs 

• Do Indian citizens need a visa to visit Bhutan?
    No, they don’t need a visa — they get an Entry Permit instead.
• What are the travel requirements for Indian citizens visiting Bhutan?
    Passport or voter ID, passport-size photos, birth certificate for minors, travel insurance, certified hotel bookings, necessary permits.
• How much is Bhutan SDF for Indian tourists?
    INR / Nu 1,200 per person per night (full adult). Children 6–12 pay half (INR / Nu 600). Under 5 are exempt.
• What is Bhutan travel cost for Indians?
    A 3–4 night trip can cost ~ INR 18,000 to 25,000, depending on transport, accommodation, food, and itinerary.

What if I visit only border towns for ≤ 24 hours?
You may be exempt from paying SDF if you do not venture beyond those towns’ zones (Phuentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar).