All You Need To Know About Entering Bhutan Being an Indian Citizen If you are planning to travel to Bhutan, there are certain requirements that need to be met. In today’s blog post, we’ve brought some of the important things that all tourists must obtain for traveling Bhutan. Indian citizens who are willing to visit Bhutan should necessarily carry any of the two valid travel documents:- 1) Valid Indian passport with validity of a minimum of six months and/or 2) Voter ID card issued by the election commission of India along with recent password size photographs. Minor children (Below the age of 18 years), if are not having a passport, their parents should have their original birth certificate along with a valid school identity card. Visa Requirements for Indians No Visa Regime exists between India and Bhutan. Therefore, visitors from Bhutan or Indian visitors to Bhutan do not require any visa to visit each other’s country. Documents Required for Bhutan Entry It is mandatory for Indian citizens to carry some essential documents while entering Bhutan. The entry permit at the immigration office while entering Bhutan can be obtained only after presenting below listed documents:- A copy of passport 2-passport size color photographs In case the visitor does not have a passport, they can produce their voter ID card Accommodation and lodging details, including the address of the hotel Beyond Thimphu and Paro, Indian citizen requires special Bhutan permit for visiting other towns. Document necessary to apply for 'Special Area Permit' is as follows:- A photocopy of the route permits which is included in your entry permit Duly filled application form If you are driving to Bhutan by your car, you also require an extension permit, obtained at the office of Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA). Procedure for Applying or Getting a Permit to Bhutan To obtain entry permit to Bhutan, Indian visitor has to visit the immigration office of the Royal Government of Phuentsholing. Here you have to produce the required documents for Bhutan permit. After checking, you would be issued an entry permit which is an authority to enter and travel through the country. Even if you are entering Bhutan by airways, you are required to obtain this entry permit at the Paro International Airport. The entry is restricted to Paro and Thimphu with this Entry Permit and Indian citizens have to apply for additional documents for Bhutan immigration. The special area permit issued at the RGoB International office at Thimphu that usually issues this permit within an hour. In case you are visiting Bhutan in your car, the RSTA is a must for your extension permit. Location of the Indian Embassy in Bhutan The Indian Embassy in Bhutan is located in Thimpu and functions through weekdays, remaining closed on Saturdays and Sundays. For further details you can visit the website: https://www.mfa.gov.bt/rbedelhi/ More information about the same is: Address: 193, Jungshina, Thimpu. Phone number: +975 2 322162 Emergency consular number: +975 17128429 Visiting Bhutan by Road Indian visitors traveling to Bhutan by road are required to obtain an entry permit based on valid travel documents from the immigration office of the Royal Government of Bhutan situated at a Phuentsholing, located on the Indo-Bhutan border opposite Jaigaon, West Bengal. Air Travel to Bhutan Indians visiting Bhutan by air must have any of the above-listed travel documents along with the Entry Permit at the Paro International Airport. This Entry Permit enables Indian visitors to visit Thimphu and Paro alone. And, in case tourists have to visit Bhutan beyond Thimphu and Paro should have a route permit from the RGoB Immigration Office at Thimphu on any working day (Monday to Friday). Online Regional Permit System To streamline and facilitate smooth visitation by tourists from India, the Department Of Immigration, Ministry of Home, and cultural affairs and the Tourism Council of Bhutan has launched the Online Permit System. This system facilitates the online processing of permits for regional tourists through registered Bhutanese tour operators and TCB certified hotels. This facility is an additional optional channel to process permits for visitors from the region and is applicable for entry from Paro and Phuntsholing. Indian Visitors using this facility will be able to obtain their permit clearances and route permits ahead of their arrival in Bhutan, similar to international tourists. The Necessity of Travel Insurance for Bhutan Although Indian visitors don't need to buy an international travel insurance policy while visiting Bhutan, it is advisable to have the same so that you can get effectively cover for different types of unforeseen circumstances in a different country. As a visitor, you may come across a medical emergency (if you are on the trekking spree) or might face the loss of luggage; international travel insurance has them covered under their different policies. Some policies even cover hospitalization and its associated expenses. Issuance of liability charges if you are driving your car to the country is quite helpful as it decreases the burden while traveling to Bhutan. You can get these policies at quite cheap prices for instance Rs.175 per day for one adult, for a sum insured of $50,000. These policies are one of the best economical options in travel Insurance while traveling to Bhutan. Doubtful about Driving in Bhutan If you are scared or doubtful about safety to driving through Bhutan especially if you are on mountain roads, be tension-free. However, it is very essential to obtain travel permits while entering the country. Make sure you follow traffic rules while going up-hills. Avoid over speeding every time. When planning your visit to the country search thoroughly about the weather conditions as they can be challenging in Bhutan where landslides are occasional in mountain roads. What is the necessity for accommodation details while obtaining an entry permit? Visitors have to provide their hotel accommodation or lodging details to obtain the entry permit as per the government rule. The Royal Government of Bhutan makes it mandatory to keep records of visitors' permanent addresses as long as they are in the country. Therefore, you should carry your hotel reservation confirmation slips and present them before entering Bhutan. Need For Visa or Permit While Visiting Phuentsholing There is no need for a visa or permit while visiting Phuentsholing. Additionally, you can travel in Bhutanese territory up to the limit of 5 km during the daytime without a permit. But make sure you return to Indian Territory before 10 pm. Best Time to Visit Bhutan One should avoid traveling to Bhutan during the rainy season that lasts from July to September. Winter season lasts from November to March during which minimum temperature may drop to -10° in the Thimphu valley. Summers last from April to June and are very pleasing for exploring the country. Places worth visiting are Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Bumthang, Wangdiphodrang. Indian Citizens and Entry Permit India shares borders with Bhutan and is on very good terms therefore Indian passport holders do not require a visa while traveling to Bhutan. They have to carry other credentials to gain entry in this country like an entry permit issued from the Immigration Office in Phuntsholing. This permit is valid for seven days and those who are entering Bhutan via road have to produce it in every checkpoint for verification. In case as an Indian visitor you intend to stay for more than seven days in Bhutan, you will need to visit the immigration office, located in Thimpu and apply for an extension of the terms of the validity of your permit. The Fee Structure for Indian Citizens There is no fee for the permit issued by the Bhutan Immigration Department that allows Indian visitors’ entry in Bhutan. Once you travel to Bhutan, you will fall in love with its beauty and amazing views. At the end, all efforts will be worth paying. Trust us, make booking and experience the pleasure of visiting heaven (Bhutan)!
