Bhutan Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 2 cities and regions in Bhutan. Select a location below for current permit requirements, tax obligations, and compliance details.
Bhutan at a glance
- Places tracked
- 2 places: 2 restricted
- Licence or registration
- Required in 1 of 1 places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in 0 of 1 places
- National law
- You cannot rent a private home or apartment to tourists in Bhutan unless the Department of Tourism has approved and certified it. National rules ›
Bhutan short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Bhutan?
In all 2 places we track in Bhutan, short-term rentals are allowed, all with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a licence for a short-term rental in Bhutan?
1 of 1 places we track in Bhutan require a licence, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a national short-term rental law in Bhutan?
You cannot rent a private home or apartment to tourists in Bhutan unless the Department of Tourism has approved and certified it.
Which places in Bhutan have the strictest rules?
On our records: Thimphu.
Bhutan Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Bhutan encompasses 2 tracked jurisdictions: 2 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
All 2 tracked jurisdictions in Bhutan require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Thimphu, Bhutan (nationwide). These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors Bhutan STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.