How to Apply for Bhutan and Nepal Visa from India , Step-by-Step 2026

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Last updated April 2026 · Verified against official sources

How to Apply for bhutan Visa from India, Step-by-Step Guide 2026

The bhutan e-visa application is entirely online and takes about 20 minutes to complete. No embassy visit, no courier, no biometrics appointment. The two steps that trip up most Indian applicants are the photo background (Vietnam requires white, Indian studios use grey) and the credit card settings (most Indian banks disable international transactions by default). Sort both before you open the form and the remaining steps are straightforward.

📑 In This Article
  1. Prepare These Before Opening the Form
  2. Step-by-Step Application Guide
  3. After Your Application, Tracking and Receiving Approval
  4. Frequently Asked Questions About Applying
  5. Bhutan vs Other Southeast Asia Destinations for Indians
  6. Before You Apply, Final Checklist
  7. Common Mistakes Bhutan Travelers Wish They Had Known
  8. Bhutan Visa Guide by Departure City
Application, Key Facts
Portal
Official Site
https://immi.gov.bt
Time Required
20 minutes
When documents are prepared
Fee
Rs 0
Visa or Mastercard only
Processing
Instant on arrival or online via immi.gov.bt
Apply 2 weeks before travel

Prepare These Before Opening the Form

Do This First, Before Opening the Application

1. Enable international payments on your card. Open your bank app and enable international online transactions. HDFC: Cards, Manage Card, International Usage, enable E-Commerce. SBI YONO: Cards, Manage Card, Transaction Limits. If you skip this, your card declines after 15 minutes of form filling.

2. Fix your photo background. Go to remove.bg, upload your passport photo, download the white-background JPEG. Zoom in on the result and check all corners, no grey patches. This prevents the most common rejection cause.

3. Open your passport and keep it visible throughout. You will need to copy your full name exactly, passport number character by character, and entry airport from your flight booking.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

1
Nepal: Just show up — no application needed
For Nepal, there is genuinely nothing to do before arriving. No form, no portal, no pre-registration. Carry your Indian passport (preferred) or Voter ID. At Kathmandu’s TIA airport: find the Indian Nationals desk (separate from tourist counters), show ID, answer basic questions (purpose, duration), and enter. At land borders (Raxaul-Birgunj, Sunauli-Bhairahawa, Kakarbhitta): walk across with ID. No queue most times at land borders for Indians.

2
bhutan option 1: Apply online at immi.gov.bt before travel
Go to immi.gov.bt. Create an account. Fill in your details: name exactly as passport, passport or Voter ID number, travel dates, entry point (Paro Airport or Phuentsholing), accommodation details. Add travel companions if going as a group. Pay SDF online (Rs 1,200/night per adult Indian, 50% for ages 6-12, free for under 5). Payment by card or bank transfer. You receive a permit confirmation. Print it and carry when traveling.

3
bhutan option 2: Entry Permit on arrival at Phuentsholing or Paro
At Phuentsholing (road entry from West Bengal): go to the bhutan Immigration Office near the gate. Fill entry permit form. Submit passport/Voter ID, 2 passport photos, hotel booking details. Pay SDF in cash (Rs 1,200/night). Permit issued immediately. At Paro International Airport (air entry): immigration processes Entry Permit after you land. Have your hotel details and stay duration ready. Both are instant — no waiting period.

4
Apply for Route Permit in Thimphu for areas beyond Paro-Thimphu
On day 1 or 2 in Bhutan, visit the Department of Immigration in Thimphu if you want to explore beyond the basic Paro-Thimphu circuit. Tell them which districts you want to visit: Punakha, Wangdue, Haa, Bumthang, Trongsa, Phobjikha. They issue a Route Permit covering your planned route — free for Indians, ready in about 1 hour. Carry it at all times inside Bhutan — checkposts at district boundaries verify it.

5
Book domestic flights for Bhutan internal travel if needed
Bhutan has domestic air connectivity via Druk Air between Paro and Bumthang (the only domestic route as of 2026). If your itinerary includes Bumthang (Bhutan’s spiritual heartland, 8 to 10 hours by road from Thimphu), the domestic flight saves a full day of mountain driving. Book well in advance at drukair.com.bt. Alternatively, Bumthang by road through the passes (Dochula, Pele La) is itself a spectacular experience.

6
Nepal trekking permits if planning high-altitude routes
If your Nepal visit includes any major trek — Annapurna Circuit, Poon Hill, Everest Base Camp, Langtang, Upper Mustang — you need trekking permits. TIMS card (USD 10 individual, USD 20 trekking agency route): from Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu or Pokhara. Conservation/national park permit (USD 30): from Department of National Parks or online at tmis.com.np. Have your Indian passport for registration. Budget USD 40 to USD 60 and a half-day in Kathmandu for permit processing if going independently.

After Your Application, Tracking and Receiving Approval

Check your application status at https://immi.gov.bt using the “Check E-Visa Status” option with your application code and passport number. The status will show Processing, Approved, or Rejected. Most Indian applicants receive a decision within Instant on arrival or online via immi.gov.bt.

When approved, download the PDF from your email immediately. Print two copies before you fly, one for the Indian airport check-in counter, one for Bhutan immigration. The letter has a QR code that officers scan to verify your visa. Make sure the printout is clear enough for the scanner to read it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Applying

Can I save the Bhutan visa application and complete it later?
The portal has a save feature but it is not always reliable on mobile browsers. Have all documents ready and complete the application in one 20-minute session.
Can I change my entry airport after paying?
No. The application is locked after payment. If your plans change, you need a fresh application and pay Rs 0 again. This is why verifying the entry airport against your actual flight booking before paying is critical.
My card was declined. What do I do?
Open your bank app and enable international online transactions, this is disabled by default at most Indian banks. HDFC: Cards, Manage Card, International Usage, enable E-Commerce. SBI YONO: Cards, Manage Card, Transaction Limits. If still failing, use a family member’s Visa or Mastercard.
Do I need to print the Bhutan visa approval letter?
Yes, print two physical copies. One for the check-in counter at your Indian departure airport, one for immigration in {c[‘name’]}. Some counters do not accept phone screens.
What if I don’t receive approval email after 3 business days?
Check your spam folder first. Then check status at https://immi.gov.bt using your application code. If status shows Processing after 5 business days, this may indicate an issue, contact Bhutan Immigration via the email on the official portal.

Bhutan vs Other Southeast Asia Destinations for Indians

Country Visa for Indians Fee Stay Best For
Nepal Completely free — no visa, no fee Rs 0 0 days stay Himalayas, EBC, Pokhara, unlimited stay
Bhutan Entry Permit (free) + SDF Rs 1,200/night Rs 0 + SDF 15 days stay Tiger’s Nest, dzongs, pristine Himalayan kingdom
Sri Lanka Free ETA at eta.gov.lk Rs 0 30 days stay Beaches, temples, hill country
Thailand Visa-free (open-ended) Rs 0 30 days stay Beaches, temples, nightlife
Maldives Free VoA — IMUGA needed Rs 0 30 days stay Overwater villas — expensive

Before You Apply, Final Checklist

Check These Before Submitting Payment
  • Photo background is pure white, verified by zooming into corners. Use remove.bg if any grey. Saves Rs 0 reapplication cost.
  • Name copied exactly from passport, full name including middle name, same capitalisation as bio-data page.
  • Entry airport matches actual flight, checked against your flight booking or e-ticket, not memory.
  • Passport number verified twice, character by character. O vs 0, I vs 1.
  • Passport validity at least 6 months beyond entry date, check expiry date now.
  • International transactions enabled on your card, in your bank app before opening the form.
  • Entry type selected correctly, single or multiple depending on your itinerary. Check fees for each in the visa types table.
  • Applying at least 14 days before travel, enough buffer for any rejection and reapplication.

Common Mistakes Bhutan Travelers Wish They Had Known

Booking non-refundable flights before getting visa approval. The e-visa takes Instant on arrival or online via immi.gov.bt but can extend during Vietnamese public holidays. Always wait for the approval email before booking flights you cannot cancel.

Using a travel agent for the e-visa. Agents in India charge Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 to fill a 15-minute form available at the official portal for Rs 0. The visa you receive is identical. Apply at https://immi.gov.bt directly.

Printing only one copy of the approval letter. You need it at two points: the check-in counter at the Indian airport, and Bhutan immigration on arrival. Print two copies and carry both.

Arriving at the airport with only a phone screen. Some immigration counters in Bhutan do not accept phone screens. Physical printed copies are always accepted. Print before you leave home.

Choosing the wrong entry type. Single entry (Rs 0) is right for a Vietnam-only trip. Multiple entry (check visa types table for Bhutan fee) is needed if you plan to exit to Cambodia or Laos and return. Confirm which you need before paying.

Bhutan Visa Guide by Departure City

MumbaiCity-specific guide
DelhiCity-specific guide
BangaloreCity-specific guide
KolkataCity-specific guide
ChennaiCity-specific guide
HyderabadCity-specific guide
PuneCity-specific guide
AhmedabadCity-specific guide
JaipurCity-specific guide
LucknowCity-specific guide
Full Bhutan Visa Guide

This page covers how to apply for bhutan visa from india. For the complete Bhutan visa guide with all topics: Bhutan Visa for Indians 2026, Complete Guide

Apply for Bhutan Visa

Cost: Rs 0. Processing: Instant on arrival or online via immi.gov.bt. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel.

Official portal: https://immi.gov.bt

Updated April 2026. For information only. Verify at official sources before booking travel.

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📅 Last updated: June 3, 2026