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VISA FORMALITIES
A valid passport and Bhutanese visa are
required for all visitors to Bhutan with the
exception of Indian citizens. Your
passport must be valid for at least six months
after your departure from Bhutan.
With your trip application you also filled out
the necessary information for a Bhutanese visa.
With this information Silver Dragon will process
each participant’s visa for Bhutan. Unlike other
countries you will receive your visa stamp for
Bhutan once you arrive at the Paro Airport. At
that time you will need to present your current
passport. Due to recent changes in regulation
you will no longer need to present a photo on
arrival and the $20 visa fee will be added in
the tour payment while raising the invoice to
you.
No foreign missions or
embassies abroad grants Bhutan tourist visa. We can apply for
an extension of all tourist visas should you
wish to remain in the country for more than two
weeks.
All information mentioned in the visa must reach
Bhutan to us at least 3 weeks before the
intended arrival date to process with concerned
authorities. Alternatively copy of visa form can
be filled up and mailed/fax/email to us to
arrange your visa.
For all travelers, entering into the country by
surface through Phuentsholing (the boarder town
in South Bhutan) the visa is stamped on arrival
and clearance number is forwarded to Foreign
Ministry’s office in Phuentsholing.
For all FITs/GITs traveling during festivals,
visa particulars must be sent at least 8 weeks
in advance, as festivals are peak time for
tourists and all tour formalities are required
to be completed in advance.
Download Visa Form in Word Format.
We will advise you of your visa status before
your intended departure date. Once you confirm
your trip with us, Silver Dragon Tours and treks
will send you the pre-departure materials that
will cover everything from packing and suggested
reading to your arrival at the Paro Airport.
RESERVATIONS
For all cultural tours, the booking must be
completed 4 weeks in advance but for tours
during festivals – 12 weeks advance information
is required.
Festivals held in spring and autumns are peak
seasons so without early flight reservations
confirming flights and hotels can be difficult.
For trekking groups, it is important to do
bookings at least 8weeks in advance, as it
requires plenty of planning.
TOUR PAYMENT
Bank transfer must send entire tour payment to
Silver Dragon Tours & Treks in advance as
specified as below:
For FITs:
30 days advance
For GITs:
30 days advance
For Festivals tours:
60 days advance
For high seasons (Jan, Feb, March, April, May,
June, Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec) it is advisable to
remit payment for Druk Air Flights – 3 months
advance, which will help us to manage, confirmed
seat.
TOURIST DRESS CODE
Long pants and collar shirts for men and
appropriate dress for women to enter any Dzong.
Tourists should wear decent dress and cover
themselves properly.
Photography inside the dzong during the dromchoe
will not be allowed.
Photography is allowed only during tshechu.
Tourists are allowed to stay in the courtyard to
witness the tshechu but not in front of Kunrea
and Dukhang were usually monks stay and watch
the festivals.
Tourist are not allowed to visit any temple
inside the dzong or climb over the roof and utse
to witness the festival.
Any donations tourists would like to give should
be Ngultrum and not in US dollar or any other
currency especially to the Atsaras.
Tshechu committee has pay and use toilet
available for the tourists.
FILMING PROCEDURE
1. Foreign Journalists/reporters
a. All foreign journalists/reporters wishing to
visit Bhutan to cover events write print and TV
news items/articles etc are required to process
their visits through the local travel
operators/Department of Tourism, Bhutan. Visa
application processing, flight bookings, airport
transfers, hotel reservations and traveling
within Bhutan are best handled by the travel
operators.
Generally all such visitors are required to pay
the daily tourist tariff that covers all of the
above arrangements plus meals. Media personnel
from countries who do not need visa for Bhutan
are also encouraged to avail the services of the
travel operators for the services they provide.
b. The specific purpose of their visit must be
clearly stated in their visa application form.
c. If they wish to meet with or have interviews
with the government officials and dignitaries,
they must notify us accordingly prior to their
arrival in Bhutan and the following
information/documents must be furnished:
i. Personal CV
ii. Profile of the news/broadcast agency they
represent and a recommendation from the head of
the agency;
iii. Names/Titles of government
officials/dignitaries they would like to meet
along with an outline of topics they would like
to discuss.
iv. Travel itinerary
With assistance from Department of Information
and Media, we will assist in arranging the
appointments and interviews by way of a written
request on their behalf, but cannot provide any
assurance.
d. Those visiting Bhutan to cover important
events may apply for accreditation (not
mandatory) bye Bhutan Information Communication
and Media Authority (BICMA).
2. Filming and Documentary making
All filming and documentary making in Bhutan by
foreign film and television companies are
governed by Bhutan Filming Regulations (2006).
The application and approval process is
summarized below:
a. A covering letter from the film agency or the
travel operator on behalf of the agency,
addressed to the Director, DoIM accompanied by
the following documents should be submitted to
us:
i. Fliming Application Form duly completed in
all (relevant) respects. (We shall provide you
the form)
ii. A Synopsis of the film
iii. CVs of the film crew
b. DoIM processes the Government approval for
the filming application and upon receipt of the
approval, the Filming Permit is issued by the
BICMA against payment of the requisite fee and
the Security deposit. Generally all applications
will be approved within 1 working day and
forwarded to BICMA for issuance of the Permit.
c. All government agencies, NGOs, foreign
agencies, missions and embassies are requested
to adhere to the procedure outlined above to
obtain the approval and the Filming Permit.
d. The prescribed filming fee of US$3000 and the
security deposit of US$ 2000 are mandatory for
all. The provision in the earlier regulations
for waiver of the fee for certain categories of
films has been done away with.
Restricted locations/establishments
All locations of shooting are to be specifically
stated in the Application Form date-wise. In
case a location is a restricted area, the we
will request for permission from the concerned
agencies in accordance with their policies and
regulations.
Validity of Film Permits
The film permits issued by BICMA are valid for
the locations and for the period indicated in
the Permit. Where Special Permits have been
issued for the restricted locations, copies of
such Special Permits will be attached to the
Filming Permit.
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