Tibet follows distinct rules for its international visitors. One specific rule is you cannot procure the On Arrival Visa for Tibet like for Nepal making it essential for you to arrange for your visa before your trip into Tibet.
In addition, you should also comprehend that independent or lone travel or trekking inside Tibet is not allowed at all. All the travelers (tourists, trekkers, climbers) must participate in a group of organized guided trips.
This guideline applies to all nationalities that require them to arrange their any type of trip inside Tibet through a licensed and trustworthy travel agency.
Also note that, you must have a certified Tibetan guide with you along with the private transportation driven by the qualified Tibetan driver except of course for the hiking activities.
First of all, for any type of trips in Tibet, the Tibet Visa is a must which is also known as Tibet Travel permit. If your trip is focused on the remote restricted regions of Tibet such as Nyingchi, Shigatse, Nagchu, Lhokha, Chamdo, and Ngari, then a few extra permits are also compulsory.
Given the time that it takes for the processing of these permits, you should plan your any trip in Tibet a month ahead. Aside from the Tibet Visa, there is one other Visa essential to get inside Tibet and that is the Chinese Visa needed.
You will need this visa no matter where you are entering Tibet. However, if you are getting inside Tibet from Nepal (Kerung, Lhasa, or Simikot), then a Group Visa will be attained instead of the individual one. It will be the responsibility of your chosen travel agency to look after the organization and arrangements of these visas and permits.
Obligatory Documents for the Group and Tibet Visa
Once you pre-reserve any type of trip in Tibet, you need to pass on the following documents to your selected travel agency:
- Your photo size should be 51 mm by 51 mm
- The background should be plain white
- Your photo must be the most recent one with no makeup and glasses
- Your passport must have the residual duration of a minimum of 6 months counted from your date of arrival in Tibet
- Your passport must contain a minimum 2 empty pages
- A colored clear full scanned copy of your passport is essential
Visa and Permits Arranged for your Journey to Tibet from Nepal
If you engage in any type of travel, trek, and tour in Tibet from Nepal, then you must collaborate with a government-registered travel agency like Royal Tibet Travel and Tour who work alongside a government registered Tibet travel agency to manage all needed permits and Visa for your trip that consists of:
Tibet Visa/Tibet Travel Permit/TTP
The official authoritative body for controlling the number of visitors in Tibet is the Tourism Bureau of Tibet that also issues the Tibet Visa or the TTP to the foreign travelers.
It details all the information regarding your trip such as its nature, type, your personal details, your number of travel days, your selected lodging, your mode of travel, and your entry and exit dates as well.
Therefore, once the application process is forwarded, no alterations can be made to your travel plans. To facilitate the application process, we will collect all necessary documents from you and then deliver them to our affiliated travel partner in Tibet.
They will then manage the procedure in the Tourism Bureau from where after approval we will receive the official letter inviting us to visit Tibet. This letter is essential for the attainment of the Group Visa of China from Nepal.
The Tibet Visa will be available within 10 to 15 office days and it will be collected and kept safe by our Tibetan guide till we are in Tibet.
Chinese Group Visa
The Chinese Group Visa is a collective travel document which will be granted as one piece of official paper for the entire group. Thus, it mandates all the members of one group to get in and out of Tibet on the same date and time.
An in-person appearance of each participant of a group in the Embassy of China in Kathmandu is obligatory to get on with the process of Group Visa application.
When in the embassy, you will have to deliver your original formal papers that includes your authentic passport, photos and also, you will have to give your fingerprints too for your biometric registration. Your passports will be returned on the same day with the Group Visa.
There are two ways we can secure your Group Visa for China which are:
Standard Process:
It is the more general method of attaining the Group Visa through the China embassy that needs about four office days. The cost will be little low and changes based on the country from where you have your passport.
For the US passport bearer, the Visa cost will be US Dollars 175 for each person, and for other countries’ passport bearers, the Visa fee will be between US Dollars 70 to 170 for each person.
Express Process:
If you are in a hurry, then the Visa processing time can be shortened to 2 to 3 office days. However, the Visa cost through this process will be a little bit more varying between US Dollars 90 and 180 for each person.
Important Note:
Please keep in mind that the Chinese Embassy will remain closed on every Sundays and Saturdays of the week so make sure you get to Kathmandu on the weekdays.
Extra Permits for the Sensitive Region of Tibet
Tibet is no doubt a very secretive country that has numerous remote locations that are of great interest to foreign travelers. If you like to take a tour of the sensitive regions of Tibet that we have stated above particularity the Kailash and the Everest Base Camp, then few more permits are compulsory.
Foreign affairs permit
The issuance of the foreign affairs permit comes under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Office in Lhasa. The expected processing duration for this permit is around 10 to 15 days and needs the presence of your passport along with the Tibet and Group Visa.
PSB Permit or the Alien Travel Permit
The PSB or the Public Security Bureau permit commonly known as the Alien Travel Permit issuance comes under the jurisdiction of the Public Bureau of Security of Tibet.
To receive this permit, you must appear in person at this office with your original passport, Tibet and China Group Visa. The permit will be on your hand within few hours on the spot.
Military Permit
The Military Office located in Lhasa will thoroughly examine all your travel documents, China Group Visa and the Tibet Visa. After their satisfaction, they will issue this permit within 10 to 15 office days.
Note:
All these additional permits will be coordinated by our local travel partner in Tibet.
Indian Passport Holders Soon to be Allowed in Tibet for Kailash Tour
Recently, an important meeting took place between the leaders of India and China which resulted in an agreement to reopen the Kailash pilgrimage for Indian passport holders.
The process is currently underway and dates is expected to be announced soon. It has been however speculated that Indian travelers may have the opportunity to visit Kailash between May and September of 2025.
The Kailash region was restricted for the Indian passport bearers for around 5 years because of the issue of the global pandemic and their political conflicts. The Chinese government was not handing over the Alien Travel Permit to the Indian Passport holders even if they possessed the TTP and a valid Chinese visa.