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Bhutan
Country Specific Information
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February 23, 2009
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Bhutan is a small, land-locked Himalayan country that completed its transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional
monarchy in June 2008. Bhutan is one of the world’s smallest and least developed economies. The United States does not
have full diplomatic relations with Bhutan and there is no U.S. diplomatic presence there. Consular issues relating to Bhutan,
including assistance to U.S. citizens, are handled by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Bhutan for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan. Visitors are required to book travel through a registered tour operator in Bhutan. This may be done directly or through a travel agent abroad. Further information, including a list of authorized tour operators in Bhutan, may be obtained from the Tourism Council of Bhutan, PO Box 126, Thimphu, Bhutan, telephone +975-2-323251, 2-323252, fax +975-2-323695. Entry by air is available only via India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Thailand. The border with China is closed. The minimum daily tariff is set by the Bhutanese Department of Tourism and cannot be negotiated. The rate includes all accommodations, all meals, transportation, services of licensed guides and porters, and cultural programs where and when available. The rate is the same for both cultural tours and treks. Travelers should contact the Tourism Council for the latest daily tariff. At this time, the only carrier servicing Bhutan is Drukair, the Bhutanese government airline. Drukair will board only travelers with visa clearance from the Tourism Authority of Bhutan.
A passport and visa are required for entry into and exit from Bhutan. Visa applications are available from selected travel agencies. Travel agencies will usually arrange for a traveler’s entry visa and clearance. Visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, should obtain visas prior to entering the country. For additional entry/exit information, please contact the Bhutan Mission to the United Nations (Consul General), 763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017, telephone (212) 682-2268, fax (212) 661-0551.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Recent efforts to resettle many of the approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepali ethnic origin currently living
in Nepalese refugee camps, coupled with the transition to democracy, have given rise to some civil unrest in usually peaceful
Bhutan. Bhutanese Maoists and Communist groups (including the Bhutan Communist Party and the Bhutan Tiger Force operating
from the camps in Nepal), who denounce the monarchy and demand that the refugees be repatriated to Bhutan, have been linked
to violence in the country. A series of small bombs were set off between October 2006 and December 2008; most took place
in small cities and towns on the southwestern border, near India, except for one in the capital, Thimphu.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of
Consular Affairs’ web site, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada,
or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.
For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see
the Department of State’s A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: There is relatively little crime in Bhutan. Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching, is occasionally reported.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy in New
Delhi. If you are the victim of a crime while in Bhutan, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the U.S.
Embassy in New Delhi for assistance. (See the contact information below.) The Embassy’s consular staff can, for example,
assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.
Although the investigation and prosecution of crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can
help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line for Bhutan police in Bhutan is 113. The emergency number for ambulance service
is 112.
Please see our information on Victims of Crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly
from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties
for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bhutanese laws,
even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Bhutan recently implemented extremely strict restrictions on the
sale or use of cigarettes and other tobacco products. A traveler caught selling tobacco products could be charged with illegal
smuggling and fined or imprisoned. Smoking is prohibited in public places. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking
in illegal drugs in Bhutan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in
sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the
United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Visitors are advised to carry cash or travelers checks, since credit cards are not widely accepted in Bhutan. When credit cards are accepted, usually during bank hours, an extra service fee, usually a percentage of the overall purchase, is often charged.
Druk Air, the only carrier servicing Bhutan, has rigid restrictions on the amount and size of luggage passengers may carry into the country. Passengers are advised to book bulky items ahead as unaccompanied baggage, since the aircraft servicing Bhutan have limited space available for large bags, and airline employees may not load large pieces of luggage. Flights into and out of Paro Airport are restricted to daylight hours and are dependent on suitable weather conditions. Flights are sometimes delayed or cancelled, particularly during the monsoon season between June and August. Passengers are advised to allow at least 24 hours' transit time for connecting flights from Paro Airport and to travel on non-restricted air tickets so that they can be rebooked on the first available air carrier if a connecting flight is missed.
Bhutanese customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Bhutan of items
such as firearms, ammunition, explosives and military stores; narcotics and drugs (except medically prescribed drugs); tobacco
products; wildlife products, especially those of endangered species; and antiques. It is advisable to contact the Bhutan Mission
to the United Nations (Consulate General), 763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017, telephone (212) 682-2268, fax (212) 661-0551,
for specific information regarding customs requirements. Please see our Customs Information.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in the populated areas in Bhutan such as Thimphu and Paro are available but may be limited or unavailable in rural areas. If Americans need urgent medical care, they should try to get to the General Hospital in the capital city, Thimphu. Medical services may not meet Western standards, and some medicines are in short supply. Certain emergency medical services are provided free of charge to all tourists. Visitors planning to trek in Bhutan should pay special attention to the risk of altitude illness. Treks in Bhutan can take visitors days or weeks away from the nearest medical facility. Helicopter evacuation from remote areas is available in Bhutan through the registered tour operators, or by contacting the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to and foreign residents of Bhutan. There are no disclosure regulations or restrictions for HIV/AIDS patients who enter Bhutan on a tourist visas for a maximum two week visit. For longer stays applicants must present the results of an HIV/AIDS test completed within the six months prior to their visit. The test can also be administered by Bhutanese officials upon arrival. Travelers should verify this information with the Bhutan Mission to the United Nations at (212) 682-2268.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World
Health Organization’s (WHO) web site. Further health information for travelers is available from the WHO.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad
to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Bhutan is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
General road conditions outside of urban areas are poor, and emergency services generally are not available. Because of the
mountainous terrain, roads tend to have steep drop-offs and blind curves. However, because tourists to Bhutan are required
to arrange their trips through registered tour operators, tourists do not drive themselves, but travel in groups with experienced
drivers.
Please refer to our Road Safety page and Bhutan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Bhutan, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has not assessed Bhutan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA web site.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information, see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: There is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Bhutan. Although no formal diplomatic relations exist between the United States and Bhutan, informal contact is maintained through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India. Updated information on travel and security in Bhutan may be obtained at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, at any other U.S. Consulate in India, or at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, as well as at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. Americans living or traveling in Bhutan are encouraged to register through the State Department’s travel registration web site or with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi to obtain updated information on travel and security within Bhutan. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in person or via mail. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located on Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi 110 021, India, telephone +91-11-2419-8000, fax +91-11-2419-8407.
The following U.S. missions are included as they are Drukair destinations:
The U.S. Consulate in Kolkata is located at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Kolkata 700 071, India, telephone +91-33-3984-2400, fax
+91-33-2282-2335.
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located at Maharajgunj in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Consular Section can be reached through
the Embassy switchboard at (977) (1) 400-7200 or directly by fax at (977) (1) 400-7281 or contacted by email.
The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is located at 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand, telephone +66-2-205-4000, fax +66-2-205-4103.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information dated April 25, 2008, to update the sections on Country Description, Safety
and Security, Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, and Medical Facilities and Health Information.
