China Group Visa (Tibet Group Visa)

If you are entering Tibet from Nepal, a China Group Visa/Tibet group visa is required. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu doesn’t issue visas to individual travelers, only to those booked in a group with group visas. If you turn up with a Chinese visa in your passport, it will be treated as invalid for visiting Tibet from Nepal. However, if you are going to mainland China such as flying to Chengdu from Kathmandu, a Chinese Visa is working.

What is a China Group Visa?

China Group Visa is a separate sheet of paper with all the names, genders, dates of birth, occupations, nationalities and passport numbers of the group members. It's important to note that the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu only issues a group visa with a minimum of 4 applications and no maximum limit. All applications on the list should come to the visa center for an application. If some of them will not come, then the application will not be accepted. However, the Tibet Tourism Bureau stipulates that they only issue an invitation letter with a minimum of 5 applications. So in most cases, people regard that at least 5 people can apply for a China Group visa.

Travelers on the same Group Visa should exit China at the pre-arranged city together. Otherwise, one can't get through customs when exiting China, even if s/he takes a copy of the group visa. Some travelers may take different flights on the same day or even on different dates. If any of them find this issue at the end of the tour in Lhasa, they will either have to exit China with their fellow group members or split from this group visa at considerable cost and hassle.

How to Apply for a Group Visa?

First of all, you need to book a Tibet tour with a local Tibet travel agency, and your agency will prepare an official Invitation Letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau for you. The invitation letter is a crucial document for your China Group Visa. After your arrival in Kathmandu, you can apply for your China group visa with your ORIGINAL PASSPORT + 1 HEADSHOT, along with an Invitation Letter at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Alternatively, you can entrust this process to some Nepali agents, who can take you to the Chinese embassy and help you apply for your visa at a service fee of USD15 ~ USD25 p.p., but you still need to present as the embassy will collect all of your fingerprints.

Meanwhile, your Tibet travel agency will apply for all your necessary Tibet entry permits in Lhasa. Whether you fly to Lhasa or go overland via Gyirong Port, besides your China Group Visa, your Tibetan guide will wait for you at the airport customs or Gyirong Port with your Tibet permits. Otherwise, you still can't get inside Tibet.

Presently, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu requires the China Group Visa application to be submitted 3 working days in advance with your original passport, which will remain 3 working days in the embassy. You can take it with your China Group Visa in the afternoon of the 3rd day or ask your Nepali agent to take it for you. If you are sightseeing, trekking, or even taking a flight within Nepal, you can use a copy of your passport. If you don't want to stay too long in Nepal, you'd better skip the weekend as the embassy doesn't work. However, if you have no plan to visit Nepal, this would be rather annoying.

There's one more point. Chinese Embassy accepts visa applications from 09:00 am to 11:00 am every weekday, and issues them after 3 days, at about 17:00. In addition, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal takes the days off on both China & Nepal’s national holidays.

What's the Cost?

The fees for a China group visa will depend on the number of people that the group comprises and the countries. Here's the most recent rate. The embassy starts to take Nepalese rupees nowadays which will be a little different as per the daily rates of USD.

Tibet Group Visa Fee

FAQ

Can I be exempt from a China group visa if I can enjoy a 30-day China visa-free policy?

Yes, if you hold a passport from a country eligible for visa-free entry to China, you do not need to apply for a China Group Visa.

Is there any way to split the group visa?

Yes. Some travelers coming together but exiting China/Tibet from different cities may confront this problem - splitting the group visa. It can only be done by a local Lhasa travel agency that arranges your travel into Tibet but it's a real pain to be avoided at all costs. The process is very complicated and you may wait a few more days in Lhasa for the document. We would advise you to consider the city of departure from the outset to avoid hassles.

Is there any way to speed up the visa process?

No. It takes 3 working days whatever. The only possible solution that can be expedited is to pay an extra fee and the embassy will handle it in the afternoon of the working days.