Bhutan Custom Rules
The Bhutanese authorities strictly prohibit the export of antiques and items related to religious history of the country. As soon as you arrive, you ill be handed a Custom Form at the Paro Airport to be filled up and handed over to the concerned authorities. Certain items are not allowed to be imported while some of them are exempted from custom duty but need to be mentioned in the form. This form will be duly checked on your departure and items that are not mentioned in it might need to be cleared before you can take them with you.
The articles that are exempted from the custom duty are:
- 2 liters of alcohol, 400 cigarettes and/or 150 gms of pipe tobacco,
- Instruments, apparatus or appliances for professional use,
- Personal affects and articles for day to day use by the visitor.
- Photographic equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods for personal use.
You need to declare the possession of any instruments, apparatus, professional appliances, photographic equipments, video cameras and/or electronic goods you have brought for your personal use in the Custom Form. Be aware that if you dispose of any such items in Bhutan by sale or the way of gifting, then you will have to pay custom duty on them.
The goods and items strictly prohibited in Bhutan and cannot be imported or exported to the country include:
- All narcotics and drugs except medically prescribed drugs,
- Antiques,
- Arms, ammunitions, explosives and military stores, and
All visitors and tourists should be cautious enough not to purchase any old and used items in Bhutan too as they will not be allowed to take them out of the country by the custom authorities. If you do buy such products, they have to be certified as non-antiques so that you can take them out of the nation. Similarly importing plants, soils and other such items is subject to quarantine regulations and they will need to be cleared on arrival. Wildlife products, especially those of endangered species.
Prohibited:
- Arms, ammunition, explosives and military equipment;
- All narcotics and drugs (exempt are medically prescribed drugs);
- All wildlife products, especially from endangered species;
- Antiques. Visitors can not export any old/used items out of the country without a certificate proving the item being non-antique.
- Airport Embarkation Tax: No airport tax is levied on passengers upon embarkation at the airport.
Local currency is Bhutan:
- Local currency is Bhutan Ngultrum - BTN. However, Indian Rupee (INR) is also in use.
Foreign currency: up to a max. Of USD 10,000. - (or equivalent). Foreign hard currency like USD, JPY, GBP, EUR, CHF, AUD, HKD, and SGD will be acceptable at the Bank of Bhutan.
