Visa policy of Bhutan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Politics of Bhutan
Emblem of Bhutan.svg
Member State of the SAARC
Constitution
  • Law
  • Human rights
  • LGBT rights
Monarchy
State religion
Government
Executive
  • Prime Minister
    Lotay Tshering
  • Lhengye Zhungtshog
    (council of ministers)

Parliament

  • National Council
  • National Assembly

Judiciary

Elections
  • Recent elections
  • Political parties
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
  • Other countries
  • v
  • t
Visa for Bhutan issued in 2002

Travel to the Kingdom of Bhutan is highly regulated under the policy "High Value, Low Impact Tourism" in order to minimize the impact on the country's unique society and environment. Bhutanese policy ensures that only a limited number of tourists enter the country at any one time, preventing it from being overwhelmed by mass tourism and thus altering its character, and that the tourists who do come get the most out of their visits.

Visa policy map[]

Visa policy of Bhutan
  Bhutan
  Freedom of movement
  Visa-free

Visa exemption[]

Freedom of movement[]

Citizens of  India do not need a visa to enter Bhutan, because the 1949 Treaty between Bhutan and India allows for free movement of people between the two nations on a reciprocal basis.

Indian citizens can obtain entry into Bhutan by air and land, and may use any of the acceptable documents mentioned below to enter Bhutan:

  • Indian Passport
  • Aadhar card
  • Voter ID card with photograph[1]
  • Identification Slip issued by the Indian Consulate Office in Phuentsholing upon presenting proof of Indian citizenship.[2]

Visa free[]

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa and a booking with a licensed tour operator to visit Bhutan, provided they have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.[3][4]

  •  Bangladesh
  •  Maldives

Diplomatic, service and official passports[]

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of the following countries do not require a visa to visit Bhutan for up to 90 days.[4]

  •   Switzerland (90 days)
  •  Thailand (90 days)

Restricted areas permit[]

Upon entering Bhutan, all foreigners are issued a 7 or 14 days "Entry Permit" by default, valid for Thimphu and Paro only. The rest of Bhutan is considered a restricted area, and foreigners need a "Restricted-Area Permit" to enter. Immigration checkpoints are located at important road junctions throughout the country, where police check the permits of all foreigners they find. In addition, foreigners wishing to visit Buddhist temples must obtain a "Temple Permit" from the Ministry of Culture.[5]

While these permits are typically arranged by the tour operators, Indian, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian visitors who did not book through a licensed tour operator must apply for them in person at the Immigration office in Thimphu. The permits can also be extended at the Immigration office in Thimphu for a charge. Citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Maldives are exempt from charges on issuance and extensions of permits.

Visa required in advance[]

All foreigners (except for citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Maldives) must obtain a visa before visiting Bhutan and may only enter Bhutan through Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar if coming by land or Paro if coming by air. If approved, they are given a visa clearance letter, and must present it at the port of entry. The visa is then stamped into their passport. Foreign tourists must use a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or one of their international partners to pre-arrange their visa and book their holiday. A daily fee is also charged for every day of stay. For most foreign tourists, it amounts to $250 a day during tourist high season, and $200 a day for low season.[6][7]

Discounts also apply for minors and larger groups while surcharges exist for groups smaller than 3. The minimum daily package required for visa processing covers accommodation, food, guide and vehicle with driver. Part of it goes towards free education, free healthcare and poverty alleviation in Bhutan.[6][1] Licensed tour guides accompany tourists during their trips and arrange accommodations - independent tourism by foreigners (except for citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Maldives) is prohibited.

The only exceptions for having to book a tour as a condition for being allowed to visit are for those who receive a formal invitation to Bhutan from "a citizen of some standing" or a volunteer organization,[8] and those who come as guests of the Bhutanese government.

Liberalization proposals[]

In 2009, the government of Bhutan hired the consulting company McKinsey to re-assess its policies on tourism. McKinsey’s plan to de-regulate tourism and allow an unlimited number of foreign tourists to enter the country was preliminarily approved by the Prime Minister and the cabinet, but finally rejected due to widespread opposition in the country. According to Canadian scholar Kent Schroeder, “the reversal of McKinsey’s liberalization proposal represented a significant triumph for many within the private sector and civil society.” [9]

Statistics[]

Most visitors arriving to Bhutan were from the following countries of nationality:[10] [11]

Rank Country or territory 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
1  India 172,751 114,301 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2  Bangladesh 10,536 7,753 N/A N/A N/A N/A
3  United States 9,220 7,292 7,137 7,291 6,997 6,102
4  China 6,421 9,208 9,399 8,111 4,827 3,816
5  South Korea 6,048 1,035 N/A N/A N/A N/A
6  Singapore 4,129 3,015 2,587 1,720 2,051 1,611
7  Thailand 4,047 4,177 3,778 12,105 3,527 3,617
8  United Kingdom 3,246 3,124 2,958 2,680 2,309 2,491
9  Germany 2,970 2,297 2,498 2,971 2,770 2,895
10  Malaysia 2,956 1,967 1,546 2,067 2,054 1,312
11  Japan 2,744 4,833 2,437 2,707 4,035 7,029
12  Australia 2,249 1,818 1,833 2,037 2,062 1,950
13  France 1,545 1,501 1,563 1,636 1,572 1,863
14  Canada 1,524 1,110 N/A N/A N/A N/A
15  Taiwan 1,491 1,812 N/A N/A N/A N/A
16  Vietnam 1,423 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
17   Switzerland 1,352 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
18  Spain 1,142 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
19  Italy 978 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20  Netherlands 757 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
21  Russia N/A 243 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Total 237,529 209,570 155,121 133,480 116,209 105,407

See also[]

  • Visa requirements for Bhutanese citizens

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Visa". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Embassy of India Thimphu, Bhutan". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Visa for coming to Bhutan". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Gulf Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  5. ^ "bhutan travel information, cultural tours, himalayan adventure". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b "FAQ". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Travel Requirements". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. ^ Sharell Cook. "How to Travel to Bhutan". About.com Travel. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  9. ^ Kent Schroeder, Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan, Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 60–63.
  10. ^ Bhutan annual reports
  11. ^ "Выезд граждан России". Fedstat.ru. 2018-02-13. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
Retrieved from ""