It is straightforward for any travellers to get a Tibet travel permit. At the same time, it could be tricky if you don’t have the right information. Information here is base on my local professional knowledge. I hope this post would make it more effortless travelling to Tibet.

Tibet travel permit is an additional document all the international Travelers would require to visit Tibet after your passport and the Chinese Visa. The Tibet Tourism Bureau issues this document in Lhasa and therefore only a local Travel Agency in Lhasa, Tibet can apply it on your behalf in Lhasa.

Tibet travel permit is also called as Tibet Visa in many internet platforms. It is wrong and would often lead to misunderstanding for many inspired travellers before coming to Tibet. There is no such thing as the Tibet Visa. Tibet is a part of China, and you will need a Chinese Visa to visit any part of the Country. Tibet travel permit is just an additional document issued by the local government of Tibet to allowed travellers in visiting Tibet.

The document is also called as the Tibet entry permit. I think this name clearly states the real meaning of this permit.

The requirement for Tibet Travel permit

Book a tour with a local travel agency in Lhasa

First, you will have to do to apply the Tibet travel permit is to book a tour with a local Travel agency with a tour guide and private vehicle in Tibet. Many Tibet travel websites state all the international travel must to join a group tour to travel to Tibet. It is completely wrong information. But you must have a trip organized with a local travel agency for them to make Tibet travel permit. If you want to join a budget group tour or do the tour in private is our own choice.

The document requires for Tibet travel permit

You will have to send the copy of valid passport and Valid Chinese Visa to the travel agency in Lhasa to apply for the Permit in Lhasa. It is best to submit these documents at least a month earlier to avoid the last-minute rush in the process.

If you are coming to Tibet from the other parts of China on flight or train to Lhasa, you will need to apply for the visa from home or your host country.

I understand getting the Chinese Visa from home is some times difficult without any right and proper supporting documentation. But to avoid these confusions, all the travel agency in Tibet can help you send the Visa invitation. On these invitations, you can only apply it with the Chinese embassy, not the consulate. Yes many travel website, ask travellers not to mention about their plan to visit Tibet. But some times it is hard not to say.

If you are coming to Tibet from Nepal, the travellers must apply for the Chinese Group visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. In this case, we can make your permit only with the copy of your passport.

Application of the Chinese group Visa can be made only by a licensed travel agent in Nepal. The embassy will accept the visa application from the individual applicant directly. Hence your visa invitation will be sent only the travel agency in Kathmandu.

The passport should be the passport on which you will apply for the visa. If your visa on the old passport, you need to bring both of the passports for the journey.

Duration of Tibet Travel permit application

Until now it takes from a week to a month for Tibet travel permit process to complete. If your Tibet tour itinerary covers more areas in Tibet, it takes more time for the Tibet travel permit process to complete. Because, while making your Tibet travel permit, your travel agency should also finish other permits to complete the process.

Right now, the online platform of Tibet tourism Administration to apply the permit is in a trail. Once it is open for all the travel agencies in Tibet, the number of days required for the permits application will reduce to one fourth. We will update on it.

But so far I think it is best to send the documents in a month advance to make sure it finishes way ahead of time.

Information required for the permit

While applying for the permit, Travel agent will have to submit you following information. It is best for the travellers to type and sends this information in soft copy to avoid typo errors, which could be costly. So please type your Names, Passports Numbers, Date of Birth, Nationality, Gender, and Professions in a table.

Must have Tibet Travel permit in hand while entering into Tibet

All the travellers must have permit/ copy of the permit while entering into Tibet.

If you are coming in the train to Lhasa, you must have a copy of your permit in hand while boarding into the train to Lhasa. They will also check it on arrival in Lhasa train station too. So we always advice all the travellers to make two copies.

But please remember, right now the train station in Chongqing needs the original permit in hand before getting into the train to Lhasa. Please have your permit send to your hotel in China.

If you are taking a flight to Lhasa, you will need the original Tibet travel permit in hand while boarding the plane to Lhasa. Travel agencies can send your permit to any given Hotel or personal address in china if you are taking transiting flight to Lhasa. All the major travel agency can have someone deliver the permit to the transiting airport anywhere in China.

We would strongly recommend you to make transiting cities to Chengdu for more convenient for both parties.

Items to check on the Tibet Travel permit

As you get the permit or its copy, please make sure you check the following two things on it. If there is any mistake on it, you will face trouble getting into Tibet.

Check your personal information on the second page of the permit.

It may be due to cultural difference, or some time due to not clear passport copies. Many travel agency often makes mistakes in typing the Names, Date of birth, and Passport number. Please check if there is any mistake over it and have your travel agency fix it before your journey to Tibet begins.

It may be due to cultural difference, or some time due to not clear passport copies. Many travel agency often makes mistakes in typing the Names, Date of birth, and Passport number. Please check if there is any mistake over it and have your travel agency fix it before your journey to Tibet begins. Check for the circle Hologram on the upper right corner of the permit.

Many times, people lose it, and without it, the permit will be considered fake, so it is best to check it when you receive the permit.P.S right now we don’t know how the new Tibet travel permit will look. But we are sure it will have the personal information of each travel on it. Once we have the sample of it, we will update this post.

Conclusion

With the above information, I hope it will make it easier for all travelling to Tibet. If you have any questions about the topic, please do write to me any time. My email address is woaber@itibettravel.com.

If you are planning to travel to Tibet, I-Tibet travel is a local travel agency I co-own with my friends. Please let us help make your dream trip to Tibet into a reality.

Finally, Getting Tibet travel permit possible for anyone planning to travel to Tibet. We welcome you to Tibet, the Shambhala of the world.