Do I Need A Visa to Go to Tibet

Bordering the southern Asian countries such as Bhutan and Nepal, Tibet is an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China. Some people may ask if they need a “visa” to go to Tibet. Yes, you do need a “visa” to go to Tibet. However, unlike other visas, this refers to the Tibet Travel Permit, issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau.

In other words, generally, most foreign visitors shall hold both Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet, and Tibet Travel Permit is a must to enter Tibet. Without it, you can not even get on the train/flight there. Besides having a valid Chinese visa for most cases, any Non-Chinese ID card/passport holders shall visit Tibet with a Tibet Travel Permit.

① Foreign Passport Holders (such as US & UK citizens, Australians, Canadians, Malaysians, Indians, Nepalese, etc) require a Tibet Travel Permit.

② Taiwan Citizens, who do not have a Chinese ID card need a Tibet Travel Permit.

Exceptional Cases

① Hong Kong and Macau Citizens with a Mainland Travel Permit do NOT require a Tibet Travel Permit to enter Tibet.

② Citizens from certain countries like Singapore, Japan, and Brunei with a valid passport, can have 15 days visa-free stay in China and visit Tibet with only Tibet Travel Permit. Staying in China for over 15 days, these citizens shall apply for both Chinese visa and Tibet Travel Permit.

How to Obtain A Tibet Travel Permit

Here is a detailed procedure guide on obtaining a Tibet Travel Permit step by step.

▪ Step 1: Contact us to discuss your needs and work out a most suitable itinerary for you in Tibet.

▪ Step 2: Comfirm and reserve your preferred Tibet Tour.

▪ Step 3: Send us the required valid documents (copies of your passport and Chinese Visa for general cases) at least 15 working days before your tour starts. If you need the permit quite urgently, please do not hesitate to contact us.

▪ Step 4: Provide your designated address (your hotel, travel agent, friend's home, etc) in China's other regions to receive your permit after it is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB for short).

▪ Step 5: The permit will be delivered to your preferred address or handed to you at the airport/train station before your trip.

Note: Please note that there are two pages for your Tibet Travel Permit, you cannot enter Tibet without any page of them, please double check your Tibet Travel Permit before you take the flight.

How to Plan A Tibet Tour