Tourists visiting Bhutan can now expect an easier and more convenient visa application process. The Department of Immigration of the home affairs ministry has developed a new visa application system. The system was launched today. It is targeted towards providing efficient and effective visa processing services for tourists.
Tourists and tour operators can use the enhanced visa application system starting today.
The system is intended to streamline immigration services for a seamless and reduced visa application time. It will, however, not make much difference in the visa processing time which takes up to five working days.
“Tourism is vital for our country. Therefore, the system was developed to make the visa application process easier for tourists. The new system shortens the processing time. It has lots of benefits and is developed in a way that anyone can use it,” said Tshering, Home Affairs Minister.
The new system has key features such as an automated application process, tracking the status of an application, and easier refund processes.
“One of the features of the new system is the auto updation of personal information from the passport to the visa form. Another one is the automation of the SDF refund process. In the old system, to get a refund for a tourist, tour operators had to personally visit our office. Now, they can get the refund online through the system,” said Leki Tshering, Officiating Chief of the Visa Division in the Department of Immigration.
He added that until the users get acquainted with the new system, the old system will be in use till the end of this month.
According to the Department of Immigration, the system is aligned with the government’s vision of increasing tourist arrivals to 300,000 or more, annually.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Phub Gyem
