Park or area feeAsiaYourself or an operatorCheck · Sep 2026
Bhutan: Sustainable Development Fee
A per-night Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) paid on top of a visa, plus a licensed guide for sightseeing beyond Thimphu and Paro.
The permit
- Who issues it
- Department of Immigration and Department of Tourism, Royal Government of Bhutan
- How to get it
- Yourself or an operator. Apply for the visa and pay the SDF online yourself, or let a licensed Bhutanese operator or hotel do it; either way, sightseeing outside the two main towns needs a licensed guide.
- Lead time
- 2 weeks+ · Visa decisions usually take about 5 working days; apply 2–8 weeks ahead in the spring and autumn festival seasons.
- Cost (check)
- SDF US$100 per adult per night (reduced rate set to run to 2027; children 6–12 pay half, under-6s free) plus a US$40 visa fee; SDF US$100 is fixed until 31 August 2027 (check).
- Documents
- Passport valid 6 months
- Passport photo
- Travel insurance
- Confirmed flights and accommodation
- SDF payment
- If you skip it
- Without a visa clearance you cannot board Drukair or Bhutan Airlines; travelling beyond permitted areas without a guide or route permit is refused at road checkpoints.
- Official site
- Department of Tourism, Bhutan
Worth knowing
- Indian passport holders pay a much lower rupee-based fee and have different entry rules (check).
Check before you pay
Fees, quotas and closed areas change, sometimes with days of notice. These figures were last checked in Sep 2026; confirm on the official site or with a licensed operator before you book flights.