Tibet Travel Permit

According to the regulations of the People’s Republic of China, in addition to a China visa, foreign travelers must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit before entering Tibet. This permit is sometimes referred to as a Tibet Visa or Tibet Entry Permit, and is required to board a train or flight to Lhasa.

The permit can only be arranged through a registered local travel agency, which means your itinerary, transportation, guide, and necessary permits must all be organized in advance. Independent travel in Tibet is not permitted.

For travel beyond Lhasa, additional permits such as the Alien’s Travel Permit and Military Permit may also be required, depending on your itinerary. Here's a visual guide about the Tibet Travel Permit.

1. How to Apply for a Tibet Travel Permit?

Nowadays, you can only obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (often referred to as the TTB permit, as it is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau) through a local travel agency before traveling to Lhasa.

To apply for the permit, we require certain documents and information from each traveler. In general, we need your documents at least 2 weeks in advance to prepare and submit the application. The Tibet Tourism Bureau usually starts processing applications about 30 days before the travel date, and the permit is typically issued around 1-2 weeks prior to departure, depending on the situation.

1. Colour-scan/photo of the valid passport photo page.
2. Colour-scan/photo of a valid China visa page.
   (except L Visa, tourist visa, any other types of China Visa need additional stamped paper in Mandarin from your school/company in China, in which your name, passport No., position, and company name should be stated.)
3. From which city of China do you plan to enter Tibet & which city of China do you plan to leave for after your Tibet tour?
   (Please be aware that the entering/departing city will be printed on your permit. Once issued, it will be the only city you will be able to enter/depart. Extra time & fee will be taken if you want to change it later.)
4. Job occupation. If you are currently unemployed or retired, please let us know your former job.
   (journalists, government officers, and professional film/photography teams, etc., won't be able to travel to Tibet through a travel agency)
5. Confirmed tour itinerary with every detail.

Note:

• Hong Kong and Macau residents of Chinese nationality holding HKSAR or MSAR passports do not require a TTB permit to enter Tibet;
• Taiwanese need a TTB permit to enter Tibet;
• Foreigners holding China business/study/resident visas need additional documents to apply for TTB permits;
• Journalists and embassy staff won't be able to get a TTB permit as tourists.

2. What Does TTB Permit Look Like?

TTB Permit is usually combined with two pages (you may check the image below).

On Page 01, it states your tour details, such as your travel agency’s name, your tour number, when you first arrive in Tibet, when you depart, entry & departing city, etc., but above all, check the Permit No. on the upper right corner, which is printed in red by the Tibet Tourism Bureau.

On Page 02, you will see your name (printed in a Chinese way, family name + given name)/ nationality/ gender/ passport No. /profession/date of birth.

3. The Cost of A Tibet Travel Permit?

In fact, according to the regulation of the Tibet Tourism Bureau, the application for the TTB permit is free. However, it's understandable if some Tibet travel agencies charge service fees for applying for the TTB permit for users cos they need to put manpower to prepare your document, hand in the application, and pick up and express your TTB Permit to your hotel in China.

Currently, the online application for a TTB permit is not applicable. So the only way to get a Tibet Travel Permit is through a Tibet Travel Agency by booking a tour. When they help you apply for the Tibet Travel Permit, usually, the cost of the Tibet Travel Permit is included in your group fare, as tourists cannot get any Tibet Travel Permit without a tour.

4. How to Get to Tibet with a TTB Permit?

There are two main ways for travelers to get to Tibet - by train or by flight. No matter which way you choose, you are required to board with your TTB Permit. Book your Tibet Tours in advance, then take your TTB permit for boarding the trains or flights departing from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, Xining, Kathmandu, etc.

You can book your train or air ticket to Lhasa or have Great Tibet Tour arrange this for you.

You need to have the original TTB permit in your hands to board a flight/train to Lhasa. Mostly, we arrange the permit to be delivered to your hotel in your entry city in China by S.F Express, which usually takes about 2~4 days. So, arranging an address in your entering city before Tibet (e.g., a hotel) is necessary to receive your posted TTB permit if flying to Lhasa.

5. When Will a Tibet Travel Permit Be Checked?

As the primary Tibet permit needed in Tibet, your Tibet Travel Permit will be checked at the following places:

• The last destination before Tibet
  • Railway Stations
  • Airports
• The checking points in Tibet
  • Gyirong Port (enter Tibet from Kathmandu by overland)
  • Lhasa (enter Tibet by flight or train)
  • Mangkang (enter Tibet from Sichuan/Yunnan by overland)
  • All the hotels in Tibet before you check in

All the major attractions like Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Everest, Kailash, etc.

6. How Will You Receive Your Tibet Travel Permit?

Your Tibet Travel Permit will be issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau before your departure. Once it is issued, your travel agency will arrange to deliver it to your hotel in your entry city in mainland China as soon as possible.

Note:

• In some urgent cases, the processing can be expedited, and the permit may be issued a few days earlier with an additional fee.
• If you are transiting and will not stay overnight in a hotel, we can arrange for a local agent to deliver the permit directly to you at the airport or railway station.

7. Some Extra Tips About Tibet Travel Permit

You should provide valid and accurate passport information and supporting documents, which are essential for applying for the Tibet Travel Permit. Before booking your air ticket, you should ensure that you have the Tibet Travel Permit.

Sometimes, your Tibet Travel Permit application will be influenced or delayed due to policy changes or special circumstances. So, travelers should consider this political factor when traveling to Tibet because we can’t guarantee when it will happen. But the chance is rare, and you’d better check the official news.

8. Other Permits

With a TTB permit, you will be able to enter Tibet and travel to Lhasa and around, but if you were to go further to the regional capital, eg. Mt Everest, etc., you would have to budget an hour or so in Nagqu/Qamdo/Ngari for your guide to process the Alien Travel Permit, which is issued by the Public Security Bureau (PSB).

Sensitive border areas, such as Mt Kailash, also require a Military Permit.

Additional permits, such as the Military Permit, usually require more time to arrange and should be prepared well in advance, together with your Tibet Travel Permit. Certain areas can be closed without warning, so you’ll need certain flexibility if headed off the beaten track.

Alien's Travel Permit

In addition to a TTB permit, if you were to visit certain areas, an Alien Travel Permit will be required. Unlike the TTB permit, which will be applied for in advance without your original passport, the Alien's Travel Permit will be applied for after your arrival in Tibet with your original passport.

Areas that require an Alien's Travel Permit:

• Ngari: all the places you will visit, such as Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, etc.
• Qamdo: all the places you will visit, such as Galden Jampaling Monastery, Zelzhol Monastery, etc.
• Nagqu: all the places you will visit, such as Lake Namtso, Yampachen Hot Springs, etc.

> See more about Alien's Travel Permit

Military Permit

Military Permission is required if you want to visit the border areas, such as Mt. Kailash.

Areas requiring a Military Permit:

• Ngari: all the places you will visit, such as Puran, Zanda, etc.
• Nyingchi: some places you will visit, such as Metok, Zayul, etc.
• Chamdo: all places you will visit, such as Tengchen, Lhorong, etc.
• Shannan: Tsome, Lhodak, Gyatsa, etc.
• Nagqu: Biru, Nyerong, Shantsa, etc.
  
  > See more about Military Permit