Travel permit to Tibet is issued by Tibet Tourism Administration. To apply for it, the copy of your passport and Chinese visa, together with other information such as your occupation should be provided. Journalists and people that could be involved in political matters could be revoked. The local travel agency can help.

Hi, I am an American wishing to travel to Tibet in a couple of weeks. My husband went to the Chinese embassy to obtain a Chinese Visa yesterday, but we were told that Tibet requires a permission form for entry into the area. How do we go about obtaining that?

Please respond as soon as possible, as my husband is leaving DC tomorrow.

Thank you!

Caroline Malatesta

Reply

Tourist Visa and Permits for Entrance in Tibet

There are two documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet. One is the Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your place. Another is the Alien's Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau.

Non-Chinese passport holders (including those of Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and other countries) must have an Alien's Travel Permit as well as a valid passport and a visa (Travelers from countries having visa exemption agreement with Hong Kong do not need a visa) to visit Tibet. Visa can be obtained from the local China consulate in your country. Since the government encourages group tours to Tibet the permit is issued only to tour groups traveling with a Chinese tour operator. Your travel agency will represent you to facilitate the application process. A Tibet permit usually costs around RMB 200 yuan.

Permit for Entrance in Tibet

For the Tibet Tour you'll obtain a permit. It'll take 3 - 7 days. The following details of the travelers are required for the processing of the visa: name, nationality, passport number, sex, date of birth and occupation. All of these you can offer to the tour services you have pointed, and they can do for you.

Visa Obtained

If you are in China, the visa can be obtained from Tibet Tourism Bureau American Office or some offices of Tibet Tourism Bureau in the city your husband will stay. Tibet Tourism Bureau has some offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Sian, Xining, HK, and we will give the contact of these offices to you in the bottom of the letter. Application has got to be made a minimum of 7 days before the commencement of the trip. Visa can be obtained by paying a surcharge up to 3 days before the trip departure date. Original passports are required for application of visa. The following details of the travelers are required to be submitted to the Chinese Embassy for the processing of the visa: name, nationality, passport number, sex, date of birth and profession along with one passport size photograph. Please note that visa for Tibet obtained elsewhere has still got to be endorsed by the Chinese Embassy in Katmandu. Regular visas for China are not valid for

travel into Tibet from Nepal.

Surcharge: A surcharge of US $40.00 on Tibet visa is applicable for British, Canadian, Belgian, Cameroon, Brazilian, Irish, French and Dutch Nationals.

Related link: Tibet Tour >>  Tibet Group Tour >> Tibet Travel >> Tibet Train Tour >> Tibet Travel Permit >> China Tour >> Tibet Train