Logistics – Bhutan Innovation Forum

Bhutan Innovation Forum

OCT 1-3 2024

INVITING INTERNATIONAL:

Mindful Entrepreneurs, Sustainability
Experts, Innovators & Conscious Leaders

Logistics for paro, Bhutan

Getting the Bhutanses visa

For Speakers, VIPs, and Invited Guests:

The Bhutan Innovation Forum (BIF) will process visas on your behalf.
If your intend to stay in Bhutan for less than 10 days in total, BIF will cover your visa fees and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for your entire stay. No further action is needed on your part.
If you intend to stay beyond 10 days, you are required to apply for a separate tourist visa for those extra days. You are required to pay a daily SDF of $100 along with a visa fee for those days.
We will reach out to you via email to request further documents required for your visa application.

For Registered Participants Paying Registration Fees:

Most foreign nationals visiting Bhutan require an entry visa. You are required to apply for your visa by creating an account through the Bhutan immigration service portal. click here
Please note that the visa online payment button has been disabled for Bhutan Innovation Forum(BIF) participants, meaning you won’t need to make any payments through the system.
For further assistance or inquiries, please contact Bhutan immigration service portal directly through their website.

Note on Visa Application Fee

The Royal Government of Bhutan will waive the Visa Fee and the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for all international participants of the Bhutan Innovation Forum for a maximum of 10(10) nights of stay in Bhutan, including 4 (four) nights to attend the Forum on October 1-3. 2024.

If registered participants are bringing dependents/spouse/partners who are not registered for the forums, their dependents/spouse/partners will have to apply for a tourist visa separately and have to pay for both the visa fee and SDF fee as required.

Please note that as a forum participant, you may skip the payment step when you complete the visa form. You will NOT be charged the visa fee or the Sustainable Development Fee.

You will need to submit the following documents with your visa application:

Copy of applicant passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan

Duly completed visa application form (https://www.doi.gov.bt/?page_id=644&lang=en)

Recent passport photo

Visa fee and SDF Waiver Approval (which will be provided by the government shortly)

For any questions regarding your visa application, you may write to the Forum Focal Points of the Deportment of Immigration, the Royal Government of Bhufon

Tshering Wangmo, Director, twangmo@moha.gov.bt

Leki Tshering, Immigration Officer, ltshering@moha.gov.bt

Immigration Guidelines

Please visit this link for more information on the immigration guidelines. Link

Documents required include

Copy of applicant passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan

Duly completed visa application form. Link

Recent passport photo

SDF Waiver Approval (which will be provided by the government shortly)

Focol officers from the Deportment of Immigration

Tshering Wangmo, Director, 17342527, twangmo@moha.gov.bt

Leki Tshering, Immigration Officer, 17958360, ltshering@moha.gov.bt

Important Note

Nationals of India will be eligible to get an Entry Permit at the port of entry. They must produce either a passport/Voter card;

The Nationals of Bangladesh and Maldives will get visas on arrival. They must produce a national passport valid which is for at least six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan;

Nationals of Thailand and Switzerland holding Diplomatic/Official passports are eligible for a visa on arrival; They must produce a national passport that is valid for at least six months from the intended date of departure from Bhutan;

Nationals of SAARC countries issued with a valid SAARC Visa Exemption Sticker on their national passport do not require prior visa/entry permit clearance;

Visa fee of Nu. 5000/- per person is applicable for participants holding ordinary passports.

Route Permit must be processed for movement outside of Thimphu and Paro. The following is the route permit form that has to be filled out and applied for at the immigration office once the guests get here: https://www.doi.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Application-Form-for-Route-Permit.pdf.

How to Get to Paro, Bhutan

The best way to get to Bhutan is through Bangkok (BKK), Delhi (DEL), and Kathmandu (KTM).
Paro (PSH) is the gateway to Bhutan, Dukai: (website link to flight schedules) and butan Auditts (website link to flight schedules) are the oniy two carriers that fly to Paro.
Drukair – the official airline of the Forum – operates daily flights from Bangkok and Kathmandu and flights from Deih, everyday except for Monday.
We recommend the following flight options for your onward journey to Paro to attend the Bhutan Innovation Forum on 1-3 October, 2024

Fare Breakdown (US Dollars)
Route	Economy			Business
Route	Base	Taxes	Total Fare	Base	Taxes	Total Fare
KTM–Paro	$175.28	$99.37	$275.02	$293.59	$114.75	$408.34
Paro–KTM	$200.00	$52.61	$252.61	$335.00	$52.61	$387.61
Delhi–Paro	$249.38	$81.12	$330.56	$425.24	$123.11	$548.35
Paro–Delhi	$330.00	$52.61	$382.61	$560.00	$52.61	$612.61
BKK–Paro	$419.69	$61.50	$481.43	$565.69	$61.50	$627.19
Paro–BKK	$450.00	$54.00	$504.00	$670.00	$54.00	$724.00

Airline Bookings

You may use one of the following forms to book your flights to the forum. Alternatively, you may also reserve your flights directly through the two airline companies’ websites.

Drukair X Bhutan Innovation Forum Flight Booking

Bhutan Airlines x Bhutan Innovation Forum Flight Booking

Notes:

Fare is subject to charge at the time of ticket issuance.
Taxes my vary from travelers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Contact sonam,wangchuk@drukair.com.bt for inquires related to Drukair.
Contact sonam,yangchen@bhutanairlines.bt for inquires related to Bhutan Airlines.
BKK denoted Bangkok and KTM denotes Kathmandu.

Airline Website

Special Forum Flights

Baggage Information

Where to stay in Paro, Bhutan

Please note that there are many hotels and nice accommodation options in and around Paro, and we will add more hotels to the list. Please contact the hotel directly to book your room. Here are a few options for you to choose from.

Short Note:

Please check your nationality and determine if you require a visa for travel. The Royal Government of Bhutan will waive the visa fee and the Sustainable Development Fee ($100/night per visitor) for up to 10 nights of stay in Bhutan, including 4 nights to participate in the Forum.