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Immigration Card — Foreign Spouse of Bhutanese Citizen

BhutanFamily

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

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Explore pathways in Bhutan Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The Immigration Card covers a foreigner who is married to a Bhutanese after 10 June 1985 and the son or daughter of such parentage; both are categorised as immigrants once the card is issued. The Department of Immigration's revised list of non-tourist categories describes the same category as foreigners married to Bhutanese and their legitimate children.

See recorded sources

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The application is made by the Bhutanese spouse (or the Bhutanese parent, in the case of children), who must be a Bhutanese citizen: a copy of the Bhutanese spouse's citizenship identity card and a family tree of the Bhutanese spouse issued by the Department of Civil Registration and Census are required. The Immigration Card application form must be endorsed by the concerned Gup or Thromde Thueme, as applicable, and both the Bhutanese and the foreign spouse may be required to report physically to the Department at renewal.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The marriage must be proved by a copy of a marriage certificate issued by the Royal Court of Justice of Bhutan, together with a copy of the Bhutanese spouse's citizenship identity card and a family tree of the Bhutanese spouse issued by the Department of Civil Registration and Census. A duly completed Declaration for Immigration Card is also required, and a copy of the birth certificate for a dependent child above the age of 15 years who is registered with the Department. The revised non-tourist list requires the Royal Court of Justice certificate where the spouse is entering Bhutan to seek immigrant status.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Department's page names a birth certificate only for a dependent child above the age of 15 years who is registered with the Department; it does not say what proves the relationship of a child below that age.
  • The sources do not say how a marriage celebrated abroad is converted into a Royal Court of Justice certificate, nor what the Declaration for Immigration Card must contain.
  • Both sources add that the Department may ask for additional documents during assessment, so the list is not closed.
  • Rule 46 requires a child born to a Bhutanese and an Immigration Card holder to be registered with the Department within one year of birth, with a verification report from the Dzongkhag if later; the sources do not tie that registration to the proof needed for the card application itself.
  • https://www.doi.gov.bt/?lang=en&page_id=1312 — 'Immigration Card (marriage cases)', Requirements
    Requirements: Application from Bhutanese spouse Copy of citizenship identity card of Bhutanese spouse Family tree of Bhutanese spouse issued by the Department of Civil Registration and Census Copy of Marriage Certificate issued by the Royal Court of Justice Duly completed Immigration Card application form endorsed by the concerned Gup or Thromde Thueme , as applicable Duly completed Declaration for Immigration Card Copy of passport or voter identity card with relevant entry permit (for nationals of India) Copy of passport with relevant visa (for nationals of other countries) Copy of birth certificate for dependent child above the age of 15 years who are registered with the Department The Department may ask for additional documents during assessment, if required
  • https://www.doi.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Immigration-Rules-and-Regulation-.pdf — Rule 41
    The following documents shall be submitted for issuance of an Immigration Card to a foreigner married to a Bhutanese: (a) (b) (c) (d) Duly filled application forms as prescribed by the Department; Marriage certificate issued by the Royal Court of Justice; Copy of Citizenship Identity Card of Bhutanese spouse; and Passport or identity document of the foreign spouse.
  • https://www.doi.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/revised_non_tourist-categories_Public-1.pdf — Non-tourist categories, footnote 2
    Marriage certificate issued by any country, unless the spouse is entering Bhutan to seek immigrant status, in which case the marriage certificate must be issued by the Royal Court of Justice, Bhutan

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance requirements.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Department of Immigration's Immigration Card (marriage cases) page, Rule 41 of the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 and item 1 of the revised list of non-tourist categories list only application, identity, relationship and endorsement documents. None states an income, savings, accommodation, maintenance or health-insurance requirement for the foreign spouse or for the Bhutanese sponsor.
  • Section 19(c) of the Immigration Act 2007 sets out the terms of stay for Immigration Card holders and states no financial condition either.
  • Nothing was found, which is not the same as the sources stating that no such condition exists.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

An Immigration Card holder is categorised as an immigrant and is provided with a stay permit on a periodical basis as decided by the Government from time to time; the holder must reside at the address shown on the card and report any change of address, must register at the nearest police station on each change of residence, and must obtain route permits to travel outside the designated areas. An Immigration Card holder is not permitted to work in any organisation in Bhutan without prior approval from the Department, and both the Bhutanese and the foreign spouse may be required to report physically to the Department when the card is renewed. A foreigner who is already in Bhutan as a visitor, dependent, worker or student may not process an Immigration Card and must leave Bhutan for at least one year to become eligible to apply. The official immigration sources do not state whether an Immigration Card holder can obtain Bhutanese citizenship.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The sources do not state how long an Immigration Card is valid or how often it must be renewed: the Act says only that the stay permit is given 'on periodical basis as may be decided by the Government from time to time'.
  • Annexure V of the Rules prices 'Other cards' at Nu. 300 for 1 year, Nu. 600 for more than 1 up to 2 years and Nu. 900 for more than 2 up to 3 years, but does not say the Immigration Card is one of those cards, so no validity period is claimed from that table.
  • The checked immigration sources do not say whether or when an Immigration Card holder can obtain Bhutanese citizenship; citizenship is governed by separate legislation that was not consulted here.
  • Rule 44 requires a change of address to be reported to the Department while Section 19(c)(ii) of the Act requires registration at the nearest police station on each change of residence; the sources do not say whether both duties apply.
  • Nothing is stated about what happens to the card if the marriage ends or the Bhutanese spouse dies - the Rules' contents list names a section on that subject, but its text was not located in the captured extraction.

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

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