Tibet VISA Information
Getting a visa to enter Tibet is a bit tricky job. The Chinese government does not allow individuals to visit Tibet. Visas are issued to only those travelers who are in a group of at least 5 people or more. If you are eager to observe the beautiful Tibet but cannot gather a group then you might have to join another group of people in order to get the visa. Along with the visa it’s compulsory to get the alien travel permit to get into this land.
Tourists visiting Tibet are suggested to have multiple entry visas so that they could visit neighboring lands of Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
NOTE: Please carry 04 passport size photos and some smaller US dollars with you for faster completions of visa formalities.
NOTE: To obtain a visa to enter Tibet, you must submit the following information along with a valid passport.
- Full Name(as it appears in the passport)
- Passport Number
- Date Of Issue
- Place Of Issue
- Date Of Expiry
- Nationality
- Date Of Birth
- Occupation
- Two Passport Sized Photographs
Tibet Travel Permit
Along with the visa, a tourist needs to get a travel permit to enter and travel in Tibet. Provided by the Tibet Tourism Board (TTB) this permit is also known as TTB permit. The TTB cost varies depending upon your departure city and this permit does not have an expiry date. You will not need a permit to leave the Tibet but you will have to get a permit to enter certain cities of Tibet, which can be easily arranged by your Travel Agency. You will also need a permit if you wish to go to the Everest Base Camp. To apply for the TTB permit you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months with a Chinese Visa on it.
There is actually two kinds of permit issued for traveling in Tibet. The TTB permit, which is an equivalent of a visa for Tibet and the Alien Travel Permit i.e. PSB permit (Public Security Bureau permit).
TTB permit
You will need this permit when you fly in the Lhasa or even the purchases of the Lhasa Ticket from any other place require the TTB permit. Any groups traveling by land also need this ticket. Your travel agency arranging trips will be arranging this permit for you.
PSB permit
You will need this permit if you are interested in visiting the restricted areas in Tibet.
How to get a permit?
Being a Travel Agency that has worked with Tourists visiting Tibet for so many years and being situated in Nepal that has special administrative condition with china we can easily get the permit. It will be easy for you to gain a permit if you send your information 10 days prior to your arrival. You must book your tour with the agency to get the permit. No travel agency offers Permit only. You will need to send the following information to apply for the permit:
- Your full name
- Your gender
- Your date of birth
- Your passport number
- Your nationality
NOTE:
- Do not trust a travel agency that offers to sell you a Tibet travel permit without requiring you to book a tour. No legitimate travel agency will offer "permit-only" service. Avoid wasting your money, as this is almost certainly a scam.
- Lhasa PSB will not issue travel permits to individuals and will direct you to a travel agency. Agencies can arrange a travel permit to almost anywhere but only if you book a Land Cruiser, driver and a guide.
Tibet traveling personal checklists
Visiting Tibet requires proper preparations. There are many things you must pack before you fly to Tibet. And these things depend upon the places you are going to visit in Tibet and activities you are planning to do. Upon various factors let’s categorize the materials and things you will need in Tibet into 4 categories. These categories are based on your necessities while visiting Tibet.
- Tibet Travel Necessities: these are the things you shouldn’t miss to pack before you head for the airport. Passport, visa, flight tickets, money, credit card, travel plan, camera, film, batteries, toiletries, cosmetics, knife, watch, day bag-pack, big travel bags (soft luggage), water bottle, journal, reading a book, writing materials, binoculars, family pictures and snack foods.
- Tibet Travel Medicine: First few days in Tibet will be a bit tough for you. Your body will take time to get acclimatized in the Tibetan altitude and its weather. You are suggested to pack the following medicines before you start your Tibetan adventure. Colds, insomnia and digestive disorders are common. In addition to the normal medications for traveling, like the Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Antibiotics, cold and flu tablets, throat lozenges, nasal decongestant and vitamins etc, it is advisable to take anti-altitude sickness drugs to cope with oxygen deficiency.
- Tibet Travel Sun-proof Items: As you already know Tibet lies is a very high altitude. Places in high altitude have thin air that is neither capable of blocking the intense sunlight nor capturing the warmth of sunlight. The sunlight in Lhasa is so intense that the city is called Sunlight City. To protect your eyes and skin, don\'t forget to pack your sunscreen, sunglasses or dark glasses and lip creams and sunblock.
- Tibet Travel Clothing: Tibet has a crazy temperature fluctuation. You will be amazed by how the temperature rises in sunlight and how fast the temperature falls in the shade and in the nights. Due to its location in the high altitude, thin Tibetan air can neither block the intense sunlight nor hold the warmth of sunlight. Even summer has chilly and cold wind so you are urged to be prepared for that. You consider the following list of clothes to keep yourself warm in the Tibetan climate:
A fiber-pile jacket, wool or wool mix sweater with a high neck, wool or fiber-pile ski-style cap or balaclava, wool, pile, or polypylene mittens or gloves, scarf, several bandanna or handkerchief, four or five pairs of cotton underwear, at least three pairs walking socks, a long-sleeve shirt made of wool, flannel, or chamois, or a track-suit top, a long-sleeve free cotton shirt for warmer temperatures, two or three T-shirts, one pair of loose-fitting wool pants, wool knickers, or fiber-pile pants, and one pair of light-weight cotton pants, cold weather trekking trousers, two pairs of trekking boots.
Note: Because of the rapidly rising and falling temperature, it will be easier for you if you carry layered clothes, instead of bulky and thick clothes.