How to Apply for a Bhutan Visa in Tampa

Bhutan, the world’s most mountainous country, covers some 15,000 square miles in the Eastern Himalayas.  Bordered by India and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, landlocked Bhutan is 98.8% mountains and more than 70% forested.  Officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, the country is known locally as Drukyul.  Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a king serving as head of state and a prime minister leading the government.  Bhutan is home to some 778,000 residents, ranking it 165th among the world’s 234 countries and dependent territories.  By comparison, the population of the Greater Tampa Bay area is more than four times the size of Bhutan.

Bhutan and Tibet were among the first countries where Buddhism spread from India in the Seventh Century AD.  Vajrayana Buddhism, Bhutan’s state religion, is led by the Zhabdrung Rinpoche, a spiritual leader similar to Tibet’s Dalai Lama.  The “land of the thunder dragon” is “a place where people can find peace and do business, experience living traditions, and discover wilderness teeming with life,” according to the official Bhutan Travel website (https://bhutan.travel). “In a world that is always on the go, Bhutan provides sanctuary.  Here, you can find earthly pleasures: archery and age-old crafts, dishes of home-made cheese and fearsomely hot chilies, breathtaking treks and restorative hot-stone baths.” Prayer flags are strung across gorges and dot every hillside, Bhutan Travel continued. “From storied cities to soaring mountains, the door to the kingdom is open once again to old and new friends.”

Thimphu, the largest city in Bhutan, became the capital in 1961 when the small village was transformed into a planned city to replace the ancient capital city of Punakha.  Located in the valley of the Raidāk River (also called Wang Chhu), Thimphu has evolved into a growing urban, political, and economic center, with nightclubs known for high-quality ambience, entertainment, food, and music.  Popular tourist sites for visitors from Tampa include the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, the National Library, the Thimphu Tsechu Festival (mask dancing), National Institute of Zorig Chusum (arts), and the Folk Heritage Museum.

Bhutan’s strongest trade and business opportunities are with neighboring India.  Its currency, the ngultrum, is fixed to the Indian rupee.  While it has one of the smallest economies in the world, Bhutan’s growth averaged 7% over the past decade.  In 2022, services accounted for more than 50% of GDP, with industry contributing 32% and agriculture 15%.  Forestry, handicrafts, and sales of hydroelectric power to India are also significant sectors of the economy.  Bhutan has few roads and no railways or ports, so its imports and exports flow through India.  While Bhutan currently offers few business opportunities for Tampa-based companies or other American firms, the government has launched several initiatives to expand and diversify its economy. “One such initiative is a concerted effort by the Royal Government to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by liberalizing the FDI regime, reforming its economic policy, and creating a conducive investment climate.”, the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi stated.  As the most peaceful country in South Asia and the only carbon-negative nation globally, the embassy added, “Investors are ensured business predictability and maximum value for their money through the impact created by contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”

Tourism accounts for a small but growing portion of Bhutan’s economy, drawing more than 100,000 visitors in 2022 and 2023 (most coming from India). “Bhutan is the last Vajrayana Buddhist country in the world and it contains many revered religious sites – from roadside stupas to temples, monasteries and nunneries,” the government tourism site stated.  Bhutan has no official UNESCO World Heritage sites but there are eight sites on the tentative UNESCO list, including Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong; Tamzhing Monastery; Bumdeling and Sakteng wildlife sanctuaries; and Royal Manas and Jigme Dorji national parks.  Bhutan’s highest mountain, Gangkhar Puensum, is also the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.  Its mountain glaciers and subtropical jungles are home to royal Bengal tigers and primates such as the golden langur.  You can explore one of the most biodiverse countries in the world aboard mountain bikes, motorbikes, yaks, domestic buses, SUVs with private drivers, and helicopters. 

“Bhutan traditionally appealed to adventure seekers—those drawn to its high-altitude hiking, trekking, mountain biking, and whitewater-rafting opportunities,” Forbes reported (https://www.forbes.com/sites/judykoutsky/2023/02/15/bhutan-is-back-and-ready-for-tourism). “It also attracted wellness gurus—drawn by the spiritual traditions and healing rituals such as traditional Bhutanese hot stone baths and the area’s native medicinal herbs and wild mushrooms).  The range of travelers now also includes birding enthusiasts—those seeking the opportunity to glimpse the hundreds of bird species found here.  Another new travel demographic is the design/artisanal craft enthusiasts who are drawn to the unique architecture, richly colored textiles, and its 13 protected craft traditions, such as ceramics, blacksmithing, sculpture and carpentry.” Some of Bhutan’s unique experiences, the article added, include the Tour of the Dragon, a grueling 140-mile mountain bike race; the 126-mile Snowman Run; the Snowman Trek; and hiking and camping the Trans Bhutan Trail, an ancient 250-mile pilgrimage route.

Requirements for Obtaining a Bhutan E-Visa

Citizens of the United States and most other countries living in the Tampa Bay area are required to obtain a visa before visiting Bhutan. (The exceptions are Bangladeshi, Maldivian and Indian nationals, plus certain Thai and Swiss holders of diplomatic or official passports.  Only members of these groups are eligible for an entry permit and/or visa on arrival.) The main requirement to obtain a visa is holding a passport valid for no less than six months beyond your arrival date and containing at least one blank page.  The U.S. State Department does not currently have any travel alerts for Bhutan (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Bhutan.html).

“Bhutan no longer requires visitors to book travel to or within Bhutan through an accredited tour operator,” the State Department noted. “But the Department of Tourism still recommends them for their expert knowledge and customer service.” Accredited operators can be found through the Bhutan Tourism Department website at https://bhutan.travel.

Residents of Tampa can obtain a visa through a tour operator, or you can apply for an electronic visa (e-Visa) via the Department of Immigration website at https://immi.gov.bt/home.  All types of visa requests other than personal guest visas must be submitted electronically. {Bhutan does not have an embassy in the United States that would handle visa requests, but it does have a permanent mission at the United Nations, https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/2022/06.}

Visitors who need visas should apply at least 15 days before they plan to arrive in Bhutan.  Visas are available for tourism, business, employment, and other reasons.  Required documents for the tourist visa are:

  • Completed and signed online application via site above.
  • Scanned color copy of your passport’s information page in JPEG format.
  • Digital photo taken against a white background.
  • Flight itinerary with your name plus arrival and departure dates/times.
  • Hotel reservation showing the applicant’s name.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Bhutan.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

The tourist visa allows you to stay in Bhutan for up to 90 days with one entry to the country. (To stay longer, you can renew you visa through the Bhutan e-Visa site.) The government fee to apply for a visa is $40.

However, visitors to Bhutan who are at least 12 years old must also pay a $100 per day Sustainable Development Fee (SDF).  The fee for children ages 6-12 is $50, while those under six are exempt.  So, if you visit Bhutan on your own for five days, you would pay a $500 SDF; if you took your 10-year-old child, the SDF would be $750. (NOTE: The base SDF for nationals of other countries is $200, but the fee for U.S. visitors is being temporarily discounted until August 2027 as Bhutan seeks to draw more visitors.)

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Visa Supply can help you complete your application for your visa and answer your questions about visiting Bhutan.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Bhutan.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.

If you live in Tampa or anywhere in the state of Florida and have difficulty applying for a Bhutan visa, or require assistance with any part of the process of preparing for your trip, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company through our website.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Bhutan visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. 

We provide the following Bhutan visa services for residents of Tampa:

  • Bhutan Tourist Visa
  • Bhutan Business Visa
  • Bhutan Hotel Accommodations