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Last Updated:
November 2, 2007 15:12
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:15 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Travel Report have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country.
Most Canadian visitors to OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs. Travellers should ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times. Tourism is carefully regulated and tourist facilities are very limited. Independent travel is not permitted. Travel must be pre-arranged through an authorized travel agency. Further information may be obtained from the Bhutanese Department of Tourism. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the authorities of Bhutan and was valid on June 13, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Royal Bhutanese Embassy and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Bhutan. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Canadians must also be in possession of a visa, which is needed to board Druk Air flights bound for Bhutan. Both the visa and travel plans must be arranged through an authorized travel agent and confirmed prior to departure. A minimum daily rate of US$200, which covers accommodation, meals, transportation, guides, and cultural programs, is charged per person per night. This tariff and airfare must be paid in advance in order to obtain an entry visa. Travellers must also pay a US$20 visa fee and provide two passport-sized photos upon arrival in Bhutan. Special authorization is required prior to visiting certain religious and administrative buildings. Please be advised that travel to districts other than Tourist Visa: Required Business Visa: Required A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Bhutan - THIMPHU, Canadian Cooperation Office Address: N/A Postal Address: P.O. Box 201, Thimphu, Tel.: 975 (2) 322-109 or 332-615; 975 17110040 (mobile phone) Fax: 975 (2) 332-614 E-Mail: canada@druknet.bt The High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, India, has consular responsibility for Bhutan. The address is as follows: India - NEW DELHI, High Commission of Canada Address: 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, India 110021 Postal Address: P.O. Box 5207, New Delhi, India, 110021 Tel.: (91) (11) 4178-2000/2100 Fax: (91) (11) 4178-2020 E-Mail: delhi.consular@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/New-delhi For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, India, and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Bhutan does not recognize dual citizenship. This may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Canadians should travel using their Canadian passport and present themselves as Canadian to foreign authorities at all times. The Department publishes a booklet entitled Dual Citizenship: What Travellers Should Know, specifically targeted at Canadians with dual nationality. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. Selling tobacco is illegal. Convicted offenders will be charged with smuggling and can expect to be fined. Imported tobacco products for personal use are subject to a 100 percent tax. Smoking is prohibited in public places. Homosexuality is illegal. Personal computers, cellular telephones, cameras, or any other electronic device should be registered with Bhutanese customs upon arrival. These items will also be checked upon departure. The export of all antiques is strictly monitored. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Traffic drives on the left. There are no railroads and few roads. In the mountains, sharp curves, limited visibility, and narrow roads create dangerous road conditions. However, tourists rarely drive in Bhutan. Their visits are arranged through tour operators and they must travel in groups with experienced drivers. There are two ways to enter Bhutan: by road through Phuentsholing on the southwest border with India or by Druk Air, Bhutan's national airline. Flights from New Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Dhaka and Bangkok are available. There are no internal flights. Flights are subject to disruptions due to weather and technical difficulties. The border with China is closed. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required. The currency is the ngultrum. Indian rupees are also used. There are no automated banking machines. Credit cards are not widely accepted. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged in any branch of the Bank of Bhutan. U.S. dollar traveller's cheques are recommended. Major hotels in Thimphu and Phuentsholing will exchange foreign currency. BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Bhutan is located in an active seismic zone. Canadians should know the address and telephone number of the Cooperation Office of Canada in Thimphu or the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, India (see above), in the event of an emergency. The rainy (monsoon) season extends from May to October. Landslides occur frequently. Mountain roads can be hazardous even in good weather. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Health facilities and services are very basic, particularly in rural and remote areas. Visitors may have to travel for several hours in order to obtain adequate medical services for serious illnesses. Trekkers may experience acute mountain sickness at high altitudes and should be well informed about possible hazards in the high mountains. Consult with a travel medicine specialist prior to departure. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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