Every week, travelers bound for Bhutan book separate tickets through Delhi—a long-haul flight arriving at Indira Gandhi International, then a Drukair connection to Paro—only to be denied boarding before they leave home. The reason is brutally simple: Delhi Airport does not allow transit passengers on separate bookings to stay airside. You must clear Indian immigration, collect your bags, and re-check them for the domestic Paro flight. No Indian visa means no bags, no boarding, no Bhutan.
The fix takes 10 minutes online: apply for an Indian e-Visa ($10-25 USD) at least 4 days before departure. For US, EU, and Australian passport holders transiting Delhi to Paro between now and late 2026, this requirement applies regardless of layover duration—even a 2-hour connection triggers the rule. Air Traveler Club’s visa compliance monitoring flagged this trap after tracking boarding denials across 12 Delhi-Paro routings, where 90% of affected travelers held separate tickets without realizing immigration was mandatory.
Why Delhi forces you through immigration
The trap exists because Drukair operates Delhi-Paro as a domestic Indian flight segment. International arrivals at Terminal 3 cannot access domestic departures without exiting the secure zone. Under India’s official 2026 transit rules for Delhi, visa-free transit applies only when three conditions are met: single PNR booking, through-checked baggage, and remaining airside throughout.
Separate tickets break all three. Your long-haul carrier has no interline agreement with Drukair. Your bags terminate at Delhi. You must physically enter India to retrieve them from the international baggage hall, then walk to the domestic terminal and re-check for Paro.
The 2-hour layover myth
Time is irrelevant. Airlines check visa requirements against your passport nationality and routing before you board your outbound flight. A 2-hour Delhi layover on separate tickets triggers the same immigration requirement as a 12-hour overnight. The database flags you regardless of connection time.
Airlines face substantial fines for transporting passengers without proper documentation. Their pre-departure systems cross-reference your routing against Indian immigration rules—and separate tickets to Paro automatically flag as requiring a visa.
The decision matrix: do you need a visa?
Your visa requirement depends entirely on how your tickets are structured, not how long you’re in Delhi:
| Scenario | Ticket Type | Baggage | Visa Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX-DEL-PBH (Drukair separate) | Separate bookings | Re-claim T3 | Yes |
| SYD-DEL-PBH (single PNR) | Single booking | Through-checked | No |
| LON-DEL-PBH (separate) | Separate bookings | Re-check domestic | Yes |
| Any routing with hotel exit | Any | Any | Yes |
The single-ticket exception is rare. Few international carriers maintain interline agreements with Drukair that guarantee through-checked bags. Even if your booking shows a single confirmation number, confirm directly with your airline that bags will transfer airside—otherwise, assume you need a visa.
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How to get the visa in 4 days
The Indian e-Visa system processes applications from 167 nationalities, including all major Western passport holders. For Delhi transit to Bhutan, you have two options:
- Transit e-Visa ($10-15 USD): Valid for 72 hours, single entry. Sufficient for layovers where you only need to collect bags and re-check. Apply via indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before departure.
- Tourist e-Visa ($25 USD): Valid for 30 days. Choose this if your layover exceeds 24 hours or you want to leave the airport for Delhi sightseeing. Same application portal, same processing time.
Emergency processing (75 minutes) exists but costs more and requires justification. Standard 2-4 day processing handles most itineraries. Upload your passport scan, onward Bhutan permit, and flight itinerary. Approval arrives by email.
For travelers building complex Asia itineraries with multiple positioning flights, our Continental Hop Trick guide covers how to structure separate tickets while avoiding immigration traps at transit hubs.
When the single-ticket workaround works
The cleanest solution avoids the visa entirely: book Delhi-Paro as part of a single itinerary with an airline that interlocks with Drukair. Air India occasionally offers through-ticketing on codeshare arrangements where bags transfer airside.
The trade-off is cost. Single-ticket routings to Bhutan typically run 10-20% higher than piecing together separate deals. For travelers who found a Superdeal on the long-haul segment, the visa fee ($10-25) plus 30 minutes of application time often beats paying the single-ticket premium.
Confirm interline status directly with your airline before booking. “Single confirmation number” does not guarantee through-checked bags. Ask explicitly: “Will my luggage transfer to Drukair without me clearing immigration?”
Three scenarios where this gets complicated
Terminal changes at Delhi. Rare for Bhutan connections, but if your routing involves Terminal 2 (domestic) instead of Terminal 3, you’ll need to exit and re-enter regardless of ticket structure. This forces immigration even on single PNRs.
Nationality exemptions. Nepal and Bhutan citizens enter India visa-free regardless of ticket type. Maldives and select SAARC nationals have similar privileges. US, EU, UK, Canadian, and Australian passport holders follow standard rules—no exemptions for transit.
e-Visa rejection. Incomplete documentation (blurry passport scan, missing onward ticket) delays processing 4+ days. If your departure is imminent, the fallback is a paper Transit Visa from an Indian embassy—but this requires in-person appointment and takes 5-10 business days.
Questions? Answers.
Can I get an Indian visa on arrival at Delhi for transit?
No. India discontinued airport visa-on-arrival counters for transit passengers. You must apply online before departure. Emergency e-Visa processing (75 minutes) exists but requires advance application—there is no walk-up option at Delhi Airport.
Does Drukair offer baggage interline with any international carriers?
Rarely, and arrangements change. Some Air India codeshares allow through-checked bags, but most international carriers terminate baggage at Delhi. Contact your airline directly to confirm—do not assume based on booking confirmation alone.
What if my Delhi layover is under 3 hours—is that too short for immigration?
Immigration adds 60-90 minutes (entry, baggage claim, re-check, security). A 3-hour layover is tight but possible. Under 3 hours risks missing your Drukair flight. Consider rebooking for a longer connection or arriving the night before.
Do I need a separate Bhutan visa in addition to the Indian visa?
Yes. Bhutan requires a tourism permit ($100 USD sustainable development fee for regional tourists, higher for others) arranged through a licensed tour operator before arrival. This is separate from and in addition to your Indian transit visa.
Are Mumbai or Bangalore transit rules the same as Delhi for Bhutan connections?
Similar rules apply at all major Indian airports—separate tickets require immigration clearance for baggage re-check. Delhi handles most Bhutan traffic, but the principle is consistent: no airside transit on separate bookings.
