Via embassy

South Africa visa for citizens of Bhutan

Citizens of Bhutan need a visa for South Africa that is issued through the embassy or a visa centre: it can’t be obtained online, because you must attend in person to submit documents and biometrics. Visago fills in the form, prepares your documents and books your appointment. The service costs $49.

For citizens of Bhutan: the passport opens 17 countries visa-free; Thimphu — Pretoria: ≈ 8,840 km, about 11.5 hours of flying.

Checked by visa analyst Albert Brown, 13 years of experience · September 26, 2026

99% of the applications we submit are approved

How we achieve this

After payment, a manager will contact you.

Choose your visa

Document preparation and appointment bookingWe fill in the form, prepare your documents and book the visa centre appointment$49

The consular fee is paid separately when you apply. Your manager will confirm the exact amount.

Apply in 10 minutes

Can I travel to South Africa without a visa on a Bhutan passport?

No: citizens of Bhutan need a visa, issued by the embassy. We prepare your documents and book the appointment for just $49.

Apply for a visa

South Africa visa rules at a glance

With a Bhutan passport you can visit 17 countries visa-free, 29 with a visa on arrival and 55 with an e-visa; 97 more require an embassy visa.
By the number of visa-free destinations, the Bhutan passport ranks 177th of 199.
Bhutan passport: visa-free access to 17 countries; South Africa passport: 60.
Citizens of Bhutan and South Africa can travel together visa-free to 14 countries, for example: Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Seychelles, Palestine, Micronesia, Zambia, Dominica, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Panama, Ecuador, and Hong Kong.
Citizens of South Africa, in turn, need an e-visa to travel to Bhutan. Bhutan visa for citizens of South Africa

Travelling to South Africa: good to know

Thimphu — Pretoria: about 8,840 km in a straight line; a direct flight takes roughly 11.5 hours.
Time difference with your country’s capital: −4 hours.
Local time: Thimphu 12:00 — Pretoria 08:00.
Local currency: South African Rand.
Languages: Afrikaans, English, South Ndebele, and Northern Sotho.
Exchange rate: $1.00 ≈ ZAR 16.
South Africa is the 132nd closest of 197 destinations open to citizens of Bhutan.