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India Visa Requirements for Bhutan Citizens

Visa-free

Bhutan passport holders do not need a visa to visit India.

India’s Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal and Bhutan visiting India from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air need neither a passport nor an Indian visa, but must hold a government-approved document proving their nationality, with their photograph and details such as given name, last name, date of birth, nationality, issuing authority and period of validity.

“Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan visiting India from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air are exempted from the requirement of Passport and an Indian visa. However, they are required to hold any such Government approved document authenticating their Nationality which shall bear their Photograph along with information viz., Given Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Nationality, Issuing Authority, Period of Validity etc.,”

Source: Bureau of Immigration (Ministry of Home Affairs, India) — Visa Free Regime · checked 13 Oct 2026

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What the India visa rules mean for Bhutan travellers

Bhutan citizens can enter India without a visa. You only need a valid Bhutan passport at the border; immigration officers may still ask for a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and enough money for your stay.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, India applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

  • Passport validity: India's e-Visa instructions say the passport should have at least six months' validity at the time of applying for the e-Visa and at least two blank pages for stamping. The UK Foreign Office tells British nationals thei…
  • Blank passport pages: Your passport needs at least 2 blank pages.
  • Vaccinations: Yellow fever: India's Bureau of Immigration says anyone arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country by air or sea must hold a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, and that foreigners or Indians (excludin…
  • Vaccinations: Polio (OPV/IPV): WHO's country list says India requires proof of oral polio vaccination, taken at least 4 weeks before departure, from resident national travellers from polio-endemic countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan) and from c…

India entry rules compared

India lets 3 passports in without a visa, issues eVisas to 165 and requires an embassy visa from 30. Bhutan citizens are treated the same way as Maldives and Nepal. Overall the Bhutan passport ranks #177 in the world with 17 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Asia? With a Bhutan passport you can also visit 5 countries in the region without a visa, including Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

In the other direction, India citizens need visa on arrival to visit Bhutan.

Flag of IndiaEntry requirements for India

Passport validity

6 months

India's e-Visa instructions say the passport should have at least six months' validity at the time of applying for the e-Visa and at least two blank pages for stamping. The UK Foreign Office tells British nationals their passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date they arrive and at least 2 blank pages.

Indian Visa Online — e-Visa instructions and FAQ (Government of India)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Vaccinations: Yellow fever

6 days

India's Bureau of Immigration says anyone arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country by air or sea must hold a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, and that foreigners or Indians (excluding infants below six months) arriving without one who have visited or transited such an area will be kept in quarantine for up to 6 days. It lists 30 notified endemic countries in Africa and 13 in South America.

Bureau of Immigration, India — Health Regulation✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Vaccinations: Polio (OPV/IPV)

4 weeks

WHO's country list says India requires proof of oral polio vaccination, taken at least 4 weeks before departure, from resident national travellers from polio-endemic countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan) and from countries with poliovirus circulation following importation (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Syria).

WHO — Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers, country list (ITH 2022)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Travel insurance

No official source we could read states a travel-insurance requirement for India. The UK Foreign Office advises checking before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

UK FCDO — India travel advice: health✓ Checked 4 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: e-Arrival Card

72 hours

India's visa portal says foreign nationals and OCI/eOCI cardholders must complete and submit the e-Arrival Card, a free service of Indian Immigration, and that it can be submitted online within 72 hours before arrival at boi.gov.in or indianvisaonline.gov.in or via the official 'Indian Visa Su-Swagatam' app. It says this is for arrival information, not a visa.

Indian Visa Online (Bureau of Immigration) — e-Arrival Card form ('It is free of cost service of Indian Immigration'); the 72-hour window is in the portal's home page notice✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form

72 hours

The Air Suvidha portal says all international passengers arriving in India are required to submit a health self-declaration online through the portal before arrival. It says the form is free of cost, can be filled up to 72 hours before arriving, is mandatory under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and that the registration number is presented at the health desk on landing.

Air Suvidha 2.0 — instructions for the Self-Declaration Form (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare / Ministry of Civil Aviation)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Registration after arrival

24 hours

Every keeper of accommodation must have each foreign guest, including Overseas Citizen of India cardholders, give their particulars and sign on arrival, and record the date and time of departure and the onward address. Accommodation includes boarding houses, paying guest houses, hostels, rented accommodation, home stays, tents and hospitals, among other premises. The keeper must send a completed Form III (Form C) electronically to the Registration Officer as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours after the foreigner arrives. The foreigner must give the keeper the particulars asked for. Subject to sub-section (3), the Act's duty does not apply to residential premises of a non-commercial nature. Breaches of the Act or its rules for which no specific punishment is provided are punishable by up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of up to three lakh rupees, or both.

Bureau of Immigration (Ministry of Home Affairs) — Obligation of Hotels, Hospitals & Educational Institutes✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

Under section 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, a foreigner who stays in India beyond the period for which the visa was issued can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to three lakh rupees, or both. The Bureau of Immigration says violating Indian visa rules is likely to affect future entry into India or future visas.

Bureau of Immigration, India — The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

USD 10,000

India's customs guide for travellers says you must declare to Customs on a Currency Declaration Form when foreign exchange exceeds USD 10,000 or its equivalent and/or foreign currency notes exceed USD 5,000 or equivalent, and that residents may carry INR 25,000 abroad. Canada's travel advice says non-residents are prohibited from importing or exporting the Indian rupee.

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs — International Travellers: Guide for Travellers (February 2026)✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for India?

Bhutan passport holders do not need a visa to visit India. India’s Bureau of Immigration says citizens of Nepal and Bhutan visiting India from Nepal or Bhutan by land or air need neither a passport nor an Indian visa, but must hold a government-approved document proving their nationality, with their photograph and details such as given name, last name, date of birth, nationality, issuing authority and period of validity.

How long can Bhutan citizens stay in India?

There is no fixed limit on the length of stay, though long stays usually require registering your residence.

How long must my passport be valid to enter India?

India's e-Visa instructions say the passport should have at least six months' validity at the time of applying for the e-Visa and at least two blank pages for stamping. The UK Foreign Office tells British nationals their passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date they arrive and at least 2 blank pages.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

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See also: India requirements for other passports

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