Overview

Visa and Travel Permit Info of Tibet - Tibet Visa: According to an official memo between the governments of China and Nepal, it is a must to get the China visa from the China Embassy in Kathmandu. Normal procedure takes about 4 working days. Normal visa fee for all nationality US$80 and US$144 except American passport holder cost US$164 and US$198. The visa fee is subject to change as Chinese government regulation. The China Embassy in Kathmandu opens for visa application on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09:00-11:30am only. There is no guarantee that the rule is same as instructed here because Chinese authority they make changes in rule without any prior notice so that we request you to contact us for permit and visa latest news.

When you fly from any city to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in at the airport. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permits (Tibet Travel Permit/ Tibet Visa) are also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser. We will arrange permits of travelers travelling to Tibet.

Important Issues about Tibet Permit:

All kinds of people can get Visa (Travel Permit) through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.
After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air tickets, and you can pass the check-in at the airport and the check point reroute with the permit.
Only the guide could hold the permit after you establish yourself on Tibet land. You are not allowed to bring with it and travel to anywhere you want because except Lhasa you need another permit named as "Aliens’ Permit". Otherwise if you are stopped by the police you will be sent out of Tibet or have trouble politically and economically. Furthermore, the travel agency which helped to get you the permit will also be in trouble.
Any illegitimate travel agency could not sell you the Tibet permit.
There is a service charge (by the government) to get the Tibet permit. And it takes time, paper work, transportation fee and delivery fee for us to get a permit for you, so we will charge an extra fee for the permits.

Tibet Travel Permit: There are overall five documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel freely in Tibet.

One is the Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your country (If you go to Tibet via mainland China).
One is Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB), which you have to obtain in order to enter Tibet.
One is the Alien Travel Permit, when you are planning to travel to the 'unopened' areas in Tibet.
The other two are Tibet Public Security Permit (PSB) and the Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas.

Types of Tibet Travel Permit
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit: It is necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and is obtained as part of tour arrangements for travel to Tibet. When you take a flight or train to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight or train ticket to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permit is also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be arranged by the travel agency organizing the trip. Here is a picture of TTB permit:

Alien's Travel Permit: It is required to visit 'unopened' areas. It is issued by Foreign Affairs Section of the Local Public Security Bureau (PSB). Usually you can apply for it once you arrive at Lhasa. For tour group our guide will ask you for your passport and TTB permit and submit it to the Foreign Affairs Section of PSB. It normally takes several hours and the cost is 50 yuan/person. For individual travellers you need to join the tours to 'unopened' areas, and the local travel agencies will arrange the PSB as well. Please note that there is no travel agency can provide 'PSB permit-only' service. A must service includes land cruiser and guide. Here is a picture of Alien Travel

Public Security Permit (PSB) and the Military Permit: They are required if you are planning to travel to Ngari, Nyingchi, and Nagqu which are regard as the military sensitive areas in Tibet. It is issued by the Military office in Lhasa. Travel agencies will arrange it as you will visit this areas. It usually takes about 5 working days.

Obtain visa and Permits: Traveller need to obtain the travel permits from Tibet Tourism Bureau before entering Tibet. The permits are issued only to the groups operated by tour operators. The tour operators can assist the travellers to obtain the travel permits.

Visa if you entering Tibet from China: Regarding visa if you are going to enter Tibet from China then you could obtain China single entry tourist visa in your home country and apply for entry permit with our help taking your travel package to Tibet.

Visa if you entering from Nepal: As per Chinese visa regulation, if you are going to enter Tibet from Nepal, then we advice you not to obtain Chinese visa in your home country, which will be canceled and a new group visa will be issued. Group visa will be paper not in passport, you will have stamp while you enter Tibet at the border.

Important: If you are planning to enter Tibet from Kathmandu do not get your Chinese visa in advance. The Chinese visa is issued as a group visa in Kathmandu and is arranged by Nepal Adventure Point along with your Tibet entry permit.

Nepal Adventure Point is obliged under Chinese law to arrange Tibet Entry Permit and specific travel permits if your itinerary takes you outside of the Lhasa prefecture. This permit is arrange in advance and will be couriered to your point of entry. For Nepal Adventure Point to arrange permits and visas we need a digital copy of your passport info page and your Chinese visa well in advance. As soon as you commit to your booking, please email your whole groups passports and visas image.

Independent Travel to Tibet: Independent travel is currently not allowed in Tibet. This situation may change in the near future but at this stage only groups fully booked in advance are allowed into Tibet.

Travel Insurance: Keep in mind that Tibet is a remote location, and if you become seriously injured or very sick, you may need to be evacuated by air. Under these circumstances, you don’t want to be without adequate health insurance. Be sure your policy covers evacuation.