Bhutanese passport | |
---|---|
Type | Passport |
Issued by | Bhutan |
First issued | app. 2006 [1] (current version) |
Purpose | Identification |
Eligibility | Bhutanese citizenship |
Expiration | Ten years |
A Bhutanese passport is a document which authorizes and facilitates travel and other activities in Bhutan or by Bhutanese citizens. Foreign travel passports are issued to citizens of Bhutan for international travel by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is valid for all countries unless otherwise endorsed. [2]
In the Kingdom of Bumthang, which constitutes a part of modern-day Bhutan, feudal passbooks or dzeng (Dzongkha : ཛེང) were issued to court messengers in order to travel from kingdom to kingdom. [2] Diplomacy and mediating were crucially important measures in pre-modern Bhutan chiefdoms. [3]
Foreign travel passports are issued to citizens of Bhutan for international travel. New Bhutanese passports are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1988, Bhutanese passport holders abroad were ordered to surrender their passports upon their return to Bhutan. [4]
The current version of the Bhutanese passports were first issued around 2006.
Type of passport | Color | Image |
---|---|---|
Ordinary passport (Dzongkha : ་དགེ་འདུན་, romanized: Shinthron) | Blue | |
Official passport (Dzongkha : དབྱངས།་, romanized: Pawchang) | Green | |
Diplomatic passport (Dzongkha : ཞག་དང་རྣ, romanized: Denzhen) | Red |
As of 2024, Bhutanese citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 52 countries and territories, ranking the Bhutanese passport 92nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index, together with Chad and Comoros.
In 2013, a spoken article on the English Wikipedia was created for the Bhutanese passport by user KuchenZimjah, [6] which was interpreted as humorous, spawning an internet meme. The audio file was deleted in 2015 following debate on the article's talk page. [7] [8] In 2023, YouTube creator Hbomberguy used this recording as an example of audio versions of articles being an accessibility feature and of recreating someone else's creative work in an ethical, productive way. [9]
The Lhotshampa or Lhotsampa people are a heterogeneous Bhutanese people of Nepali descent. The Lhotshampa were estimated to comprise around 35% of the Bhutan's population by the U.S. Department of State as of 2008. The Lhotshampa are predominantly Hindu and Buddhist too, who speak the Nepali language.
Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 56 of 193 member states of the United Nations and the European Union. Bhutan's limited number of such relations, including the absence of formal relations with any of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, is part of a deliberate isolationist policy of limiting foreign influence in the state. This stance has been safeguarded by close relations with India, of which Bhutan has previously been considered a protected state.
The Tibetan script is a segmental writing system, or abugida, derived from Brahmic scripts and Gupta script, and used to write certain Tibetic languages, including Tibetan, Dzongkha, Sikkimese, Ladakhi, Jirel and Balti. It was originally developed c. 620 by Tibetan minister Thonmi Sambhota for King Songtsen Gampo.
Dzongkha is a Tibeto-Burman language that is the official and national language of Bhutan. It is written using the Tibetan script.
Bhutanese nationality law is the law governing the acquisition, transmission and loss of Bhutanese citizenship. The Bhutanese Citizenship Act of 1985 was introduced by the Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, on June 10, 1985, modifying the definition of a Bhutanese citizen. The Act was implemented as part of a new national policy of Driglam Namzha, national customs and etiquette. Because of its emphasis on Bhutanese culture, the Act is also referred to as the "One Nation, One People Act." The 1985 Act was amended by the Immigration Act of 2007 and then superseded in 2008 by the Constitution of Bhutan insofar as previous laws are inconsistent; where not inconsistent, the provisions of the 2007 Act, the 1985 Act, and previous Acts relating to immigration continue in effect.
Visa requirements for Croatian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Croatia.
Visa requirements for Bahraini citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bahrain. As of 2024, Bahraini citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 91 countries and territories, ranking the Bahraini passport 59th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index.
Visa requirements for British citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the United Kingdom.
Visa requirements for Thai citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of Thailand by the authorities of other states.
Visa requirements for Swiss citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Switzerland.
The visa policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan is strictly regulated under the policy of "High Value, Low Volume" tourism, in order to minimize the effect on the country's unique society and environment. Bhutanese policy ensures that only an acceptable number of tourists enter the country at a time, preventing the country from being overwhelmed by mass tourism and consequently changing its character, and that tourists who do arrive get the best experience and value from their visit.
The Bhutanese Ministry of Home Affairs is the government ministry within the Lhengye Zhungtshog which oversees law and order; the civil administration; immigration services; the issuance of citizenship documents, and other related documents; the delivery of services by local governments; and the preservation, promotion, development, and protection of the culture and heritage of Bhutan. It is headed by the Home Minister, who sits on the Lhengye Zhungtshog and is led by the prime minister. The Ministry currently operates from Tashichho Dzong.
The Chocha Ngacha language or Chochangachakha or Tsamang is a Southern Tibetic language spoken by about 20,000 people in the Kurichu Valley of Lhuntse and Mongar Districts in eastern Bhutan.
Visitors to Azerbaijan must obtain a visa from one of the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa on arrival, or citizens eligible for an electronic visa.
Visa requirements for Comorian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Comoros.
Jirel is a Southern Tibetic language of Nepal. It is spoken in Jiri, in Tshetrapa village, Jungu village, and Cheppu village of Dolakha District and Sindhupalchok and different parts of Nepal.
Visa requirements for Sri Lankan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Sri Lanka.
Visa requirements for Bhutanese citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Bhutan. As of 2 July 2019, Bhutanese citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 52 countries and territories, ranking the Bhutanese passport 92nd in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements for Chad citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the Chad. As of 25 October 2024, Chadian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 53 countries and territories, ranking the Chadian passport 88th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
Dzongkha is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Bhutan. This article uses Roman Dzongkha to indicate pronunciation.