FAQs

a. Diplomatic.
b. Official.
c. Ordinary.
d. Emergency.

a. Diplomatic and official Passports	5 Years
b. Ordinary passport (Adult)	10 Years
c. Ordinary passport (Minor under 18 years)	5 Years
d. Emergency passport	1 month

Application for passport can be submitted both in-person at the Passport Division and online through www.citizenservices.gov.bt.

There is no fee for diplomatic and official passports. But, for an ordinary passport, one has to pay Nu 1000 and Nu. 800 for adults and minors under 18 respectively.

All Passports are issued within 3 days after the submission of all required documents online and payment of applicable fee. In case of emergency, passport are issued the same day.
Offline facility is only available for Travel Document..

The requirement is minimal and it is mandatory to provide all information in the application form. The information received will be treated as confidential and cannot be accessed by unauthorized personnel.

At the time of issuance of the new passport, the applicant should ensure that all the information on the passport is correct. If there is any mistake, this should be immediately brought to the attention of the Passport Division. The Passport Division will cross check this against the information provided on the application form by the applicant and make necessary changes. If the error has been made by the Passport Division, a new Passport Document shall be issued without any additional cost. However, if the error is made by the applicant, he/she shall be subject to penalty of Nu. 5,000 and fee of Nu. 1000 for the new issuance.

A person cannot hold two valid passports at a time except when authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Traveling with two valid passports will invite the scrutiny of border control authorities abroad as it is against international regulation.

The issuance of passports is centralized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thimphu. However, the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra issues passports to the Bhutanese living in Australia and New Zealand. Bhutanese living in countries other than Australia and New Zealand, may authorize a family member or friend to apply on your behalf at the Passport Division, Thimphu.

Yes, almost all the countries insist on a minimum validity period of 6 months. Your passport should have a minimum validity period of six months at the time of travel. The Passport Division issues a new passport if the validity is six months and less.

If there are valid visas, then the old passport will be stamped “CANCELED WITHOUT PREJUDICE” on the pages where entries have been made keeping the valid visa intact and returned to the applicant. Most countries do accept the validity of the visa when both the old and new passports are carried together.

Application for a new passport must be submitted to the Passport Division along with a police report and damaged passport for loss and damaged cases respectively. Applicants will be subject to a fine of Nu. 5,000/- in addition to the fee for new passport.

In the event that a passport is lost or stolen while abroad, you must immediately report to the police in that country and contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or nearest Royal Bhutanese Embassy/Mission/Consulate General. Your passport will be cancelled and at the same time notify the INTERPOL. A copy of the Police report must accompany the application form for a replacement passport.
Application for replacement can either be made at the Passport Division (through an authorized representative) or through Royal Bhutanese Embassy/Mission/Consulate General abroad. The Royal Bhutanese Embassy/Mission/Consulate General abroad may issue an emergency passport which shall only be valid for one month and used to facilitate travel back to Bhutan. The emergency passport must be surrendered to the Passport Division upon reaching Bhutan.

Any official in the Passport Division can be contacted directly who will then assist the person with the required formalities and any queries that he/she may have.

The following criteria shall apply for children (below 18 years) applying for a passport:
a. Duly-filled in passport Application Form;
b. A copy of parents’ or legal guardian’s citizenship identity card or identity documents;
c. Children of age ten (10) and above may sign or write their name on their own on the Passport form. For children below ten (10) years, one of the parents/legal guardians may sign on behalf of the child or write the name of the child as registered in the census record; and
d. Where only one parent has the sole custody rights, the parent with the custodial rights shall apply for the passport. However, the parent must produce legal documents to prove such sole custodial rights.

In this case, you may authorize a friend/relative to apply on your behalf. Duly filled in Application Form with signature of both parents and most recent passport size photo of child must be submitted along with a fee of Nu. 800/-.

Applications once rejected online cannot be corrected online. If the application has been initially rejected online, you can reapply online or in-person.

No, you cannot renew your passport and will have to apply for a new passport, provided that the remaining validity of passport is less than six months. In case, your passport has a validity for more than six months and you wish to obtain a new passport, a fine of Nu. 5,000, in addition to the fee of Nu. 1,000 for new issuance shall apply. The old passport shall be submitted for cancellation prior to new issuance.