🇧🇹 Bhutan visa requirements

Bhutan doesn't have a digital nomad visa. Your only option is the tourist visa. Most nationalities need to pre-arrange this.

Who Gets In Without a Fuss?

Here's the breakdown for entering Bhutan. Citizens of India, Bangladesh, and Maldives can enter visa-free for up to 14 days, though they must register their stay. Everyone else, and this is the crucial part, needs a visa approved in advance by the Bhutanese Department of Immigration. This usually comes via a registered tour operator. You can't just show up at the airport and get one. If you're from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or most EU countries, expect to go through the pre-approval process. This isn't negotiable. The visa fee is typically rolled into your tour package, but it's a non-refundable $40 USD per person.

Staying Longer and What It Costs

Standard tourist visas for Bhutan are usually for 14 days. You can apply for extensions, but it's not automatic. Each extension is typically granted for 7 days at a time, and you'll likely pay a fee for that too, around $10 USD per day. The real kicker? Bhutan is incredibly strict about overstays. If you’re caught, the penalties are steep. You're looking at $100 USD per day for the first three days of overstay, and then it jumps to $200 USD per day. This isn't a place to wing it and hope for the best. Double-entry visas aren't standard; if you leave and want to re-enter, you'll need to apply for a new visa, which means paying the fees again.

Working Remotely on a Tourist Stamp

Working remotely on a tourist visa in Bhutan is a legal grey area, leaning heavily towards "not allowed." While authorities might not actively hunt down every remote worker, the official stance is that your visa is for tourism only. There's no specific digital nomad visa that permits remote work for foreign companies. If you're caught working, especially if you're seen to be earning income within the country or engaging in activities beyond pure tourism, you could face issues. This might range from a warning to deportation, and potentially a ban from re-entry. Enforcement often depends on who you interact with and how conspicuous your remote work activities are. For peace of mind, it's best to assume you're on holiday.

What's New in Bhutan Entry Rules?

Bhutan has been slowly modernizing its entry procedures. The big news in recent years was the introduction of an eVisa system to streamline applications, though pre-approval through a tour operator remains the primary route for most. Fees have also seen adjustments; the most significant change was the increase in the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), which is now $200 USD per person per night for most international tourists, though this is separate from the visa fee. This SDF replaced the previous daily package rate, making shorter stays potentially more expensive. Keep an eye on the official Bhutan Department of Immigration website for the absolute latest on any programme changes, as they can shift without much advance notice.