Tibet Group Visa, enter Tibet from Nepal

A Group Visa is a "must" for your Tibet tour from Kathmandu, Nepal. No mater whether you already have a China Visa or not, you need to apply for a new China Visa which is a group visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. This policy is regulated by the border treaty signed between Nepal and China. With Group Visa, you also have to apply for Tibet Travel Permit and are able to enter Tibet regions.

Tibet Group Visa ( enter Tibet from Nepal )

1. What is Group Visa?

Group Visa is a type of China Entry Visa. It is used for the foreign tourists who want to travel to Tibet from Nepal and needn't apply for a China Visa as others hold when entering mainland China. Even if you have holden a China Visa, you have to apply for Group Visa in Kathmandu and the China Visa you have holden before automatically expires when the new one is applied. However, there is a advantage that you can enter mainland China, only holding Group Visa.

This kind of visa is usually valid for 15 or 20 days. The group may be any number of travelers, and may be just one traveler. It is not placed in your passport, but is a sheet of paper that lists all of the names of the people in your group along with their nationalities, birth dates and passport numbers.

2. How to apply for Group Visa?

Foreign tourists should allow 4 days or more in Nepal for Group Visa application and Tibet Travel Permit to be processed. We can help you to apply for Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit and write a Invitation Letter for your Group Visa application in Kathmandu.

The detailed procedures of our service:

1) Send us a scan copy of passport, tour date and plan at least 25 days prior to Tibet tour starting; we customize a travel itinerary according to your requirements;
2) We write a Invitation Letter to get a Group Visa number; meanwhile, we help to apply for your Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit ( TTB Permit );
3) We get your TTB permit and then send scan copies of TTB permit and Invitation Letter to you;
4) Hold your passport, scan copies of TTB permit and Invitation Letter to Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu for Group Visa application;
5) You will get Group Visa in couples of days.

Notice:
A. Tibet Tourism Bureau does not accept individual applications for Tibet Group Visa and TTB permit. Visitors must apply for it through a travel agency.
B. Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu neither accepts individual applications. Visitors need to go through the local Nepal travel agency.
C. Group Visa is good for both Tibet and mainland China. It is valid for no more than 30 days. Therefore, you should include your tour itinerary in both Tibet and mainland China.
D. Group Visa is a special type of new China Visa to Tibet. The China Visa you have holden before automatically expires when the new one is applied.

3. What about Group Visa application cost?

Different price for foreign tourists from different countries:

For Americans:

Top Urgent Visa: $175 ( 1 - 2 working days )
Semi Urgent Visa: $155 ( 3 - 4 working days )
Normal Visa: $140 ( 5 - 7 working days )

For Non-USA:

Top Urgent Visa: $85 ( 1 - 2 working days )
Semi Urgent Visa: $65 ( 3 - 4 working days )
Normal Visa: $50 ( 5 - 7 working days )

Notice:
A. The certain working day of Group Visa application is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00 to 11:00;
B. There will be no semi urgent visa fee for French;
C. The local Nepalese travel agency may charge $20 to $50 per person service fee according to the number of people in a group.

4. Where are Group Visa Used?

When you are checking in the Kathmandu airport for your flight to Tibet, you will showcase your Group Visa and TTB permit to the security counter. If you travel to Tibet by road from Zhangmu, you also show them at China-Nepal border. After your arrival in Lhasa and checking in hotels, you have to show again.

1. Who needs to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit?

All foreign tourists ( non-Chinese passport holders, overseas Chinese people, and Taiwanese ) need to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit when they plan to enter Tibet Autonomous Region.
2. Which kinds of Tibet Travel Permits do I need to travel in Tibet?

Four permits:

Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit - "TTB permit", "Tibet Entry Permit", "Tibet Visa" or "Lhasa Visa"; a must-have permission for foreign tourists entering Tibet from mainland China, Nepal or other countries.

Aliens' Travel Permit - "PSB permit"; a must permit for foreign tourists visiting the "unopened areas" out of Lhasa, such as Nyingchi region, Ngari region. Your passport and TTB permit are required for applying for.

Military Permit - a permit for those who are planning to travel the military sensitive areas in Tibet, such as the border with other countries. Traveling together with TTB permit and PSB permit.

Frontier Pass - the official permit for all travelers from home and aboard, who travel to the border between Tibet with other regions or countries.

Two visas:

Chinese Visa - "China Visa" or "China Entry Visa"; an officially approved document to foreign tourists applying for, to enter, leave or transit through mainland China.

Group Visa - a "must" for tourists entering Tibet from Kathmandu, Nepal, no mater whether you already have a Chinese Visa or not. Traveling together with other Tibet Travel Permits.
3. How to apply for Tibet Travel Permit?

Because Tibet Tourism Bureau does not accept individual applications for permits, visitors must entrust a Tibet local travel agency to apply for TTB permit, Frontier Pass and Military Permit. As a local travel agency, we can do for you. You need to contact us at contact@tour-tibet.com, book our service, tell us your detailed personal information, send us the documents: copy of your passport, copy of your China visa and work/ study certificates. Then we send your permits to your places.

Aliens' Travel Permit can be applied for after your arrival from Public Security Bureau in Tibet. But we suggest that you entrust us to apply for you, because it is much easy via our service.

Group Visa must be applied for at Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. You need get TTB permit and Invitation Letter from Tibet local travel agency, and they entrust Nepal local travel agency to apply for Group Visa.
4. How long does Tibet Travel Permit application process take?

Usually, it can be issued in 3 - 5 working days. But if you want to travel some restricted or unopened areas like Everest Base Camp, Mount Kailash, it need several different permits, then it would take more time. If you need our service, please contact us at least 25 days prior to your Tibet tour starting.
5. How much does the Tibet Travel Permit cost?

TTB Permit is free for foreign tourists. But you need to pay $100 to $200 per person for the application service of travel agency. For us, we spend a lot on human resource to handle the application: such as sorting out travel information, preparing paper and electronic documents, dealing with several government departments, delivering the document to tourists, etc.
Alien's Travel Permit: 50 yuan per person
Military Permit: 100 yuan person
Frontier Pass: 50 yuan per person
Group Visa: different price for foreign tourists from different countries.

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