Polish citizens require a visa to Bhutan. It is an e‑visa: the application is submitted online and the decision usually arrives within 5 business days. In addition to the visa fee, every tourist pays the SDF (Sustainable Development Fee) for each night of stay, and this is what determines the total cost of the trip. Below You will find entry rules, required documents, and practical information for 2026.
Who needs a visa for Bhutan
Visa-free entry is only available to citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. Citizens of Poland and the rest of the EU must obtain a visa before arrival. You will not receive it at the airport without having first submitted an online application.
Your citizenship matters, not Your country of residence. A foreign national living in Poland submits the same application as a Polish citizen, based on their own passport.
Fees: visa and SDF
The cost of entry consists of two government charges. The visa fee is a one‑off, non‑refundable charge. The SDF is paid per person for each night of stay.
Children aged 6–12 pay half the SDF rate, younger children are exempt.
The reduced SDF rate applies until 31 August 2027. If the government of Bhutan does not extend it, the SDF will double after that date.
You pay the SDF upfront, for all nights, together with the visa application.
If You shorten Your stay or cancel the trip, the unused portion of the SDF is refunded to Your account, minus bank charges. The visa fee is non‑refundable. From 2026, hotels, guides, and transport are subject to GST, which does not apply to the SDF or the visa fee. For a one‑week stay, the SDF is clearly higher than the visa fee itself, so plan Your budget based on the number of nights.
Required documents
Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from Bhutan, scan of the bio data page.
Photo in electronic form.
Flight reservation with arrival and departure dates.
Travel itinerary with accommodation booked for every night of the stay.
The compulsory travel insurance requirement was lifted in April 2024. It is still advisable to have it. Medical care outside Thimphu is limited, and medical evacuation abroad is expensive.
Step‑by‑step procedure
You book flights, accommodation, and a guide for any route outside Thimphu and Paro.
You submit an online application via the Bhutan Department of Immigration portal and pay the visa fee and SDF by card.
The decision is sent by email, usually within 5 business days.
You print the visa approval and present it on entry. The visa is placed in Your passport at Paro airport or at the land border.
You can apply Yourself or through a travel agency. The form is only in English, and the data must match Your passport exactly, letter for letter.
Most common application errors
Dates not matching the ticket. The arrival and departure dates in the application must be the same as in the flight reservation. Otherwise, the SDF will be calculated for the wrong number of nights.
Passport not valid long enough. The 6 months are counted from the date of departure from Bhutan, not from the date of arrival.
Typo in surname or passport number. The data in the application must be identical to the machine‑readable zone of the passport.
No guide for the route from the airport. If You travel from Paro directly to Punakha or Bumthang, Your guide must be waiting for You at the airport.
Guide and getting around the country
You may walk around streets, shops, and restaurants in Thimphu and Paro without a guide. A licensed guide is mandatory to enter dzongs, monasteries, temples, and museums, for any travel outside Thimphu and Paro, and for trekking. In April 2026, the Department of Tourism reminded visitors that a tourist must also have a guide when travelling from Paro airport to other districts.
Tourists do not use public transport. You travel around the country by hired car with driver, which is why most people book a guide, car, and hotels as a single package with a local tour operator.
When to travel to Bhutan
The best weather is in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). This is also when the major festivals take place: Paro Tsechu in spring and Thimphu Tsechu in autumn. The monsoon lasts from June to August. In winter it is cold in the mountains, although in the valleys of Paro and Punakha days can be sunny.
During festival season, flights and hotels sell out fastest. Submit Your visa application only after Your flight and accommodation have been confirmed.
How to fly to Bhutan
There are no direct flights from Poland. The only international airport is in Paro. Drukair and Bhutan Airlines operate flights there, including from Delhi, Kathmandu, and Bangkok.
You can also enter Bhutan overland from India, via Phuentsholing. In that case You will also need an Indian visa.
Money on the ground
The currency is the ngultrum, pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee. Indian rupees are accepted for payments in Bhutan. You can mainly pay by card in hotels and larger shops in Thimphu and Paro, and ATMs are found primarily in towns. For any trip outside the two main valleys, take cash.
Bhutan visa through Notberg
With Notberg You can order an electronic tourist visa for Bhutan. We verify Your data, pay the fees, submit the application, and monitor its status. All communication with us is in Polish.
Service packages: Standard (decision in about 5 days) or Premium (about 2 days). The visa fee and SDF are government charges and are calculated separately from the service package price.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Bhutan without a travel agency?
Yes. You may book accommodation, transport, and a guide by Yourself. A guide is still mandatory outside Thimphu and Paro and at heritage sites.
How many days do I pay the SDF for?
The SDF is calculated per night, not per day. For a 7‑day, 6‑night trip, You pay for 6 nights.
Does a child need a separate visa?
Yes. Each person, including a child, has a separate application and a separate visa fee.
When should I apply?
Ideally after booking flights and accommodation, and no later than 2 weeks before departure. The dates in the application must match the flight reservation.
Can I work in Bhutan on a tourist visa?
No. A tourist visa does not allow You to work or conduct business. For a business trip, a different type of visa is required, which is usually applied for by the inviting company or institution in Bhutan.