Bhutan FDI Investor Card in 2026

Bhutan's current investor residence mechanism sits inside the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) framework. It is not a passive-property “golden visa” and it is not citizenship by investment.

Under the FDI Rules and Regulations 2025, a foreign investor or an authorized representative whose investment exceeds Nu. 15 million can qualify for an Investor Card after commencement of the approved business. The rules provide approval to reside in Bhutan for three years, with further extensions facilitated under the FDI framework.

The Investor Card threshold

The key published threshold is investment above Nu. 15 million. The card is linked to a genuine approved FDI enterprise and its investor or authorized representative. It should not be described as a payment for residence detached from business activity.

Bhutan's FDI framework also contains sectoral and approval rules that determine whether a proposed investment can proceed. The Department of Industry's current FDI service should be checked before assuming a project qualifies.

Before the business starts

During the establishment stage, an investor may use the business guest visa framework for approved feasibility, site, market and business-establishment activity. The 2025 FDI Rules also provide visa facilitation for foreign investors and representatives connected with registered FDI projects.

Pre-commencement business entry is not the same status as the Investor Card. The three-year residence approval attaches to the qualifying Investor Card after business commencement.

Residence period and extensions

The FDI Rules state that the Investor Card grants approval to reside in Bhutan for three years. They also provide for facilitation of further extensions.

An extension should not be treated as automatic permanent residence. The investment/business must remain compliant with the applicable FDI, immigration, tax, licensing and sector rules.

Can the investor work in the business?

Investor residence and employment authorization should still be handled carefully. The FDI rules facilitate the investor/authorized representative's immigration position, but other foreign workers employed by the company remain subject to Bhutan's labour and work-permit framework.

A spouse who accompanies the investor does not receive unrestricted employment rights merely through family status. The 2025 FDI Rules state that the spouse's employment is subject to obtaining a work permit.

Spouse and dependants

The FDI Rules give immigration facilitation to qualifying investors/representatives and their spouse/dependants, including Sustainable Development Fee treatment described in the rules. The rules also address study by spouse/dependants of qualifying investors.

This FDI-specific treatment should not be generalized to every foreign worker or visitor. For the wider category rules, see Bhutan dependent and family permits.

Is this a golden visa or citizenship-by-investment route?

No. Searchers may use terms such as “Bhutan golden visa,” but the official mechanism is an Investor Card connected to qualifying FDI. The rules do not turn a Nu. 15 million investment into Bhutanese citizenship, nor do they describe a passive real-estate purchase as an independent residence route.

The Bhutan immigration hub therefore treats “golden visa” as search intent to correct, not as an official visa name.

Business operations and staff

An FDI company that recruits foreign staff must use the labour/work-permit system for those employees. Likewise, a visitor who performs installation, construction, training or professional services cannot assume that a business visa covers the work. See employment and work permits and business guest visas.

Practical sequence

A typical high-level sequence is:

  1. confirm the proposed project is eligible under Bhutan's FDI framework;
  2. obtain the required FDI approvals/registration;
  3. use business-guest/visa facilitation for legitimate pre-commencement activity as applicable;
  4. commence the approved business;
  5. apply for the Investor Card when the published investment threshold and conditions are met; and
  6. maintain business and immigration compliance for residence and future extension.

Return to the Bhutan immigration hub, browse Asia relocation guides, or compare the visa-type directory.

This guide is informational. Confirm current FDI eligibility, investment calculation and Investor Card documentation with the Department of Industry and Department of Immigration before committing capital.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Bhutan