Indian citizens travelling to Nepal and Bhutan will have to comply with new identity-document requirements after the MHA changed immigration rules in the country. The revised provisions specify which documents travellers need to produce when entering or leaving India through borders with neighbouring countries.
The changes were made through the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026 published in Official Gazette on November 5, 2026. The amendment amends Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025 and applies to Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens travelling by land or air.
Under the new rules Indian citizens travelling to Nepal or Bhutan (or returning from either country) must show an identity document specified in government’s Visa Manual before immigration officer and provide any additional information asked by the officer.
The amendment does not mean travellers can cross the border without identification. It specifies what documents need to be shown and under which circumstances a valid passport is still required.
What Are the New Travel Rules for Indians Visiting Nepal and Bhutan?
The amended provisions allow Indian citizens travelling directly between India and Nepal or India and Bhutan by land or air to use an eligible identity document instead of a general passport requirement.
However, travellers need to show an identity document recognised under government’s Visa Manual. Immigration officials may ask for more information as well.
The notice does not give the full list of acceptable identity documents so travellers should check what is required for their particular route before they leave.
For air travel to Nepal the Embassy of India in Kathmandu specifically lists two documents:
- A valid Indian passport.
- An original Voter ID card with photograph issued by the Election Commission of India.
The embassy does not accept downloaded or printed online copies of Voter ID as travel documents. It also specifically mentions that Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and driving licences are not valid substitutes for passport or original Voter ID for air travel to Nepal.
For Bhutan, Indian Consulate General in Phuentsholing lists an original valid Indian passport or original Voter ID card as travel documents for Indian visitors wishing to enter Bhutan for entry permit.
That means travellers shouldn’t assume every government issued identity card will be accepted for international travel.
When Is a Passport Required for Travel Through Nepal or Bhutan?
One of the most important parts of the amendment is that Indian citizens travelling to a third country through Nepal or Bhutan will not be treated as transit passengers.
The passport exemption only applies to travel between India and these two neighbouring countries. It does not apply to journeys involving another international destination.
For example, an Indian citizen travelling from India directly to Nepal can use any eligible identity document under the rules. Someone travelling from India through Nepal to another country needs a valid passport.
The same holds for journeys through Bhutan.
The new order also makes travellers using the India-Nepal or India-Bhutan borders for third country journeys enter or leave India through immigration posts.
This is important for people travelling abroad on international trips with connecting flights or road journeys through neighbouring countries. Having an eligible identity document for direct Nepal/Bhutan travel does not remove the passport requirement for wider international itinerary.
What Documents Can Indians Carry for Air Travel to Nepal?
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu has issued specific guidance for Indian nationals travelling by air to Nepal.
Under its official travel-document guidelines, Indians must carry either:
- An original valid Indian passport.
- An original Voter ID card with a photograph issued by the Election Commission of India.
The embassy has said that Aadhaar, PAN cards and driving licences cannot be used as substitutes for these documents for air travel to Nepal.
Travellers should also avoid screenshots or downloaded copies of their Voter ID the embassy wants the original document.
These requirements are especially relevant for travellers who plan to book flights last minute or assume that an Aadhaar card will be sufficient for international travel.
What Are the Identity Document Requirements for Indians Visiting Bhutan?
Indian citizens do not need a visa to visit Bhutan but they must get the right entry permit.
The Consulate General of India in Phuentsholing said that Indian visitors may use either an original valid passport (with validity more than six months) or an original Voter ID card for obtaining the entry permit.
Children under 18 years old must have a birth certificate in English or passport and be accompanied by legal guardian.
The Bhutan travel guidelines also list additional requirements for visitors (passport-size photographs and travel arrangements).
Indian tourists travelling beyond the designated border towns should check entry permit process, accommodation arrangements, travel insurance plans and Sustainable Development Fee provisions before leaving.
The passport and identity-document exemption does not remove Bhutan’s separate entry-permit and tourism-related requirements.
What Rules Apply to Nepalese and Bhutanese Citizens Entering India?
The new provisions apply also to citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering or leaving India by land or air.
Under the new order they must produce an identity document specified in the government’s Visa Manual before an immigration officer and any additional information requested by immigration authorities.
However, the exemption has limits for travellers arriving from or travelling to countries other than Nepal or Bhutan.
Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens going to or returning from a third country through India must have valid passports.
There is another condition for citizens of Nepal and Bhutan who have arrived at or transited through China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan in which case they must carry both passport and visa.
These provisions make clear that the special travel arrangements between India, Nepal and Bhutan do not apply to journeys involving other international destinations.
Important Things to Check Before Travelling
The new rules make it necessary for travellers to check their documents and itinerary before booking tickets.
Here are some important checks:
1. Carry Original Identity Documents
Travellers should carry an original passport or another identity document accepted under the relevant rules. Digital copies should not be taken as substitutes.
2. Check Nepal's Air Travel Requirements
For flights between India and Nepal, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu accepts a valid Indian passport or an original Election Commission issued Voter ID card (with photograph).
3. Check Bhutan's Entry Permit Requirements
Indian visitors to Bhutan require an entry permit. Accepted identity documents are original valid passport or original Voter ID card.
4. Carry a Passport for Third-Country Travel
Anyone travelling to another country or returning from another country through Nepal or Bhutan should carry a passport and use immigration posts at border crossings when entering/leaving India.
5. Verify Requirements for Children
Families travelling with children should check what additional documentation is required (e.g. birth certificates, passport conditions).
Why Has India Updated the Nepal and Bhutan Travel Rules?
India has close geographical, cultural and economic linkages with Nepal and Bhutan. People travel between these countries for tourism, business, family visits, education etc.
The new provisions define the identity-document requirements for citizens travelling across these borders and make a distinction between direct travel within the three countries and international journeys made using Nepal or Bhutan as transit points.
For travellers this distinction is needed to avoid documentation problems at airports and immigration checkpoints.
The amendment doesn’t eliminate all passport requirements or make every identity document valid for international travel; it just specifies when exemption from identity-document requirements applies and when a valid passport is still needed.
Travellers should check the latest guidance issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions and immigration authorities of Nepal and Bhutan before departure.
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