All international travelers who wish to visit Tibet must acquire Tibet Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) in advance to enter Tibet. It has to be produced when you board your flight to Lhasa or the port of entry and the permits are checked on arrival at Airport in Lhasa.
- A valid Chinese Visa is not as a Tibet Travel Permit.
- Since the Chinese government regulates tourism in Tibet to protect and preserve the negative effect of tourism on the environment, culture and politics. All visitors must travel with an authorized tour operator or its overseas representatives with a pre-planned itinerary. The permit process takes from 10-15 Days
- If you are thinking to travel further to the “un-opened “ area outside of Lhasa, you need to secure an Alien’s Travel Permit issued by Tibetan local Public Security Bureau(PSB) and other permits needed for different regions in Tibet
- Travelers who wish to visit Mount Kailash, Nanasarovar in Ngari, Nyingchi, Nagqu and some other remote areas in Tibet you must obtain Military Permit issued by the a Military office in Lhasa
- Travelers can apply both Tibet Travel Permit and Chinese Visa from Kathmandu, Nepal
- Make sure your Tibet Travel Permit delivered to your hotel in Chengdu or any Chinese mainland cities while you are in transit
- When applying for Chinese visa it is advised NOT to mention travel to Tibet. You will need to apply Chinese Visa at your nearest Chinese Embassy
Passport and Travel Document
Possess a passport valid for at least 6 months. It is required and also make sure you are NOT running out of blank pages. Carry extra passport photos in case you need to apply for a quick replacement. Keep a copy of the picture page of your passport in a separate place while traveling.