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🇭🇰HONG KONG
🏳BTHK-BT

Do Hong Kong passport holders need a visa to visit BT?

HK ordinary passport holders need an e-Visa for Bhutan, applied online before travel, plus the mandatory Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 per night. A Hong Kong SAR ordinary passport holder cannot enter Bhutan visa-free. Only India (visa-free, with border-town restrictions), Bangladesh and the Maldives (visa on arrival) have special arrangements; all other nationals, including HK passport holders, must obtain an e-Visa in advance. The process is run by the Bhutan Department of Immigration through the official online portal (immi.gov.bt). The core cost is the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 100 per person per night (held at this reduced rate through 31 August 2027), plus a one-off, non-refundable visa application fee of USD 40. Applications are typically processed within five working days. The visa is normally issued for up to 90 days. Bhutan is not part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. Many travelers apply directly online, though a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or hotel can also submit on your behalf and arrange logistics. A passport valid for at least 6 months is required.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Hong Kong (PR)Living in Hong Kong as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
e-Visa (applied online in advance via the Bhutan Department of Immigration portal)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days
per entry
Entries
Single entry (per visa application)
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 40 visa application fee + USD 100 SDF per person per night
consular fee only
Processing time
Within 5 working days
standard track
Validity
Visa valid for travel dates approved; up to 90 days stay
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm passport validity and trip dates
Ensure your HK SAR passport is valid for at least 6 months and finalize your intended arrival and departure dates, as the SDF is charged per night of stay.
· 6 months validity· Fix travel dates
/02
Arrange travel logistics
Apply directly yourself via the official portal, or have a licensed Bhutanese tour operator or hotel submit the application on your behalf and arrange accommodation and itinerary.
· Self-apply or via operator
/03
Create an application on the official portal
Go to immi.gov.bt, register, and complete the e-Visa/permit application form with personal and travel details.
· immi.gov.bt
/04
Upload documents and sign the pledge
Upload a passport bio-page scan and a recent digital passport photo, and sign the Pledge of Friendship committing to protect Bhutan's environment and culture.
· Passport scan· Digital photo
/05
Pay SDF and visa fee
Pay the USD 100 per-night Sustainable Development Fee plus the one-off USD 40 visa application fee online; the visa is only issued after full payment.
· USD 100/night SDF· USD 40 fee
/06
Receive e-Visa and travel
Wait up to 5 working days for approval, download the e-Visa confirmation, and present it on arrival at Paro airport or a designated land border (Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar).
· Up to 5 working days· Carry printout
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
HK SAR ordinary passport valid at least 6 months
required
Clear digital scan of passport bio-data page
required
Recent digital passport-style photograph
required
Confirmed arrival and departure dates
required
Confirmed hotel/accommodation details
required
Payment of USD 100 per-night Sustainable Development Fee
required
Payment of USD 40 visa application fee
required
Signed Pledge of Friendship
required
Approved e-Visa confirmation (printed or on phone)
required
Travel/medical insurance for the trip
recommended
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Visa application feeUSD 40One-off, non-refundable, per applicant
Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) - adultUSD 100 per person per nightReduced rate held through 31 Aug 2027
SDF - child (6-12 years)USD 50 per night50% concessionary rate
SDF - child (5 and under)USD 0Exempt from SDF
Total estimateUSD 140 (1 night: USD 40 + USD 100) — USD 540 (5 nights: USD 40 + USD 500)incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard online e-Visa
Within 5 working days
Apply directly on immi.gov.bt; visa issued after full SDF and fee payment.
Via licensed tour operator / hotel
Within 5 working days (operator-managed)
A Bhutanese travel agent or hotel submits the application and handles payment and itinerary on your behalf.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Not in the visa-exempt list
Only India (visa-free) and Bangladesh/Maldives (visa on arrival) have special access; HK passports are not included.
High
/02
High Value, Low Volume tourism model
Bhutan deliberately requires advance e-Visa and SDF payment for almost all foreign visitors to manage tourism numbers.
High
/03
SDF not paid in advance
The visa is only issued after the full Sustainable Development Fee and application fee are paid, so unpaid applications are not approved.
Medium
/04
Insufficient passport validity
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months; shorter validity leads to rejection.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30 · major
HK to Bhutan route verified
Confirmed via Bhutan Department of Immigration and bhutan.travel that HK ordinary passport holders require an advance online e-Visa with USD 40 fee and USD 100/night SDF (reduced rate valid through 31 Aug 2027); up to 90-day stay.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can HK passport holders visit Bhutan visa-free?—
No. Only Indian nationals (visa-free) and Bangladeshi/Maldivian nationals (visa on arrival) have special arrangements. HK passport holders must obtain an e-Visa online before travel.
How much does it cost in total?+
Do I need to book a tour operator?+
How long does the e-Visa take to process?+
How long can I stay in Bhutan?+
Is Bhutan part of the Schengen area?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the Hong Kong passport

🇭🇰⇄
Compare the Hong Kong passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇭🇰◐
Hong Kong visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇭🇰▤
Hong Kong passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
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