Customs regulations and required documents
Personal effects import regulations
Bhutan
Customs regulations
Local customs and traditions are taken very seriously. You should always respect them to avoid giving offence. You should dress respectfully in temples and dzongs (fortified buildings).
Homosexual acts are illegal in Bhutan. Although prosecutions are very rare; conviction for a homosexual act could lead to a prison sentence. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.
There are strict penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
It is illegal to sell or buy tobacco products in Bhutan. Up to 200 cigarettes may be imported on payment of tax and import duty of 200%. You must be able to produce your customs receipt if asked by the police or you will be charged with smuggling and could face a prison sentence of up to 3 years. Smoking is forbidden inside public spaces such as hotels, restaurants and bars.
You will need prior authority to visit some parts of the country. This is usually arranged by your travel company or sponsoring agency.
The export of all antiques is strictly prohibited and monitored.
Dutiable Items
Free import of:
- personal effects for daily use;
- 1 liter of alcohol (spirits or wine);
- instruments or appliances for professional use;
- photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic equipment for personal use.
Commercial filming requires a permit, which can be processed though the tour agent. Further fees and surcharges may be levied.
- One carton of 200 cigarettes is permitted for personal use but subject to tax of 200%.
All visitors are required to complete a customs form and hand it over to the customs authorities on arrival. All articles as mentioned in 3. and 4. must be declared on the customs form. If these items are disposed of in Bhutan (sale or gift), they become liable for customs duty.
Import of plants, soils etc. is subject to quarantine and these items must be declared on arrival.
- All arms and ammunition are prohibited from entering the country unless special permission has been granted from the Royal Bhutan Army.
- Plant and plant materials will require permission from the Ministry of Agriculture before being granted permission to enter the country.
- Animal and animal products will also require permission from the Ministry of Agriculture to enter the country. All cats, dogs and other pets will also need a travel health certificate clearing the creature of any potential infection or contamination.
- Wireless and remote sensing telecommunications equipment will need a permit from the Ministry of Communication.
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Prohibited Items
- Illegal drugs
- Guns, explosives and ammunition
- Knives and deadly weapons
- Plant and plant products
- Meat and meat products
- Pets and animals
- Religious or rare cultural artefacts
- Hazardous materials
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Pornographic material
- Any other goods which are prohibited by any laws or international conventions or treaties to which Bhutan is a signature
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Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)
Prohibited: Import and export of wildlife products, especially those of endangered species.
Arms and Ammunition regulations:
Import Permit required from the Royal Bhutan Police.
Motor:
- No vehicles of third country origin of any type shall be imported into Bhutan without an import license issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan.
- Import of third country vehicles, including gifts and prizes received or won abroad, will be subject to Customs duty and Sales tax.
- Privileged personnel of foreign Diplomatic Missions and International agencies, within 12 months of their arrival in Bhutan are permitted to import or acquire a vehicle locally on duty exempt basis.
- Import of vehicles on duty exempt basis by eligible civil servants including those posted abroad shall be governed by Foreign Vehicle Allotment Rules 1994 or such amendments made by the Ministry of Finance from time to time.
- Import of second hand vehicles shall not be permitted except for officials of Foreign Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations and expert who may bring in their used vehicles along with them on their transfer to Bhutan, subject to re-export on repatriation
- Import of used vehicles by Bhutanese nationals, temporarily stationed abroad, shall be permitted, only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- A Bhutanese national has worked in a third country for a period of at least two years;
- The vehicle must be procured and registered in his/her name in the country of residence at least one year prior to its importation into Bhutan; and
- The vehicle procured abroad, is new and not second hand.
- Duty and sales tax applicable shall be payable.
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Currency Import regulations:
Same regulations as for export apply.
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency is Bhutan Ngultrum – BTN. However, Indian Rupee (INR) is also in use.
Foreign currency: up to a max. of USD 10,000. – (or equivalent). Foreign hard currency like USD, JPY, GBP, EUR, CHF, AUD, HKD, SGD will be acceptable at the Bank of Bhutan.
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No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.
Air travel
Flights in and out of Bhutan are operating on a severely reduced schedule due to COVID-19 restrictions on tourism.
Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) is the National Flag carrier in and out of Bhutan. Normally, daily air services between Paro and Bangkok and Paro and Kolkata and weekly services between Paro and Kathmandu are also operated by Tashi Air (Bhutan Airlines), an independent Bhutanese airline. A domestic flight operated by Druk Air flies between Paro, Bumthang, Yongphula and Gelegphug. Flights can be subject to disruption due to weather conditions.
Phuntsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar in eastern Bhutan are the only land border areas normally open for international tourists. You can get more information on the Tourism Council of Bhutan website.
Road travel
Accidents are common, particularly in monsoon season. Observe the speed limit and make sure you have adequate insurance. Special care should be taken on highways, where conditions are often dangerous.
If you’re visiting Bhutan as a tourist, you should request temporary authorisation to drive through your tour agency. For longer stays, visitors can request a Bhutanese driving licence from the Road Safety and Transport Authority of Bhutan upon presentation of a valid UK driving licence.
- A yellow fever vaccination is required by all travellers coming from infected areas planning on visiting the country.
- All native water should be considered potentially contaminated and should be thoroughly boiled before being drunk. Travellers are urged to stick to bottled water where possible and should avoid swimming in any lakes, pools or other natural water sources. Milk is likely to be unpasteurised and all dairy products should be checked before being eaten. Meat, poultry, fish and vegetables should be well cooked and served boiling hot before being consumed and fruit peeled before eaten.
- Travellers to Bhutan are advised to obtain routine vaccinations against Hepatitis A, E, Typhoid, Tetanus and Polio prior to beginning their journey and should exercise extreme caution when dealing with potentially contaminated food and water. Consumables served from vendors are not advised owing to the extra risk of infection. Tuberculosis is highly endemic to the region and all visitors to the region should submit to a skin test both prior to and immediately after visiting the country.
- Malaria exists throughout the year throughout the southern belt of the country comprising the districts of Chukha, Samchi, Sandrup Jonkhar, Geyleg-phug and Shemgang. The disease is particularly active between the months of June to September but all travellers visiting at other times of the year should still exercise extreme caution. The disease is contracted via mosquito bites and all visitors to the country are urged to wear close fitting clothing that exposes little skin where possible and should buy plenty of insect repellent for defence. If bitten, travellers are urged to immediately seek out emergency medical assistance before serious symptoms develop. Additional insect based diseases present throughout Bhutan include Dengue Fever and Japanese encephalitis and all travellers should exercise great caution to prevent any potential risk of infection.
- Hepatitis B is present throughout the country and all visitors are strongly advised to take considerable care when dealing with bloody/infected needles or when engaging in sexual activity during the course of their visit.
- Two fatal cases of human rabies, both related to dog bites, were reported from Gelephu in July 2009 and all travellers visiting remote regions of the country are strongly advised to avoid any contact with wild animals whose bites might contain the disease. If bitten, visitors should immediately clean the wound before seeking out emergency medical assistance.
- Acute Mountain Sickness can be an issue if travelling in some of the higher areas of the country. Symptoms can include nauseas, headaches, fatigue and dizziness and any traveller not used to high altitudes should immediately stop their activities and slowly make their way to a lower altitude until symptoms abate. Medical assistance should be sought if ill feelings continue to persist.
Basic security information for travelers to Bhutan
- The buying and selling of Tobacco is illegal in Bhutan. Any traveller visiting the country will be required to bring in their own supplies. Smoking in government places is prohibited and considered sacrilegious if undertaken near any religious locations. Visitors to religious or administrative facilities are advised to remove their hats upon entering and to act in a quiet and respectful manner at all times.
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