Permit for foreign nationals

Bhutan beyond the border-town designated points — licensed guide required

Permit for foreign nationals · Bhutan

Other zones: Bhutan Check a route

In short

For visitors: permit in advance, via an agency.

No boundary — routes will not see this zone
Checked against the act on 21 October 2026

Who may enter, and with what

Rules by group of people, as the source states them, with dates. We give no assessments of our own.

Foreign nationals — permit in advance, via an agency. Tourists of every nationality, including Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian citizens, must be accompanied by a licensed guide anywhere in Bhutan; a separate route permit is no longer needed. Only the designated zones of the border towns of Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samtse and Samdrup Jongkhar, up to the first checkpoint, may be visited without a guide.Issued by: Department of Tourism (MoICE) — licensed guide through a certified provider; visa/permit — Department of Immigration (immi.gov.bt) · Fee: SDF (Sustainable Development Fee) — USD 200 per night (TRR 2024 r.6); for Indian tourists — Nu 1 200 per night (r.8). Own vehicle beyond the designated point — Nu 4 500 per vehicle per night (r.26). Fine for travelling without a guide — Nu 10 000 per tourist (Schedule 2).Exceptions: Designated zones of the border towns Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar — no guide required «until the first designated check point»; no SDF there when leaving within 24 h (extended to August 2027 per bhutan.travel).; Treks — only with a licensed trekking guide and only on approved routes (TRR 2024 r.50; Approved Trekking Routes list).
Original wording
A tour guide shall be mandatory for all tours except until the first designated check point.
Apply · Tourism Rules and Regulations 2024, rule 20 (bhutan.travel / Department of Tourism) · as of 26 August 2024 · checked 21 October 2026

Legal basis

Open the text

Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Bhutan beyond the border-town designated points — licensed guide required?

For visitors: permit in advance, via an agency. Tourists of every nationality, including Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian citizens, must be accompanied by a licensed guide anywhere in Bhutan; a separate route permit is no longer needed. Only the designated zones of the border towns of Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samtse and Samdrup Jongkhar, up to the first checkpoint, may be visited without a guide.

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Department of Tourism (MoICE) — licensed guide through a certified provider; visa/permit — Department of Immigration (immi.gov.bt). The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

No: we have no boundary for this zone, so the planner cannot see it. Check your route against the rule above.

Other zones: Bhutan

Bhutan protected areas — permit for foreign nationals Bhutan restricted and prohibited areas (northern frontier — approved treks with army permit only)

Visas by passportWhere you can go without a visa, and for how long.AI plannerA day-by-day route, with permits and zones along the way.Zones mapZones and military areas on the world map.