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Investor / Promoter Visa and Investor Card

BhutanInvestment

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

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What investment option or options qualify?

Under Bhutan's Foreign Direct Investment Rules and Regulations 2025, in force since 18 July 2025, foreign direct investment is allowed in priority sector activities in manufacturing and services listed in Schedules I and II and in other activities not listed in those Schedules, except activities on the Negative List in Schedule III. An investor card is issued to foreign investors or their authorised representatives whose investment exceeds Nu. 15 million, upon commencement of business.

See recorded sources
  • FDI Rules and Regulations 2025, Rule 5, line 261
    The activities allowed under Rule 4 of these Rules and Regulations shall be: (1)​ Priority Sector Activities in the manufacturing and service sectors as listed in Schedule I and Schedule II of these Rules and Regulations.
  • FDI Rules and Regulations 2025, Rule 37, line 488
    Foreign investors or their authorized representatives making investments in an amount exceeding Nu. 15 million shall be provided with investor cards upon the commencement of business.

What official minimum amount, tier or threshold applies to each relevant option?

Under the Foreign Direct Investment Rules and Regulations 2025, in force since 18 July 2025, an investor card requires an investment exceeding Nu. 15 million. For activities outside the priority Schedules the minimum project cost is Nu. 50 million in the manufacturing sector and Nu. 25 million in the service sector, with maximum foreign shareholding of 74% equity; minimum project costs for priority sector activities are set in Schedules I and II.

See recorded sources

How long must the investment be maintained and what continuing ownership, investment or physical-presence conditions are important?

The full committed equity must be injected within three years of approval. The Investor Card is issued on commencement of business, and the card grants a three-year approval to reside, with extensions facilitated. The official source does not state how long the investment must be held after that or any physical-presence condition.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The evidence does not establish how long ownership or investment must be maintained.
  • No physical-presence condition is stated in the evidence.
  • Extensions being “facilitated” does not guarantee renewal.
  • how_to_qualify
    the full committed equity must be brought in within **three years** of approval
  • how_to_qualify
    Cards are issued on **commencement of business**
  • program_overview
    card holders are granted approval to reside in Bhutan for three years, and that extensions are facilitated

Which family members can be included where officially stated, and what broad residence/work rights result?

Spouses of investors may be granted work permits and dependants may enrol in Bhutanese education institutions. Investors and immediate family are exempt from the Sustainable Development Fee.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The evidence does not establish which relatives can be included on the residence status.
  • The evidence does not establish residence rights for family members.
  • how_to_qualify
    Spouses of investors may be granted work permits and dependants may enrol in Bhutanese education institutions
  • how_to_qualify
    Investors and immediate family are exempt from the Sustainable Development Fee

What status is obtained, how is it renewed, what longer-term residence/citizenship direction is officially stated, and what happens to the investment when relevant?

The investor card grants a foreign investor or authorised representative approval to reside in Bhutan for three years, with further extensions to be facilitated, and exempts the holder, spouse and dependants from the Sustainable Development Fee. Route permits for investors or authorised representatives are facilitated for a maximum of three months or the duration of stay, whichever is less, renewable quarterly. The official source does not state a longer-term residence or citizenship direction or what happens if the investment is wound up.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Rule 51 of the Immigration Rules and Regulations 2023 provides that a foreigner who has entered as a non-immigrant is not entitled to apply for permanent residency or citizenship; that Rule is in a different instrument and does not state whether it applies to investor card holders (https://www.doi.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Immigration-Rules-and-Regulation-.pdf, read 2026-09-22).
  • No source consulted states a total maximum length of stay for an investor card holder, nor what happens to residence approval if the investment is wound up.

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

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