Bhutan may have been breathing a sigh of relief that it is not on any travel ban list of 39 countries, but all is not well as from 1st January 2026 Bhutan will be in a list of 13 countries that will need visa bonds for the business and tourism visas category.
The U.S. State Department announced on 17 December that Bhutan will be subject to a visa bond requirement starting 1 January 2026, alongside countries such as Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan. Earlier, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi and Zambia were added to the list between August and October 2025.
The bond applies to the B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa, commonly issued as a combined visa for business activities such as meetings and conferences, and for tourism, family visits or medical treatment. These visas usually allow multiple entries with stays of up to six months. Eligible Bhutanese applicants will be required to post a bond of USD 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000, decided during the visa interview.
Applicants must submit DHS Form I-352 and pay only through Pay.gov after being instructed by a consular officer. Payment does not guarantee visa approval, and fees paid without authorization are non-refundable. Bond holders must enter and exit the U.S. through Boston, JFK or Washington Dulles airports.
Bhutan’s inclusion is linked to high visa overstay rates. In FY 2023–24, Bhutan recorded a 21.75% B1/B2 overstay rate, ranking seventh highest, despite small absolute numbers. Bhutan is not included in the current U.S. travel ban list. Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel said he is awaiting an official report from Bhutan’s mission in New York.
