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Bhutan

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
1,858
Top destination, 2023
Australia
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
786
UK visas issued, 2025
295
NationalityBTISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<BTBHUTAN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BT4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Bhutan need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Bhutan move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Australia1,058
  2. Japan372
  3. United States250
  4. New Zealand51
  5. Canada50
  6. Germany27
  7. South Korea9
  8. Austria9
  9. Switzerland9
  10. Netherlands7
  11. France6
  12. Italy4
  13. Denmark4
  14. Belgium1
  15. Sweden1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

8,60417k200020032006200920122015201820212023
8,60417k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200038
200151
2002136
2003119
200498
2005106
2006304
2007333
2008498
20093,363
201010,476
201117,208
201217,046
201315,026
201412,634
201511,108
20167,943
20176,708
20185,177
20193,136
20202,270
2021805
20221,262
20231,858
Share going to the top destination
56.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Bhutan who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Nepal26,552
  2. Australia25,363
  3. India6,555
  4. Canada6,227
  5. Denmark617
  6. Norway415
  7. Sri Lanka236
  8. China113
  9. Bulgaria32
  10. Hungary14
  11. Dominican Republic9
  12. Costa Rica5

Living abroad by year

60k120k19901995200020052010201520202024
60k120k19902000201020202024
Data table
199027,169
1995117,210
2000119,788
2005117,140
201088,335
201547,807
202052,339
202466,145
Living abroad, 2024
66,145
Change since 2000
-44.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
40.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Bhutan by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2493
  2. F172
  3. G262
  4. A231
  5. R128
  6. G424
  7. J119
  8. K111
  9. H1B8
  10. G17

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

459917201720182019202020212022202320242025
45991720172019202120232025
Data table
2017576
2018799
2019849
2020340
2021155
2022360
2023754
2024917
2025786
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV53
  2. IR514
  3. CR14
  4. IR13
  5. IR23
  6. F13
  7. CR21
Immigrant visas, FY2025
81
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
4
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Bhutan who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Bhutan with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

3,1656,3302015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3,1656,330201520172019202120232024
Data table
20156,330
20164,220
20172,940
20182,350
20191,440
20201,090
2021140
2022210
2023210
2024180
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens80
  2. Diversity visa lottery60
  3. Refugees and asylees40
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Bhutan)
180
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Bhutan)
2,610
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
1,190
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Bhutan (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Bhutan (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor178
  2. Study100
  3. Work11
  4. Other6

Visas issued by year

359718201020122014201620182020202220242025
359718201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010244
2011147
2012258
2013223
2014121
2015135
2016175
2017183
2018192
2019244
202056
202195
2022183
2023718
2024261
2025295
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
45
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Bhutan, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202504503553020
202407257151010
202308057652510
2022023030500
202101451651010
20200306500
20190259050
20180020100
20170025550
20160051050
20150004100
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Bhutan, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1773542007–082014–152016–172018–192020–212022–232024–252025–26
1773542007–082015–162018–192021–222024–252025–26
Data table
2007–081
2013–143
2014–153
2015–168
2016–176
2017–188
2018–193
2019–206
2020–219
2021–2222
2022–2341
2023–2457
2024–25218
2025–26354
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills196
  2. Labour Agreement147
  3. Short-term7
  4. Specialist Skills3
  5. Medium-term1
Granted, 2025–26
354
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.5%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Bhutan living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

4038062012201420162018202220242025
4038062012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201254
201359
201461
201578
2016109
2017627
2018806
2019560
2022442
2023411
2024423
2025450
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services154
  2. Student68
  3. Dependent64
  4. Nursing Care54
  5. Specified Skilled Worker41
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National27
  7. Permanent Resident23
  8. Designated Activities7
  9. Technical Intern Training4
  10. Instructor3
Residents, December 2025
450
In work-related statuses
257
Share in work-related statuses
57.1%
Students
68
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Bhutan in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education156
  2. Work33
  3. Other reasons27
  4. Family20
First permits by country
  1. Cyprus87
  2. Germany32
  3. Malta24
  4. France18
  5. Switzerland12
  6. Denmark9
  7. Spain8
  8. Czechia7
  9. Portugal7
  10. Poland5
  11. Belgium4
  12. Netherlands4
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)5
  2. Other paid activities28
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
5
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
33
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
125
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
836
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
39
Changed status into work, 2025
5
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Bhutan in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025981000
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025101
Austria202548-4
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Bhutan

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Bhutan, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Bangladesh1——
India11—
Countries
2
Missions
3
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Bhutan, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

551102006200920122015201820212024
55110200620102014201820222024
Data table
20062
20073
20084
20095
20108
201110
201218
201312
201414
201520
201634
201743
201858
201957
202083
202173
202296
2023108
2024110
Remittances received, 2024
US$110 million
Share of GDP, 2024
3.3%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Bhutan

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Bhutan → Australia
  • Bhutan → United States
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more