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Business Visa

BhutanStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

The Immigration Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2007 allows a person to be granted permission to enter the Kingdom to establish business only where he produces documentary evidence of Government approval for establishment of business under prevailing policies and laws. The Act does not list qualifying sectors or trades.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Department of Immigration's own Business Visa page states no business-type criteria; it lists only a recommendation from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, passport validity and the application form (https://www.doi.gov.bt/?page_id=163&lang=en, read 2026-09-22).
  • No source consulted states whether section 43 of the Act is the statutory basis for the product the Department markets as 'Business Visa'; the two are not linked in writing on any page read.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

Under the Immigration Act 2007 a person entering to establish business must be actively involved full time in trading or providing services on his own account or in partnership, or in the promotion and management of the company, and there must be a genuine need for his investment and services in the Kingdom.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Act sets no test, threshold or evidence standard for 'genuine need'; no source consulted states how the Department assesses it.
  • It is not stated anywhere read whether these conditions are applied to the visa the Department publishes as 'Business Visa'.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

The Department of Immigration's Business Visa page requires only a recommendation from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, a copy of a valid passport with at least six months' validity from the intended date of departure from Bhutan, and a completed visa application form. It states no minimum capital, turnover or proof-of-funds requirement.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No source consulted states a minimum capital, turnover, proof-of-funds or financial viability requirement for the Business Visa.
  • The visa fee is set elsewhere: the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 put the fee for visa categories other than tourist at Nu. 5,000 unless Annexure III prescribes otherwise (https://www.doi.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Immigration-Rules-and-Regulation-.pdf, read 2026-09-22).
  • Business Visa page, requirements block, line 56
    Requirements: Recommendation from Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment Copy of valid passport Passport must have minimum validity of six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan Duly completed visa application form The Department may ask for additional documents during assessment, if required

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The Immigration Act 2007 conditions permission to enter to establish business on the person being actively involved full time in trading or providing services on his own account or in partnership, or in the promotion and management of the company. The official source does not state whether the holder may take other employment, or the family position.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No source consulted states whether a Business Visa holder may take employment with a third party, and the Act does not address it for this category.
  • The Department's Business Visa page states no conditions on activity once in Bhutan.
  • Immigration Act 2007, s.43(d), line 699
    he will be actively involved full time in trading or providing services on his own account or in partnership, or in the promotion and management of the company; and

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 categorise a business person as a non-immigrant, and a foreigner who has entered as a non-immigrant is not entitled to apply for permanent residency or citizenship. The Business Visa therefore carries no route to permanent residence under these Rules. The official source does not state the approval sequence, duration or renewal of the Business Visa.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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