Tibet Travel Permit

There are overall four 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, one is Tibet Permit, which you have to obtain it in order to enter Tibet, one is the Travel Permit when you are planning to travel to the closed areas in Tibet which you can obtain it after you arrive in Tibet, and the other is the Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas. As a local travel agency, we are able to assist you the process all of those above documents if you book a tour with us.

Passports & Visa:

All individuals entering Tibet must hold a passport valid for at least six months. If you are entering Tibet from China, your Chinese visa will be valid, though 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 norm and it normally takes 2 week days 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. The document must be inspected when boarding the flight to Tibet. China Highlight will make all necessary arrangements to obtain the correct documentation.

What's 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).The Law on the Control of Entry and Exit of Foreigners (Order of the President of the People's Republic of China (No.31), 22.11.1985, Chapter 4), says:

1. Article 20: Foreigners who hold valid visas or residence certificates may travel to places declared open to foreigners by the Chinese Government.
2. Article 21: Foreigners who desire to travel to places closed to foreigners shall apply for travel permits from local public security organs [i.e., the police].

How to apply for it?

We will assist you in applying for it after you enter into Tibet. Our guide will ask you for your passport and the Tibet Permit and submit it to the Foreign Affairs Section of PSB.It normally takes several hours and the cost is 50 yuan/person.

Which parts of Tibet are listed as the closed areas?

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

1. Tsetang: Samye Monastery, Tomb of Tibetan King, Changdruk Temple, Yumbulakhang
2. Shigatse: Sakya Monastery, The MT Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
3. Gyangtse: Pelkor Chode Monastery & Kubum Stupa
4. Nqari Region
5. Basumtso lake in Nyingchi Region
6. Chamdo Region

Military Permit:

Military Permit is 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 and we will need you to provide your passport, Tibet permit to apply for it. It normally takes 1-2 week days and the cost is 100 yuan/person.

Respect：
Travelers to Tibet inevitably find Tibetans to be friendly and possessing a great sense of humor. It is appreciated when you try and use Tibetan language when communicating with Tibetans. The further from Lhasa you travel, the more often Tibetan is used.
Avoid placing any Tibetan at risk by discussing political matters - this includes anything about the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Religion is extremely important to the majority of Tibetans, and travelers should endeavor to respect their customs and beliefs. Always cirumambulate Buddhist religious sites or monastery in a clockwise direction, and when in a monastery do not wear a hat, smoke or touch frescoes. In addition, refrain from climbing onto statues, mani stones or other sacred objects.
Don't photograph people without permission, and be aware that some locations prohibit photography without a fee. Sky burial sites are obviously off-limits.
Tibetan Buddhism and its impact of Tibetan culture is a major draw for tourists. Be aware that funds used to pay entry fees at major religious sites will probably go into the coffers of the local Communist Party. Funds donated directly to individual monks and nuns and left on altars will remain and be used to maintain and support the local religious infrastructure. Appreciate the work of the monasteries and those within and help support these great institutions with non-monetary donations and by attending the festivals and just spending a little time getting to know the monastic community.
Supporting the Tibetan economy by purchasing from Tibetans is a great way to show respect. Pay a fair price while bargaining with Tibetan vendors and try to eat more Tibetan dishes rather than Chinese, as the ingredients for making these will have been imported from off the Tibetan Plateau. Antiques, family or religious items should not be purchased as this destroys the culture.
Help protect Tibet for future generations by not purchasing products made from wild animals. Many items are made from endangered species. Have a heart, and show you care by not purchasing these products in Tibet as well as in other places in the world. Remember to and take lots of photographs while visiting Tibet. Take the initiative and pack out trash and recyclables while traveling outside of urban Tibet. The ecosystem in the Himalayas is very fragile due to the weather being so cold, so be careful of where you hike and try to keep erosion down.