What about the scheme in plain facts?

Authority: Department of Tourism (DoT), under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Thimphu.

What about how to apply?

You submit an application to the Department of Tourism with five annexures:

What about assessment, certificate and renewal?

- The DoT schedules a field assessment through certified assessors. If corrections are needed, you fix them within the time the DoT sets, then you are re-assessed. - The initial assessment is free. Fees for later assessments follow the TRR 2024, which the guidelines do not quote. - The certificate is valid for three years and must be displayed prominently inside the house. - A field monitoring visit happens before the certificate is renewed. - Certified homestays are listed on the DoT list of ce

What about running it afterwards?

You must keep to the certified standards, get the DoT's prior approval for any major refurbishment or structural change, offer accommodation and meals (home-cooked where possible), keep guest records and cooperate with monitoring and data reporting. Incidental sale of household produce or handicrafts is allowed only as part of the guest experience.

What about what the guidelines do not say?

They do not state a registration fee, a processing time, an online portal, rules on foreign guests or visas, tax treatment, or anything about advertising on online platforms. The guidelines say the programme was created as a product for international travellers, but pricing and payment rules for guests are outside this document. Ask the DoT how you may advertise and take bookings before you create a global listing.

Can a foreigner register a village homestay in Bhutan?

Not under these guidelines. The host must be a Bhutanese citizen and a registered household of the village.

Can I list a homestay inside a town like Thimphu or Paro?

The guidelines exclude villages inside municipal boundaries and require a traditional house built in or before March 2017. Check your exact location with the DoT and your Gewog.

How many guests can I host?

Up to three rooms with up to two guests each, so six guests at most, in rooms inside the family's own house.

How long is the certificate valid?

Three years, with a field monitoring visit before renewal.

Does the guideline set a fee?

It says the first assessment is free and later assessments are charged under TRR 2024. No registration fee is stated.

What about once you are licensed?

Registration makes you legal. Distribution is a separate job. Fursat's own guest stays are in India, so we do not list homes in Bhutan, but if you also own or manage property in India you can start at /list-your-property, and our free channel manager explains how calendar sync across booking sites works. For the basics of the Indian system, read How to Start a Homestay in India. For a neighbouring regime written the same way, see How to Start a Homestay in Nepal.

Journal/Homestay Guides

5 min read · 7 October 2026

How to Register a Village Homestay in Bhutan (2026 Guidelines)

Bhutan's Department of Tourism certifies Village Homestays under January 2026 guidelines: Bhutanese hosts only, rural houses built by March 2017, three rooms, a three-year certificate.

Sneha Surana

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