Nepal and Bhutan from India: which ID works, and what Bhutan charges

In short: Indian citizens do not need a visa for Nepal or Bhutan, but neither is paperwork-free. For flights to Nepal, only a valid Indian passport or an original voter ID card is accepted, and Aadhaar is not. Bhutan needs a free entry permit and charges the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of Nu. 1,200 (or the same amount in rupees) per person per night.

Nepal

The Embassy of India in Kathmandu, on a page updated on 10 November 2026, says only two documents are valid for Indian nationals travelling by air between India and Nepal:

• A valid Indian passport, or
• An original Indian voter ID card with photograph, issued by the Election Commission of India.

It adds that a downloaded or online-printed voter ID is not acceptable, and that Aadhaar, PAN card, driving licence and Indian Embassy registration are also not accepted for travel to Nepal. The page limits its wording to air travel. It does not state a rule for land border crossings, minors or the elderly, so check with the embassy if that applies to you.

Bhutan

Permit, not visa. The Department of Tourism says visitors from India require a permit. You can apply before travelling, or your tour operator or hotel can apply for you, and no fees are payable in advance. You can also apply at the point of entry, but there may be a long wait, and you need a passport-size photograph. The SDF is payable when you apply for the permit, online or in person.

Documents. Indian adults can use an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. Indian nationals under 18 can use a passport or a birth certificate and must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

The SDF.

• Adults: Nu. 1,200, or the equivalent in rupees, per person per night.
• Children from 6 up to (not including) 12: Nu. or Rs 600 per night.
• Children under 6: nothing.
• Border-town waiver: tourists visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar towns for 24 hours do not pay the SDF from 2 June 2026 until August 2027, as long as they stay within the designated zones.

Guide. It is mandatory to be accompanied by a guide at all times. With a guide certified by the Department of Tourism you no longer need a route permit to travel around the country. National parks need separate permits.

Extensions. Indian nationals can extend in person at the Department of Immigration and pay in rupees.

Planning tips (our advice)

1. Pack the right ID. For Nepal, carry the passport or the original voter ID. Leave Aadhaar and PAN as extras, not as travel documents.
2. Budget the SDF. A five-night Bhutan trip for two adults costs Nu. 12,000 in SDF alone, before the guide, hotels and transport.
3. Book a certified guide early. It is mandatory.
4. Check dates. The border-town SDF waiver ends in August 2027.

What we could not confirm

• Nepal's rules for land crossings, children and elderly travellers: not on the embassy page we read.
• The Bhutan immigration portal's own text: its site did not load for us, so the Bhutan figures come from the Department of Tourism.
• The Embassy of India in Thimphu's guidelines: the document was a scanned image we could not read.

How we checked this

We read the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and Bhutan's Department of Tourism on 10 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm before you book. More on our Nepal and Bhutan pages.