Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee 2026 and 2027: What You Pay

Every visitor to Bhutan pays a Sustainable Development Fee, known as the SDF. It is charged per person, per night. On a Thunphel itinerary it is included in your quote, so you do not pay it separately.

What the fee is right now

For most nationalities the SDF is USD 100 per adult, per night. This is a reduced rate and it runs until 31 August 2027. We will update this page when the Department of Tourism confirms what happens after that date.

Period	SDF per adult per night
Before the pandemic	USD 65
From the reopening on 23 September 2022	USD 200
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027	USD 100
After 31 August 2027	Not announced

What different travellers pay

• Most nationalities: USD 100 per adult, per night.
• Indian nationals: INR 1,200 per person, per night (INR 600 for a child aged 6 to 11).
• Bangladeshi nationals: USD 15 per person, per night (USD 7.50 for a child aged 6 to 11).
• The non-refundable visa fee is USD 40 per person, paid once when you apply, and it applies to every traveller including children. Indian nationals pay no visa fee because they travel on an entry permit.

What children pay

Children aged 6 to 11 pay half. Everyone aged 12 and over pays the full adult rate. Children under 6 do not pay the fee.

How it is paid

The fee is paid as part of the visa or permit application, for the number of nights you plan to stay. If you travel with us, we handle the application for you, and the fee is already included in your itinerary quote.

Example:

Two adults travelling for 7 nights pay 2 × 7 × USD 100 = USD 1,400 in SDF, plus 2 × USD 40 = USD 80 for visas, USD 1,480 in total. With us the SDF and visa are inside your itinerary quote.

What the fee pays for

The money goes into the government’s Consolidated Account. From there it supports schools, free healthcare, youth training, forests and wildlife, clean drinking water and the repair of dzongs. It is Bhutan’s way of keeping tourism small, and of making sure visitors give something back to the country they came to see.

Common questions

Is the fee included in the price of my tour?
– Yes. It is included in every Thunphel itinerary quote.

Does the fee change by season?
– No. The same rate applies all year.

Will the fee change after August 2027?
– The reduced rate is due to end on 31 August 2027. We will update this page as soon as there is an official announcement.

Do I pay for the nights I arrive and leave?
– You pay for each night you stay in Bhutan.

Want your exact figure? Use our free Bhutan SDF calculator to add up the fee for every traveller in your group.

 

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