Bhutan sits in Southern Asia. Its immigration system runs 15 distinct routes — led by short stay & visit, other & special and business & self-employment, each set out in official law. All 15 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
All 15 routes, grouped by purpose — 15 of 15 cite an official government source directly.
Employer-led employment pathway requiring labour approval, Work Permit, employer and employee undertakings, medical fitness and drug testing, with conditional qualification and bank-account rules.
Initial investor or promoter entry requires approval from the Director, Department of Industry. The subsequent Investor Card requires the competent ministry letter, undertakings and an underlying valid visa or permit.
Business Visa requires a recommendation from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, a valid passport and the prescribed visa application.
Trader-permit mechanism for Indian nationals, particularly in southern border towns.
Student pathway requires admission, passport validity, sufficient means, statement of purpose and the prescribed institutional documentation; exchange-program documents apply conditionally.
Family route for the spouse and children below 18 of eligible work-permit holders and specified principal categories.
Marriage-based immigration card for a foreign spouse of a Bhutanese citizen.
— No eligibility summary published for this route yet
Personal Guest Visa is submitted by a Bhutanese applicant and requires the applicant citizenship identity card, guest passport, application form and daywise itinerary.
Tourist entry route for nationals requiring advance visa clearance.
Tourist entry mechanism for Indian nationals using a passport or voter identity card.
Visa-on-arrival tourist mechanism for nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Diplomatic Visa requires a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, a valid passport and the prescribed application; a daywise programme applies in specified institutional cases.
Official Visa requires a recommendation from the relevant agency, a valid passport, the prescribed application and a daywise programme.
Visa on arrival for nationals of Thailand or Switzerland travelling on a diplomatic or official passport.
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