Tibet

Visa & Passport

Passports

Passport & Visas All individuals entering Tibet must hold a passport valid for at least six months. If you are entering Tibet from China, your Chinese visa must be valid. Only travelers with tourist visas (not business, resident or student visas) are permitted. Entering Tibet from Nepal, either by friendship highway or by air requires a separate visa valid for Tibet from the Chinese embassy in Katmandu (30-60 day visas are the normal and it normally takes 2 weeks to obtain it.). You may apply for a group visa from us (minimum of two people in a group and you must leave China with this person unless you can change the visa inside China).

Tibet Entry Permit

Customers whose travel arrangements are made by China Highlights will receive their Tibet Entry permit from our local office in the city where they depart for Tibet e.g. Chengdu if by air, Golmud if by Qinghai-Tibet Highway. You are required to present this document when boarding the flight to Tibet. China Highlight will make all necessary arrangements to obtain the correct documentation for you if you book a tour with us.

How to apply for a Tibet Entry Permit?

Tibet Entry Permit is not available by independent travelers at the moment(at least before the Olympics). Travelers have to travel in tour group and ask their travel agent to apply it for you. Please prepare the following documents before asking your travel agent to apply permit.

1.a copy of your Passport;

2.a copy of your China visa (tourist visa);

3.Full names, gender, Date of Birth, Passport number, nationality, occupation.

Travel Permit:

Travel Permit, also called Aliens' Travel Permit (A.T.P), is required to visit closed areas. It is issued by Foreign Affairs Section of the Local Public Security Bureau (PSB). We will assist you in applying for it after you entering Tibet.

At the present, you have to apply for a Travel Permit if you are planning to visit the following places:

Tsetang: Samye Monastery, Tomb of Tibetan King, Changdruk Temple, Yumbulakhang

Shigatse: Sakya Monastery, The Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery

Gyangtse: Pelkor Chode Monastery & Kubum Stupa

Nqari Region

Basumtso lake in Nyingchi Region

Chamdo Region

Lhasa and Nagqu regions are open to foreign travelers and no need for Travel Permit.