India to Bhutan visa requirements

Indian passport holders do NOT need a visa for Bhutan. Under the 1949 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, Indians enter visa-free, but must carry a valid passport (6+ months) or Voter ID and obtain a free Entry Permit (online or on arrival) to travel beyond border towns. A reduced Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200 per adult per night applies. Indian nationals are exempt from a Bhutan visa under the special bilateral relationship established by the 1949 Treaty of Friendship. Instead of a visa, Indian travelers require an Entry Permit, which is issued free of charge by Bhutan's Department of Immigration either online via the Bhutan Immigration Services Portal (immi.gov.bt) before travel or at the port of entry. Entry is permitted by air through Paro International Airport and by land at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar. Since 23 September 2022, free movement is limited to the border towns; travel beyond them (e.g., Thimphu, Paro town, Punakha) requires the permit. The main cost is the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), set at a concessional INR 1,200 per adult per night for Indian nationals (vs USD 100 for other foreigners) — this rate is fixed through 31 August 2027. Children aged 6-12 pay 50%, and children aged 5 and under are exempt. A 24-hour SDF waiver applies to day visits to border towns without an overnight stay. Acceptable ID is an Indian passport with at least 6 months validity OR a Voter Identity Card issued by the Election Commission of India; minors under 18 without a passport need an original birth certificate. The verdict is firmly visa-free, confirmed by the Bhutan Department of Immigration, the Royal Bhutanese Consulate Kolkata, and the Embassy of India in Thimphu.