Guidelines for Indian VISA applicants

1. 1.  There is no “VISA Regime” between India and Bhutan. It is therefore, Bhutanese nationals visiting India or Indian nationals visiting Bhutan do not require any VISA to visit each other’s country.
   
   
2. 2.  However, in exceptional circumstances, Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing, grants VISA to third country foreigners intending to visit India for tourist, transit and other purposes, in accordance with the rules and regulations governing VISA issues.
   
   
3. 3.  Hence, foreigner residing in Bhutan is required to apply for Indian VISA by filling up the form available online (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in) and submit a signed print-out of the same (completed in all respect) along with his/her Passport, photographs and relevant supporting documents in person. The VISA application will be processed further after obtaining biometric details of the applicant at the Consulate office.
   
   
4. 4.  For any queries/clarifications please contact at phone No.00975-5-252635 and      e-mail ID: cons.psling[at]mea.gov.in

Indian Community Welfare Fund

Objective

The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been established in the Indian Missions/Posts abroad to meet contingency expenditure incurred by them for carrying out various on-site welfare activities for Overseas Indian Citizens who are in distress. ICWF is aimed at providing the following services on a means tested basis in the most deserving cases:

(i)     Boarding and lodging for distressed Overseas Indian workers in Household/domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;

(ii)    Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians in need;

(iii)    Providing air passage to stranded Overseas Indians in need;

(iv)    Providing initial legal assistance to the Overseas Indians in deserving cases;

(v)    Extending on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the  contract and the family is unable to meet the cost;

(vi)    Providing the payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault;

(vii)    Providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian nationals  in jail/detention centre;

Target Beneficiaries

Overseas Indian workers duped by unscrupulous intermediaries in the host countries, runaway house maids, those who become victim of accidents, deserted spouses of Overseas Indian, undocumented Overseas Indian workers in need of emergency assistance or any other Overseas Indian citizens who are in distress would be the main beneficiaries of the Fund. The Fund will also be utilized to meet the expenditure for airlifting the mortal remains of Overseas Indian citizens to India on a means tested basis, on the recommendation of the respective Heads of Missions/Posts abroad. It is also meant for release of Overseas Indian nationals from detention centers as well as serves as support to Overseas Indian community centers and student welfare centers.

Source of Funding

(i) Funds raised by the Indian Missions by levying a service charge on Consular Services like Passport, Visa, attestations of documents. Details are available at this link: https://www.indembthimphu.gov.in/adminpart/uploadpdf/ICWF_07072023.pdf 
(ii) Voluntary contributions by Indian community.
(iii) Budgetary support from the Government of India, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).

Indian nationals in distress may approach Consular Section with a written request with supporting documents for availing the service, which will be examined in detail before arriving at the decision of releasing the admissible payment.

Visa Form
PASTE /STAPLE TWO
RECENT PASSPORT SIZE
PHOTOGRAPHS HERE.

Telex Form

TELEX FORM

(TO BE FILLED-IN CAPITAL LETTERS WITH BLACK INK)

Fax Message No.____________ Dated:__________________

From: CONGENDIA,PHUENTSHOLING, BHUTAN
TO: INDEMBASSY / HICOMMIND / CONGENDIA ________________________________

The Following person has applied for Visa:-

1. Name in Full :                           _____________________________________________________ (M/F)

2. Father’s/Husband’s name :   _____________________________________________________

3. Nationality :                               _____________________________________________________

4. Date of Birth :                         ______________________________________________________

5. Place of Birth :                        ______________________________________________________

6. Occupation / Job :                  ______________________________________________________

7. Passport No. :                        ______________________________________________________

8. Date of Issue of Passport:     _____________________________________________________

9. Full Home address of applicant: ___________________________________________________
      In his/her country                        ___________________________________________________
                                                          _____________________________________________________

10. Full address & Tel No. of:     ______________________________________________________
     applicant in Bhutan                   ____________________________________________________
                                                         ______________________________________________________

Please convey your clearance by return FAX.

Fees
Fees for various consular services including passports

Note:- An additional  sum of Nu. 150 (220 for Visa) is payable on each consular service towards Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).

Fees for Visa Services

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Fees for Passport & Consular Services

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Consular Timings

Consular Timings

The Consulate is open from Monday to Friday except on closed holidays

 The emergency contact numbers for the Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing

Landline number: 00-975-5-252101

Cell number: 00-975-17161137,

Shri Bhupinder Kumar

Consul (Cons & Welfare)

Phasing Out of Non Machine Readable Passports

NOTICE 

It has been decided by Government of India to phase out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) from November 2015.

2. All hand written passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-MRP passports.  All 20-year validity passports will also fall in this category.
3. Government of India started issuing MRP Passports since 2001.  All new Indian passports are the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) compliant MRP passports.
4. Indian citizens living in the jurisdiction of Consulate General of India (CGI), Phuentsholing (Districts of Samtse, Chukha, Dagana, Sarpang, Pema Gatshel and Samdrup  Jongkhar in Bhutan) and holding hand writtenpassports as well as 20-year passports with validity beyond the 24th November 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of passports and obtain MRP passports to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problems.
5. For more details related to passport services of CGI, Phuentsholing
   Please contact 05 252635 or cons[dot]psling[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in.

Ban on use of Thuraya/Irridium Satellite phone in India

Advisory

Satellite Telephone through 'Thuraya', 'Iridium' and such other sets are unauthorized in India. Foreigners visiting India are thus advised not, to carry or use the 'Thuraya' / 'Iridium' Satellite Phones. Violators would be prosecuted with confiscation of such satellite phones, and other penalties under Section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act.

FAQs on Marital disputes involving NRI and PIO spouses

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4.Education

India and Bhutan have longstanding relations in the area of human resource development.  

Bhutanese students wishing to go India for higher studies may please obtain Equivalence Certificates from Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing for submission to concerned educational institutions.  

The details of various scholarships and training programme offered by Government of India to Bhutanese nationals are available at the website of Embassy of India, Thimphu i.e. https://www.indianembassythimphu.bt/pages.php?id=3

5.Travel & Tourism

Indian Nationals Travelling to Bhutan

Guidelines for Indians visiting Bhutan

                   Indian nationals visiting Bhutan do not require visa. However, they will need to obtain an ‘Entry Permit issued by the Department of Immigration in the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing on the basis of a valid Travel Document. Tourists/visitors from India are required to carry the following Travel Documents:

1.  Original Indian Passport (with minimum six months validity) or Original Voter ID card;

(scanned/printed copies of the voter cards are not accepted)

Note: It may be noted that no document other than the two mentioned above are accepted.

2.  For children below 18 years, original birth certificate (only in English language) or passport. Children must be accompanied by their parents.
3.  02 passport size photographs are required.

Tourists should have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. There is also an option to purchase domestic travel insurance from Bhutanese insurance providers at the Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing. Details are available on Bhutan Insurance Limited website: https://www.bhutaninsurance.com.bt/index.php?Page_id=112 .

        For more information, visitors can visit the website of Department of Immigration: https://www.doi.gov.bt/?lang=en  and Department of Tourism website: https://www.tourism.gov.bt/.

2. Indian tourists:

       Indian tourists can enter Bhutan either by planning their own trip or they can avail the services of local tour operators to process the travel documents & plan a trip [list of tour operators, please visit www.bhutan.travel  and Department of Tourism website: https://www.tourism.gov.bt/ .

       Indian tourists who are planning their own trip is advised to make following arrangements:

1. Obtain entry permit online [to apply please visit ‘visa section on website www.bhutan.travel]
2. Accommodation: It is mandatory to stay in Department of Tourism certified accommodation for the whole duration of trip.
3. A tour guide
4. Travel insurance
5. Transportation around the country

3. Sustainable Development Fee:

Indian tourists are required to pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of INR 1,200/- per person per night. Children aged 5 years and below are exempted from SDF and children between the age of 6-12 years are given 50 % concession on SDF. Tourist visiting Samtse, Phuentsholing, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar towns for less than 24 hours need not pay Sustainable Development Fee (SDF). Incase individual stays at above places for more than 24 hour needs to pay penalty as well as SDF.

4. Indian-registered vehicles:

         Indian-registered vehicles will be allowed within the designated zone without any charges . However, if any vehicle goes beyond Rinchending Check Post in Phuentsholing, they will be required to pay Nu 4,500 per day as Green Tax. They further need to register on Check Post Management System (CPMS) [https://1010.bt/epass/apply/] to cross the RBP check points.

1. Documents required:
2. Original driving license
3. Original Registration Certificate (Vehicle Registration shall not be more than 10 years from date of registration).
4. Vehicle insurance
5. Vehicle emission and road worthiness certificate
6. Owner of the vehicle must be driving the vehicle. If driver and owner are different, an authority letter from owner to driver is required.
7. Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing located at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border:

         The Pedestrian Terminal at Phuentsholing located at Jaigaon-Phuentsholing border remains open 24x7. Entry Permit  for less than 24 hrs is not required for daily visitors who will be visiting Phuentsholing only. An online pre-registration system has been developed to pass through the pedestrian terminal at website https://bms.doi.gov.bt. On successful registration, a QR code will be generated. The registered person is required to present the QR code at the immigration counter along with the required identity document. Pre-registration is one time and there is no need to register again. Daily visitors can visit until Rinchending Check Post and Amochu Bridge and not beyond this points. SDF will be applicable beyond this point and they will also have to obtain a permit from the Regional Immigration Office. Casual visitors who make night halt  beyond 24 hours in Phuentsholing will have to pay SDF.

6. Other entry/exit points:

Other entry/exit points on the southern Indo-Bhutan border are in Samtse, Samdrup Jongkhar, Sarpang/Gelephu. Condition for entry of individual and vehicles are same as in para 6 above. Condition for entry of individuals and to vehicles are same as in para 6 above.

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Bhutanese Nationals Travelling to India

Bhutanese Nationals do not need visa for travel to India.  A visitor can enter India from Bhutan by land route or by regular Druk Air service from Paro airport for Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati etc.  All the six districts covered under the Consular jurisdiction of Consulate General of India, Phuentsholing share land border with India.

The nearest railway station from Phuentsholing is Hasimara, State of West Bengal (20 km).  There is a regular bus service six times a week (Monday to Saturday) from Phuentsholing to Kolkata.  The buses/taxis are also available for travel to Siliguri (170 km) and other destinations from Jaigaon, State of West Bengal which is located right across the Phuentsholing City.

The nearest Indian airport to Phuentsholing is Bagdogra (175 km) which has regular flights to New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati etc.