What the SDF Actually Is, and What It Is Not
Before August 2023, Indian nationals could enter Bhutan without a visa and without paying the Sustainable Development Fee that Western tourists had long been subject to. That changed. Indian travellers now pay an SDF of ₹1,200 per person per night, roughly USD 15, on top of the standard permit fees. This is not a visa fee. India, Bangladesh, and Maldives nationals still do not require a visa for Bhutan, and that has not changed. The SDF is a separate levy collected by the Tourism Council of Bhutan, applied per night of stay, and mandatory regardless of whether you book through a tour operator or travel independently.
