The Ultimate Guide of Tibet Travel Permit Application Policy

Who needs to apply for Tibet Travel Permit for Tibet tour?

According to the regulations of China National Tourism Administration (Now: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China), the listed below persons need to apply for Tibet permit before traveling to Tibet:

1) International tourists, such as USA citizens, Australia citizen, Canada citizens, Singapore citizen,etc.
2) Overseas Chinese with no China’s ID Card or Chinese passport
3) Taiwan citizens

Who does not need to apply for Tibet Travel Permit for Tibet tour?

The listed below persons do not need Tibet permit:
1) Chinese persons who hold China’s ID Card or Chinese passport
2) The residents of Hong Kong and Macau who hold This Card is Intended for Its Holders to Travel to the Mainland of China (Chinese: 港澳居民来往大陆内地通行证) , abbr.: Home Return Permit (Chinese: 回乡证)

Who can not get Tibet Travel Permit via travel agency?

All Tibet local travel agencies can only help their clients who only have the Tibet travel purpose apply for Tibet permit from TTB. The listed below persons can not get Tibet permit via Tibet travel agency:

1) A diplomat, journalist or a government official can not get Tibet permit via Tibet travel agency. Only the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office can handle your Tibet Permit application.

2) Indian citizens, who go to visit Mount Kailash or Lake Manasarovar or other parts of Ngari in western Tibet, will be treated as pilgrims, you need to book your Tibet Kailash tour and get Tibet permit via a Nepal travel agency or India travel agency that has cooperation with Foreign Affairs Office of TAR (governmental) or Pilgrim Center (non-governmental), short for Tibet-India pilgrim Reception Center.

What documents do travelers need to offer to travel agency when applying for Tibet permit?

For different passport or visa holders, you need to offer the different documents.

1) For foreign personal passport holders, such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia citizens, you will only need to offer the scanned PDF file copy or clear and complete picture copy of personal passport and China tourist visa (also knows L visa because the type is L).
If you hold X visa, you need to offer passport, X visa and additional study proof.
If you hold Z visa or China residence permit, you need to offer passport, visa or permit and additional work certificate or Foreigners’work permit.
If you hold Q2 visa, you need to offer passport, Q2 visa and additional invitation Letter from relatives.
If you hold APEC card, you need to offer passport, APEC card and additional work certificate.
If you hold other visa, you need to consult your trip advisor which additional certificate or invitation letter.

2) For Taiwan passport holders, you are Chinese and holding This Card is Intended for Its Holders to Travel to the Mainland of China (Chinese: 台湾居民来往大陆内地通行证) , abbr.: Home Return Card (Chinese: 台胞卡or台胞证). You will need to offer the scanned PDF files or clear and complete pictures of Taiwan passport and the Home Return Card.

In addition, when applying for travelers’ Tibet Travel Permit, travel agency also need to prepare other documents, such as reserved itinerary, guide and car & driver’s information.

How long do travelers’ need to offer these documents to travel agency?

Usually once you confirm your Tibet trip with us, we request you to send us the clear and complete scanned copies or photos of your passport and Chinese visa in advance by email as it is required to apply for Tibet Permit.

It is better to send at least 20 days prior to your travel date. After the permit is issued, we will send a copy of permit or original permit to your hotel in mainland China.

How long does it take to apply Tibet permit in advance?

According to the current policy of Tibet Tourism Bureau, Tibettourism can apply for the Tibet permit for you, all the permit application need about at least 8 working days and documents should be submitted at least 15 days before your Tibet tour starting date. But if you are traveling into restricted areas, such as Ngari Kailash region or Nyingchi Bomi region, you need more additional permits and documents which will take longer time.

How much is travelers’ Tibet permit application cost?

Tibet Travel Permit is free of charge by Tibet Tourism Bureau. You can also see “No Commission Fee” words on your Tibet permit when you receive it. But during the permit application process, your travel agency need to spend much human and material resources. Therefore, you will be charged some fee, which is usually included in your Tibet tour cost. It is known that Tibet Travel Permit is free in tour cost inclusion part.

In addition, your Tibet permit can not be applied separately . That is to say, you do not book Tibet tour with travel agency, and travel agency is unable to apply for your Tibet permit from TTB. If some one says that he can help you apply for Tibet permit with some money and let you travel alone into Tibet, it is cheating.

Is Tibet Travel Permit enough for all Tibet tour destinations?

No. Tibet Travel Permit is your necessary Tibet entry paper. If you just have a visit in Lhasa city, to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake, or to Namtso Lake via Damxiong, you just need Tibet Travel Permit.

If your Tibet tour covers special tour destinations, such as: Basumtso Lake in Nyingchi, Samye Monastery in Tsedang, Everest Base Camp in Shigatse, you will need additional Aliens’ Travel Permit.

If your Tibet tour covers further tour destinations, such as: Bomi region or Ngari region, you will need additional Military Permit.

However, you don’t need to worry about getting these permits because we will help you get them properly during your Tibet itinerary.

Is it OK that the validity period of applied Tibet permit is longer than travelers’ Tibet travel time?

Yes. Usually, we make validity period of your Tibet permit application 2 to 4 days longer than travel date, in order to give travelers a chance to add tour destinations temporarily or change Tibet tour itinerary in case of emergency.

Can travelers apply for Tibet Travel Permit in their country?

No. Tibet Travel Permit is only issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. In other cities or countries, there is no the institution to issue travelers’ Tibet permit.

Can travelers apply for Tibet Travel Permit by themselves from Tibet Tourism Bureau？

No. The Tibet permit application documents can only be submitted to Tibet Tourism Bureau via travel agency who was filed in TTB. TTB does not accept traveler’s permit application. Travelers are unable to apply for Tibet permit by themselves.