Updated for 2021! It can sound confusing and difficult to get a Tibet Travel Permit. In reality, it is very easy! Read this post on How to get a Tibet Travel Permit.
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NOTE 2021 UPDATE: Currently Tibet is closed to all foreign travelers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the following post for more details: 2021 Tibet Travel Update
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Tibet Travel Permit
One of the most common questions I get asked is How to get a Tibet Travel Permit! If you have been looking online for Tibet travel information, you have probably come across multiple sites that seem to contradict each other regarding the travel regulations in Tibet. Many websites I have come across, particularly those from travel companies in North America and Europe, state regulations that are outdated by as many as 20 years! Inaccurate travel info can be extremely frustrating when trying to plan an adventure to Tibet. Here’s a little secret: Getting a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) is not difficult! It’s actually very easy! Let me tell you how to do it……….
Mt Kailash in western Tibet
How do you get a Tibet Travel Permit?
Tibet Travel Permits are ONLY issued to travelers who are on an organized journey to Tibet. You must have a private vehicle, driver, tour guide, official travel itinerary as well as a permit. You cannot just get a permit and then travel to Tibet on your own.
Travel permits for Tibet are only issued from a travel company, preferably one in Tibet. You cannot get this permit yourself and it cannot be obtained from a China Embassy or Consulate. If you plan to go from Mainland China to Tibet, you will need to get a China Tourist Visa from a China Embassy/Consulate nearest you. You will want to apply for your China Tourist Visa about 8 to 12 weeks before you plan to arrive in China.
Once you have your visa, you will need to email it, along with the information page of your passport, to the travel agency you are working with. You will also need to finalize with your travel company the exact travel itinerary and travel dates you will be follow in Tibet. If you already reside in China and have a resident, student, work or business visa, you do the same procedure, but will also need to send in a letter (in Chinese and stamped) from your school/business/employer stating that you are going to Tibet for tourism. With this information, the travel company will then go to the Tibet Tourism Bureau to get your permits for you. It is a very easy process that only requires you to send a few short emails.
Basum Lake in eastern Tibet
Is a Tibet Travel Permit the same as a Tibet Visa?
No, the permits required for Tibet are not a Tibet Visa. They are more similar to an entrance ticket to a National Park. Though your China visa and passport copy are needed to obtain your permits, nothing is stamped or placed inside your passport in regards to your Tibet permits. As Tibet is not a country, there is no such thing as a Tibet Visa. The only visa you need is a visa for China.
Does Everyone Need a Tibet Travel Permit?
Yes, everyone is required to have a Tibet Travel Permit. There are no exceptions. Some countries, such as Singapore, Mauritius, Japan and Mongolia do not require a China Visa as they can get one upon arrival. However, these nationalities and ALL others still require travel permits for Tibet. If you are from a country that does not require to get a visa in advance for China, all you will need to do is email a copy of your passport’s information/picture page to the travel company you are using.
Can Anyone Get a Tibet Travel Permit?
The Tibet Tourism Bureau will not issue travel permits to people holding a diplomatic passport, holding a journalist visa or to most ethnic Tibetans holding a foreign passport. In the past, certain nationalities were also not able to get a Tibet Travel Permit, but for 2021 ALL nationalities can travel to Tibet.
Will I Have Problems Getting a Permit for Tibet?
If you already have your China visa (which is easy to get) and you are not a diplomat, journalist or ethnic Tibetan with a foreign passport, it is highly unlikely that you will have problems getting a permit for Tibet. It has been many years since I have heard of someone actually being “denied” a permit as this is exceptionally rare. Tibet does occasionally have brief times of being closed when no permits are issued, but these are not common (outside of the annual winter closing in February and March). Almost all of the stories I have heard from travelers who were not able to get permits for Tibet came down to them using the WRONG travel company…usually one based in Nepal. I have at least 100 reports of people not getting a Tibet Travel Permit and nearly every one of them tried getting it in Nepal. If you use a reputable company, it is unlikely you will have any problems getting a permit.
Tibetan pilgrims going around Mt Kailash
How long does it take to get a Tibet Travel Permit?
Before 2019, it took a minimum of 15 days for a Tibet Travel Permit to be issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. However, a recent news article from the China Daily (click link) states that starting in 2019 the time will be cut to just half that time. I still recommend contacting a travel company at least 2 months in advance to make sure that you have enough time to plan your journey, finalize your travel itinerary and get your permits processed and issued.
Do I Need Other Permits for Tibet?
Depending on which parts of Tibet you plan to go to, you might require additional permits besides a Tibet Travel Permit. These permits could include an Alien Travel Permit, Military Permit and a Border Permit. However, don’t worry about these. If you are using a reputable travel company, they will already know all of the permits that you will need and they will get ALL of them for you. You don’t need to do anything except get your own China visa and email the travel company your visa and passport information page. The travel company will take care of everything else!
First page of a Tibet Travel Permit
What does a Tibet Travel Permit Look Like?
The permit has 2 pieces of paper (full size or close to full size) that are normally stapled together. The first page is written only in Chinese and Tibetan. It contains the travel agency name you are using, your permit number, the travel dates you will be in Tibet, the city you will be entering Tibet from, your travel route in Tibet and the city you will depart Tibet to. The permit usually has at least 4 red government stamps on it along with one blue stamp. The second page lists everyone’s names, birthdates, passport number, gender, nationality and profession. This page will also have at least 2 red government stamps and one blue stamp on it.
How do I use my Tibet Travel Permit?
If you plan to fly from Mainland China to Tibet, you normally will need to spend one night at a hotel so that your permit can be mailed to you. When checking in for your flight, you will show your permit along with your passport. Your permit will then be checked again before going thru security. It will then be checked again once you exit the Lhasa Airport. All of these places will just take a quick look at your permit. It will not take long. Once you meet your guide at the airport, your guide will take your Tibet Travel Permit from you and you likely will not see it again. Your guide will keep it as it will be checked throughout your time in Tibet at checkpoints.
If you plan to take the train from Mainland China to Tibet, a copy of your permit is all that is needed. The travel company you use will email it to you for you to print out in color. You will then show the copy of your permit when checking in for your train and again once more inside the train (the attendant will come and look at it). It will then be checked again once you exit the Lhasa Train Station. All of these permit checks will be very quick.
What about going from Nepal to Tibet?
The above information is for travelers going from Mainland China to Tibet. But, what about if you plan to go from Nepal to Tibet directly? These travel regulations are slightly different, but also easy. If you plan to go from Nepal directly to Tibet, you will need to get a Group China Visa from the China Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. If you get a China visa in advance before arriving to Nepal, you will NOT be able to use that visa. The travel company you use will assist you in getting this special type of visa in Kathmandu. Read more in the following link: How to Go From Nepal to Tibet.
Lobsang, author of The Land of Snows, at Mt Kailash
Conclusion: Getting a Tibet Travel Permit is Easy
A Tibet Travel Permit is not a Tibet Visa, but more like an entrance ticket to a National Park. All permits for Tibet are arranged by the travel company you use. You cannot get them on your own. Permits are only issued to travelers who are on a full organized journey. If you have any further questions on How to Get a Tibet Travel Permit or wish to travel to Tibet, contact us at info@himalayajourney.com