Tibet Travel Permit, Tibet Group Visa Updates
When you start to plan a trip to Tibet, the first thing you need to think about is Tibet travel permit, along with Chinese Visa. And questioning about Tibet group visa. This entry permit is more important than anything when you are about to travel to Tibet. Here, we make it super easy than others have a lot of confusing and unnecessary topics. Just in 5 minutes you can understand what is a Tibet travel permit and how to apply for a tibet travel permit overall. Read few what to know before travel to Tibet.
It is just a travel permit to enter the Tibet autonomous region but not for all Tibet. The term “Tibet” refers to the entire Tibetan Plateau. The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) 西藏 refers to only 50% the land mass of the Tibetan Plateau. Parts of Tibet are spread across 5 provinces and regions of southwestern China.
Tibet is a much, much larger area than just the TAR. Roughly 60% of the Tibetan people live outside of the TAR in other regions of Tibet and largely covered in Kham and Amdo, as the names before 1959. The terms “Tibet” and “Tibet Autonomous Region” mean two very different things. Here, what the topic of Tibet travel permit is what it required for the TAR 西藏. Trip to Amdo and Kham regions usually eligible with a valid Chinese Visa. Read our articles on specific why travel to Tibet is so expensive for a great plan on the way.
Note: We are accepting tour confirmations for 2023 and apply for Tibet travel permit for oversea travellers!
What is a Tibet Travel Permit?
A Tibet Travel Permit, also known as a Tibet Entry Permit, is a must have document for all foreign nationals to travel to Tibet. Issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, this permit is different from a Chinese visa. Unlike a Chinese visa which is stamped in your passport, the Tibet Travel Permit is a piece of paper with the names of the people in your Tibet tour group, along with travel dates and destinations in Tibet. This document is required to enter Tibet and must be returned to the Tibet Tourism Bureau at the end of your trip.
Who Needs a Tibet Travel Permit?
All international tourists, oversea Chinese tourists without a Chinese passport, expats living in mainland China, and Taiwanese citizens need a Tibet Travel Permit to travel to Tibet. Diplomats and journalists must apply for the Tibet Permit through the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office. But citizens of Hong Kong and Macau can travel to Tibet without Tibet Travel Permit if they have a Home Visit Permit, also known as a Mainland Travel Permit.
Book a tour and apply Tibet Travel Permit through Tibet Tourism Bureau
Firstly, talk and discuss with us for a customized Tibet tour package and get a Tibet travel permit. Confirm your trip once you are sure for all reasons. We require the following documents to confirm your trip and apply for Tibet travel permit.
Scanned Photocopy of your Valid Passport (*Required) (Name and Date of Birth should be clear)
Scanned Photocopy of your Valid Chinese Visa (Not required if arrive from Nepal, we have details in the below) (Name and Date of Birth should be clear)
Emergency Contact Number in your home country. (Optional) (In the rare event of an emergency, this phone number will be used to contact your relatives or friends. We will not share your personal information with any third parties.)
30% Deposit (*Required, Bank transfer to western union)
Note: We would recommend to book the tour two weeks in advance to make sure we have enough time to process your Tibet travel permit before you enter Tibet. And send us your hotel name of your first arrival city in mainland China to send the original paper permit. This Tibet travel permit is free. Here is a complete Tibet travel guide for planning a trip to Tibet and it is 100% helpful.
So you have applied for the entry permit to Tibet through us. usually it will take 10 working days.
Tibet Visa Requirements
To get a Tibet Travel Permit, you will need to provide a valid passport and a Chinese visa. Your passport should be valid for more than six months. Most tourists will need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa, also known as the “L” visa, from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your home country or a third country. Overseas students or expats living in mainland China may need to provide additional documents to prove their status.
Tibet Travel Permit Cost and Processing Time
The cost of Tibet Travel Permit is included in the tour package so it’s free for travelers. The processing time is around 8-9 working days. Once the permit is issued, your travel agency will send it to you from Lhasa to your address in mainland China. The delivery time depends on your distance from Lhasa and usually takes 2-3 days.
Where will you depart from? China or Nepal? Tibet travel permit & Visa at Chinese Embassy
If you want to visit the part of the map labelled ‘Tibet Autonomous Region’, you have only two options to enter. There are no direct international flights to Tibet, which is legally a part of the People’s Republic of China. You can travel to Tibet from Nepal, OR overland or air from China. Check our article about your guide to traveling in Nepal if you plan tours.
If you want to visit Tibet Autonomous Region (T.A.R.) by traveling through the People’s Republic of China, you need China tourist visa and Tibet Travel Permit.
If you want to visit Tibet Autonomous Region (T.A.R.) by traveling through Nepal, you need a China group visa. Read more about how to get a China group visa.
Tibet group visa for China Group Visa
If you are entering Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) directly from Nepal, you will need a Chinese Group Visa. You do not need a regular Chinese Visa. At arrival in Kathmandu, our representative can process the Chinese Group Visa with the visa invitation letter we send to them. Please note that group visa processing takes at least 3 working days. And, you should bring 2 passport size photos with you. If your destination after Tibet autonomous region, you can also go back to your home via mainland China on the way. Check our office on a Map.
Other Permits needed for Tibet Travel
In addition to Tibet Travel Permit, you may need to get other permits to visit certain areas of Tibet. These are:
Alien’s Travel Permit
An Alien’s Travel Permit is needed to visit areas outside of Lhasa, such as Shigatse, Shannan, Nyingchi, and others. Issued by the Tibet Local Public Security Bureau, this permit can be applied in Lhasa, Shigatse, Nyingchi or other prefectures. Also known as the PSB permit, it can be applied with the help of a Tibetan guide.
By this way we make sure the new sections are informative, engaging and well integrated with the existing article.
Exceptions
Japanese passport holder: If you are Japanese passport holder (non-diplomat). You are allowed 15 days visa free to P.R.C. (People’s Republic of China). This includes travel to Tibetan areas outside of Tibet Autonomous Region (T.A.R.). But if you want to visit T.A.R., you need to get a Chinese Tourist Visa (L Visa). Foreign travelers including Japanese passport holder must have a valid China visa to apply for Tibet Travel Permit which is a must to enter T.A.R.
Taiwanese National: Taiwanese Nationals traveling to Tibet Autonomous Region, T.A.R. through mainland China need to travel in a group of at least 4 members and must apply for Tibet Travel Permits (TTPs) 50 days prior to the date of intended entry to the T.A.R.
Are you a journalist, involved in politically sensitive activities, or a government employee or diplomat in your country of origin?
If you answered yes to any of these lines of employment, Adventure Travel Himalayas and all other licensed tour operators do not have the authority to issue you a Tibet travel permit or to assist you with a permit application. If you want to travel to T.A.R. or some other Tibetan areas in P.R.C. you must do so under the guidance of the Foreign Affairs Department.
Important! When applying for your China Visa, do not mention travel to Tibet or Tibetan areas in your visa application. Travel to Tibet Autonomous Region (T.A.R.) requires further document which can only be obtained upon arrival. Mentioning travel to T.A.R. while applying from abroad often leads to direct rejection of visa application. Instead, write your port of entry or other major cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu). Even if you want to travel to Tibetan areas outside of T.A.R. It’s better to mention major provincial cities as your destination.
Please note that if you don’t provide correct information about your line of employment you will not be allowed to visit any part of P.R.C. and your tour operator will lose their business license. Check our checklist for tours in Tibet: Tibet Everest Base Camp Adventure and Tibet Historical Trip if you are interested. Also check how to plan a trip to Himalayas.
Tibet Entry Permit FAQ
Can I get Tibet travel permit?
Yes, you can. But you can not get Tibet travel permit if you are a journalist, involved in politically sensitive activities, a government employee or diplomat in your country of origin. Also be aware of the visa fee associated with Chinese Group Visa when planning your trip.
How to apply Tibet travel permit?
Finalise and reserve a trip from a local travel agency in Lhasa. They will submit and apply your documents to Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). Working with an experienced agency can simplify the process of getting necessary travel permits for Tibet tours.
Why I need a travel permit to Tibet?
You need Tibet travel permit as you want to go to places you want to go, as per the Chinese rule on Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). You can not board flights and trains to Lhasa without this permit. Understanding these regulations is important to visit Tibet successfully.
How can I get Tibet travel permit in hand?
Once Tibet travel permit is processed, it will be sent to your hotel in China as per the booking information you provided to the operator. Tibet permit cost is often included in the overall package price for Tibet tours, so you don’t need to pay separately for it.
Can I apply Tibet travel permit myself?
No, individuals and groups can not apply for Tibet Travel permit (TTP) by themselves. Your Tibet travel agency will take care of everything and keep you updated during the process of applying Tibet permits.
