Bhutan · Spouse visas
Bhutan Spouse of a citizen
Immigration Card — Foreign Spouse of a Bhutanese Citizen
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Bhutan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The Immigration Card is renewed periodically, and both spouses may need to report to the Department in person for renewal.
Where to applyWhere to apply
A foreigner already in Bhutan as a visitor, dependant, worker or student cannot apply for an Immigration Card and must leave for at least one year first.
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is a foreigner married to a Bhutanese citizen after 10 June 1985, or a child of such a marriage.
- A foreigner in Bhutan as a visitor, dependent, worker or student must leave for at least one year before applying.
Documents3
- The marriage certificate must be issued by the Royal Court of Justice of Bhutan.
- A copy of the Bhutanese spouse's Citizenship Identity Card is required.
- A passport or identity document of the foreign spouse and the Department's application form are required.
Steps1
- The Bhutanese spouse applies directly to the Department of Immigration.
After you arrive3
- The card holder may not work in any organisation without prior approval from the Department.
- Both spouses may need to report to the Department at renewal, and address changes are reported.
- On divorce or the spouse's death with no child of the marriage, immigrant status and residence end.
What happens at day 183
How Bhutan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in any 12-month period that begins or ends in the income yearPresence test for residence under the Income Tax Act of Bhutan 2025; domicile in Bhutan also makes an individual resident.
- Foreign-source income
An individual is resident in Bhutan for an income year if domiciled in Bhutan, unless the individual has a permanent home outside Bhutan for the whole year and none in Bhutan, or if present in Bhutan for 183 days or more in any 12-month period that begins or ends in the income year.
All tax rules for Bhutan Tax records checked
Full official text
Immigration Card for a foreigner married to a Bhutanese citizen after 10 June 1985, and for the son or daughter of such parentage; the Bhutanese spouse applies and the card is renewed periodically. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The applicant is a foreigner married to a Bhutanese citizen after 10 June 1985, or a child of such a marriage. 1 2
- A foreigner in Bhutan as a visitor, dependent, worker or student must leave for at least one year before applying. 1
- The marriage certificate must be issued by the Royal Court of Justice of Bhutan. 1
- A copy of the Bhutanese spouse's Citizenship Identity Card is required. 1
- A passport or identity document of the foreign spouse and the Department's application form are required. 1
- The Bhutanese spouse applies directly to the Department of Immigration. 2
- The card holder may not work in any organisation without prior approval from the Department. 1
- Both spouses may need to report to the Department at renewal, and address changes are reported. 1
- On divorce or the spouse's death with no child of the marriage, immigrant status and residence end. 1
Stay
- Immigration Card renewed periodically.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work in any organisation needs prior approval from the Department of Immigration.
Family
Children born to a Bhutanese and a card holder are registered with the Department within one year of birth.
Official sources
- Immigration Rules and Regulations of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023 (fee annexures, permits) · Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2023
- Non-Tourist categories (1 June 2023) · Department of Immigration, Bhutan · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2023-06-01
- Immigration Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2007 · Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2007
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Immigration Card renewed periodically.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
Work in any organisation needs prior approval from the Department of Immigration.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Children born to a Bhutanese and a card holder are registered with the Department within one year of birth.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Bhutan?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: From income year 2026, an individual's taxable income in Bhutan is taxed at nil up to Nu. 300,000 a year, then at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, and at 30% above Nu.
More in Bhutan
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Immigration Rules and Regulations of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023 (fee annexures, permits) · Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
- Non-Tourist categories (1 June 2023) · Department of Immigration, Bhutan · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2007 · Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.