Heading to Nepal or Bhutan this winter? Here are the new ID rules for Indian travellers

The Home Ministry has amended its immigration exemption order: Indians going to Nepal or Bhutan need a listed identity document, and anyone using those borders to reach a third country needs a passport.

By Team FHM · Nov 2026 · 2 min read

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Planning a winter run to Pokhara, a monastery trek in Paro or a quick border hop at Phuentsholing? Pack the right card. The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, dated 5 November, which tightens how Indians travel to and from Nepal and Bhutan. You still do not need a visa for either neighbour, but you now must show one of the identity documents listed in the government's Visa Manual, and answer any questions an immigration officer asks.

What has changed

The order, issued under Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, amends last year's exemption order. The headline rule: Indian citizens travelling to or from Nepal or Bhutan, by land or by air, must carry an identity document from the Visa Manual's list. The passport exemption covers only direct travel between India and these two countries.

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No visa needed for Nepal or Bhutan, but you must now show an ID from the government's Visa Manual list and answer the of

The bigger change is for anyone who likes to route trips creatively. If you use the Nepal or Bhutan border to travel on to a third country, or come back into India that way, you need a valid passport, and you must enter or leave India only through designated immigration posts. Kathmandu as a cheap jumping-off point for a Southeast Asia flight? Carry the passport.

Which ID actually works

Here is where travellers get caught out. For flying to Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu accepts only a valid Indian passport or an original, photo-bearing Voter ID card from the Election Commission of India. A downloaded or printed copy of the Voter ID does not count. Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences are not accepted for air travel to Nepal.

Flying to Nepal? Only a valid passport or an original photo Voter ID works. Aadhaar, PAN and driving licence don't.

Bhutan's Department of Immigration is just as clear: Indians get an entry permit on arrival with an original valid passport or Voter ID card. Other IDs are not accepted under its published guidance.

Before you book

Carry your passport even if you think you will not need it – it settles every question at the counter.
If you are relying on a Voter ID, check it is the original card with a clear photo, not an e-copy.
Travelling with family? Check the Visa Manual list and the embassy's guidance for every traveller's documents before you leave home.
Onward flight from Kathmandu or Paro to another country? Passport, no exceptions.

Why it matters now

November to February is peak season for Indians in both countries – clear Himalayan views in Nepal, crisp monastery weather in Bhutan, and festival calendars in full swing. Nepal and Bhutan are among the easiest international trips an Indian can take: no visa, rupee-friendly, and a short flight or drive from many cities. The new order does not take that away; it just ends the era of turning up with whatever card is in your wallet.

Bhutan gives Indians an entry permit on arrival with an original passport or Voter ID card. Printed copies won't cut it.

The FHM take

Honestly, this is overdue clarity rather than a crackdown. The confusion over which card works at which counter has ruined more than one long weekend. Our advice: make the passport your default travel buddy for both countries, and treat the Voter ID as the backup. Five seconds of packing saves a very awkward conversation at the airport.