News about Tibet Travel Permits; how many permits should be taken when traveling to Tibet, and how to apply?

News: The Tibet Travel Permits, also known as Tibet Permits or Tibet Visa, was closed from Feb. 10th, and would close for the whole month of March as it was continued since 2008. As a local Tibet travel agency, we will update the latest permit changes on the page ( Tibet Travel Permit News ).

Tibet Travel Permit

Tibet Travel Permits are the must-have documents required during Tibet tour, for all foreign tourists ( non-Chinese passport holders, overseas Chinese people and Taiwanese ).

Tourists need to entrust a local Tibet travel agency to apply for permits, different Tibet Permits for visiting different regions. Don’t worry about how to apply your permits to Tibet, as a local agency, we are happy to provide you application service. Please email us via info@tour-tibet.com.

What documents do tourists need when traveling to Tibet?

1. China Visa

China Visa, also known as “Chinese Visa” or “China Entry Visa”, is an officially approved document issued by authorized bodies of Chinese government, for foreign tourists to enter, leave or transit through mainland China.

Tourist need firstly prepare a valid passport at least 6 months, and apply for it from the Chinese Embassy in your home country.

China Visa or Chinese Visa

2. Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB permit)

TTB permit, also know as “Tibet Entry Permit” or “Tibet Visa”, is a must-have permission from Chinese government for all foreign tourists entering to Tibet area from mainland China or other countries.

All foreigner need entrust a Tibet local travel agency to apply for it from Tibet Tourism Bureau at least 20 days prior to their entering into Tibet area.

3. Tibet Group Visa – document for entering Tibet from Nepal

If you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, you must get your Tibet group visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. Whether you already have a China Visa or not, you need a Tibet group visa when you enter Tibet via Nepal by land or air. It is an A4 size sheet of paper, on which are the name, sex, nationality, passport number, date of birth and occupation of each member of your group listed.

When tourists apply for Tibet Group Visa, they need entrust their Tibet tour company to get the group visa invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa, and then send the copy of the letter to the Nepal agency who will apply for the Group Visa with your original passports. The duration is no more than 30 days and it is single entry and can not be extended.

Tibet Group Visa

4. Military Permit, PSB Permit, Alien’s Travel Permit

Military and PSB Permits are only needed for those trips going through sensitive areas or border regions, including: Mt. Kailash Trip, Sichuan-Tibet Overland Tour, Tibet-Kashigar Overland Tour and so on. Alien’s Travel Permits are necessary if you are going to Mt. Everest Base Camp, Samye Monastery (southern part of Tibet), Nyinchi (Eastern part of Tibet) and Mt. Kailash.

These can be issued from the local PSB just before you enter the region.

Alient’s Travel Permit