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Bhutan Scaled

Work Permit in Bhutan

Why is Work Permit Needed?

For the international employees to work legally in the country, they will require a Bhutan work visa and work permit. The visa and work permit for Bhutan is granted by the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Immigration.

About The Bhutan Job Market

Work Permit in Bhutan

Number of Expats:

No data found

Popular Industries for Expats:

Teaching, Mining, Tourism, Agriculture

Types of Bhutan Work Visa Available

In Bhutan, the work visa and work permit are two separate documents. A foreign employee must have both a work visa and a work permit to work in the country. A work visa is valid for the employees who are planning to enter the country for work, whereas a work permit is required to perform labor within the borders of Bhutan. 

The government of Bhutan issues the work permit for one year for just one time. Once the permit expires, the applicants have to reapply annually to maintain their legal employment status. In addition, if an employee has extended their work permit for three years, the permit holder must leave the country for at least six months and then they can reapply.

Requirements for a Bhutan Work Permit

The foreign employees interested in working in the country will be required to provide a list of documents to get approval for the Bhutan work visa and work permit. As an employer, you can help your employees and ease their process of application. 

For Bhutan Visa 

– One must have a valid passport 
– One must have approval from the department of labor 
– One must have an employer undertaking form 
– One must have a medical fitness certificate 
– One must have a signed declaration of the compliance

For Bhutan Work Permit 

– One must have approval from the department of labor, the human resources and the Ministry of Labor.
– One must have a duly completed work permit application form. 
– One must have a valid employer undertaking. 
– One must have a valid employee undertaking. 
– For a Bhutan work permit for Indians, one must have a copy of their passport or voter identity card with an employment entry permit. 
– For nationals of other countries, one must have a copy of their passport with an employment visa.
– One must submit a medical fitness certificate that is granted by a competent government-certified medical officer in Bhutan. 
– One must submit a passport-sized photograph. 
– One must submit original or notarized copies of the academic certificate. This is only for nationals of Bangladesh, Maldives and India.

Apart from these documents, there can be other documents required during the assessment.

Bhutan Work Permit Application Process

Before the employees enter Bhutan, they have to apply for an employment entry visa either online or at the nearest consulate. Some nationals can receive an entry visa on arrival, including:

  • Indian citizens
  • Nationals from Maldives & Bangladesh 
  • Nationals from Thailand and Switzerland with Diplomatic passports 
  • Nonnationals holding a SAARC visa exemption sticker   

To acquire a Bhutan work visa, the foriegn nationals require approval from the Ministry of Labor. One has to submit a completed application form along with a copy of the valid passport. As an employer, you have to grant permission from the Ministry on behalf of your employee. 

Upon arrival, the employment visa holders must file biometric data with the Department of Immigration. After the foriegn national receives a clearance to enter the borders, they can submit an application for a Kingdom of Bhutan work permit. The employees must submit all the required documents along with the application to the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, which falls under the Department of Immigration.  

Other Considerations Related to Bhutan Work Visa 

For any nonnational employee who stays longer than a month, approval is required from the Ministry of Labor. As an employer, one is responsible for getting approval before the employee applies for the entry visa. 

After submitting the application to the Ministry, the approval process starts, and the employer must present an explanation for hiring a foriegn employee. Next, the Ministry of Labor submits the documentation and employee passport number for verification to the Department of Immigration. Then, they decide whether the application of the nonnational employee works with the current immigration laws. 

Your nonnational employee’s application can be denied if the Department of Immigration thinks that it doesn’t line up with current laws and requirements of the country. 

How Multiplier Can Help 

We’re a global EOR solution on a mission to make the onboarding process hassle-free for companies like you and help to onboard and manage talent from different parts of the world. We have local entities in over 150+ countries. Our HR suites are designed and developed by our in-house experts to provide all-in-one solutions to our users. 

With our SaaS-based solutions, you can raise a request for a Bhutan work visa and work permit. Our team of experts will simplify your task by managing the entire process, from the processing time to the document checklist to the costs. During the whole process, you will be kept notified about the progress.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Bhutanese currency is also called Ngultrum. The value of the currency is tied to Indian Rupee, which is accepted in the country.

No. There is no limit on the number of tourists in Bhutan. However, to protect the culture and traditions of the country, the government has acquired a unique policy of “High Value, Low Impact”. The policy focuses on attracting discerning tourists who will respect the culture and values of the Bhutanese people.

Yes. After the submission of the application, the Department of Immigration reviews it. If they find something that doesn’t comply with the immigration laws, they have the authority to deny the approval.

Foreign nationals from countries like India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Switzerland, and the Maldives are approved for visas on arrival.

No. To bring a spouse and children, one has to apply for a Dependent visa in Bhutan. The requirements for a dependent visa include:

  • A valid recommendation from the employer of the work permit holder
  • Must have a copy of a valid passport
  • Must have a passport with at least a minimum validity of 6 months from the planned date of departure from Bhutan
  • Must have a notarized copy of marriage certificate
  • Must have a notarized copy of the birth certificate
  • Must have a completed application form for visa

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