The government fee
Bhutan Sustainable Development Fee
The Sustainable Development Fee is a daily levy set by the Royal Government of Bhutan. For US dollar paying visitors, the Department of Immigration lists USD 100 per person per night until 31 August 2027. Soeling plans private journeys in Bhutan from Thimphu, and this fee sits beside the proposal.
WhatsApp+975 17 40 05 49What is the SDF, and what does it pay for?
The Sustainable Development Fee is a daily levy paid by visitors to Bhutan. The Department of Immigration says the national exchequer collects it. The funds go to free healthcare, education and training, tourism and hospitality training, infrastructure, environmental and cultural preservation, and local businesses.
The same FAQ also names forest cover and carbon neutrality among the uses of the fee.
How much is the SDF in 2026?
In 2026, US dollar paying visitors pay USD 100 per person per night until 31 August 2027. The Department of Immigration lists USD 200 per person per night for visitors other than guests from India. Guests from India pay 1,200 ngultrum per person per night, or the same amount in Indian rupees.
| Who | Per night | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US dollar paying tourists, until 31 August 2027 | USD 100 | Immigration FAQ |
| Visitors other than guests from India | USD 200 | Immigration FAQ |
| Guests from India, with an Indian passport or voter ID card | Nu 1,200, or the same amount in Indian rupees | Immigration FAQ |
What do children and Indian, Bangladeshi, and Maldivian nationals pay?
Children who have not yet turned six pay no SDF. Children aged six who have not yet turned twelve receive a 50 percent concession on their SDF, and children of twelve and above pay the full rate. Guests from India pay 1,200 ngultrum per person per night, and Bangladesh and the Maldives have no separate rate on the Immigration FAQ.
The rate question on that FAQ sets USD 200 per person per night for all visitors except guests from India, then the US dollar incentive of USD 100 until 31 August 2027. Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives are not named in that rate. They are named earlier, as eligible for a visa on arrival. An Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card qualifies for the Nu 1,200 rate.
| Who | Per night | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Children who have not yet turned six | No fee | Immigration FAQ |
| Children aged 6 who have not yet turned 12 | 50% of their SDF | Immigration FAQ |
| Children aged 12 and above | The full SDF rate | Immigration FAQ |
| Nationals of Bangladesh | No separate SDF named. Visa on arrival. | Immigration FAQ |
| Nationals of the Maldives | No separate SDF named. Visa on arrival. | Immigration FAQ |
How and when is the SDF paid?
The SDF is paid during the visa or permit application, by wire transfer or credit card. The Department of Immigration states that rule. The same FAQ says a visitor may apply on that site, or engage a tourism service provider to process the visa or permit.
Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives may use visa on arrival, and guests from India may use a permit on arrival. The department recommends applying online before travel, to shorten the wait at the border. An extension, and the SDF for the extra nights, is paid on the same portal.
Guests pay the SDF after they accept Soeling's written proposal, not before. Once the proposal is accepted, Soeling's office in Thimphu handles everything after that, including submitting the visa application and the SDF on the guest's behalf. The guest does not need to deal with the Department of Immigration directly.
How does the SDF fit the cost of a private trip?
I do not publish a journey price. Soeling plans private journeys in Bhutan by a written proposal for one party, and the Sustainable Development Fee is separate from that figure. The fee is the government levy for the people and the nights, and it is not a rate I set.
The sample routes are shapes. Paro, Thimphu and Punakha is one of them. The office is described on About. Other answers are on Questions. A request starts on the home page.
The fee goes to the government and pays for free healthcare, schools and forest protection. It's separate from my proposal, and I handle it for you.
Does the reduced rate apply to your dates?
The reduced US dollar rate is valid until 31 August 2027. The Department of Immigration states that the incentive is USD 100 per person per night, and that it began on 1 September 2023. Nights after 31 August 2027 are not covered by that incentive.
The FAQ still lists USD 200 per person per night for visitors other than guests from India. That is the rate the incentive discounts. The page does not state a different figure for a night after the cutoff, because the FAQ does not publish one.
What else should you check?
A few points sit beside the nightly rate, and each note below comes from the Department of Immigration FAQ. The visa fee is separate, at USD 40 per person, and it is not refundable. A cancelled trip can have the SDF refunded, with bank charges deducted, if the request goes to that department.
01Is the SDF part of a Soeling price?
A travelling party’s written proposal keeps the Sustainable Development Fee separate. The sample routes do not publish a journey price. The from-price on the advisors page includes the fee at the rate in force at the time of travel.
02Do children under six pay the SDF?
No. The Department of Immigration states that children who have not yet turned six are exempt.
03Is there a separate SDF for Bangladesh or the Maldives?
The Department of Immigration FAQ does not name one. It sets USD 200 per person per night for all visitors except guests from India, and USD 100 per person per night for US dollar paying tourists until 31 August 2027. Nationals of Bangladesh and the Maldives may obtain a visa on arrival.
04Does the USD 100 rate cover nights after 31 August 2027?
No. The Department of Immigration states that the US dollar incentive is valid until 31 August 2027. The same FAQ lists USD 200 per person per night for visitors other than guests from India.
05Is the SDF refunded if the trip is cancelled?
Yes. The Department of Immigration refunds the SDF for a cancelled trip and deducts bank charges. The request goes to that department.
06Is the visa fee the same as the SDF?
No. The visa fee is USD 40 per person. It is non-refundable and non-transferable, and it is separate from the SDF.
07Do day visitors to border towns pay the SDF?
Day visitors to the Bhutanese towns bordering India are exempt until they reach a point designated by the government.
Fewer than thirty guests a year · A reply within a day