India Visa RequirementsFor Bhutan passport holders
Bhutanese citizens enjoy visa-free entry to India under a special bilateral friendship treaty, making India the most accessible destination for Bhutanese travelers.
Great news! Bhutan passport holders can enter India without a visa for tourism or business purposes.
No visa application is required for Bhutanese citizens entering India. Simply carry a valid Bhutanese passport. Entry is permitted at all designated immigration checkpoints. Bhutanese citizens are exempt from registering with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in most cases, though some restricted areas may require special permits.
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
6 months beyond date of entry
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Bhutan to India: What You Need to Know
Bhutan and India share one of the closest bilateral relationships in Asia, formalized through the 1949 Treaty of Friendship and later updated in 2007. Bhutanese passport holders can enter India without a visa and travel freely throughout most of the country. This special arrangement reflects the deep economic, cultural, and political ties between the two nations. For most Bhutanese travelers, India serves as both a destination in itself and a transit hub for onward international travel. Bhutan issues relatively few passports due to its small population and historically cautious approach to international travel, so the India route carries outsized importance for Bhutanese passport holders.
Practical Tips
Carry your valid Bhutanese passport at all times. The land border crossings at Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Darranga are the main entry points. Indian currency (INR) is widely accepted in Bhutan as well, making currency exchange straightforward. Keep your passport secure as it is your primary identification document throughout India. For travel beyond India to third countries, most embassies and consulates are located in New Delhi, making India a practical stopover for visa applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa to enter India?
No. Bhutanese passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to India under the bilateral friendship treaty between the two countries. You only need a valid Bhutanese passport.
Are there any restrictions on where Bhutanese citizens can travel within India?
Bhutanese citizens can travel freely throughout most of India. However, certain protected or restricted areas such as parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and sensitive border zones may require special permits regardless of nationality.
Which land border crossings can Bhutanese citizens use to enter India?
The main crossings are Phuentsholing-Jaigaon (Bhutan-West Bengal), Gelephu-Kokrajhar (Bhutan-Assam), Samdrup Jongkhar-Darranga (Bhutan-Assam), and Nganglam-Deosri. All are open for Bhutanese passport holders.
Can Bhutanese citizens use India as a transit hub to apply for visas to other countries?
Yes. Most foreign embassies and consulates serving Bhutanese citizens are located in New Delhi, since many countries do not have diplomatic missions in Thimphu. Bhutanese travelers frequently travel to India specifically to submit visa applications for third countries.