Updated 13 October 2026 · Official Permit Guide
Every foreign passport holder needs a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region — and individual applications are not accepted. Permits are issued only through a licensed Tibetan travel agency. That is exactly what we do, from our office in Lhasa.
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Latest Policy News
Tibet permit rules change quickly and without long notice. Here is what is different right now, and what it means for your trip.
Permits for foreign nationals are being processed as usual during March 2026, allowing entry into Tibet and travel within the region. In previous years March was designated a "special month" during which permit applications were not approved, so this is a meaningful improvement for early-season travellers.
Effective 13 March 2026, all foreign travellers entering Tibet — whether by train or by plane — must present the original Tibet Travel Permit. Previously a photocopy was accepted for train entry from most cities. The change is understood to support security checks ahead of a forecast surge in foreign arrivals in 2026.
On 26 August 2026, a landslide disaster in Nepal caused the overland tourist route between China's Tibet and Nepal to be temporarily closed. Both the Gyirong (Kyirong) and Zhangmu ports are currently shut. Please check back on our website for further updates.
The Basics
The Tibet Travel Permit — commonly called the Tibet Visa — is an official document issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau that authorises a foreign visitor to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region and to travel within it.
It is not a visa in the immigration sense. Your Chinese visa gets you into China; the Tibet Travel Permit gets you into Tibet. You will be asked to show it when you check in for a flight or train to Lhasa, and your guide will carry the original throughout your stay for hotel registration and roadside checkpoint inspections.
The permit lists every destination and attraction included in your itinerary. Once it has been issued it cannot be extended or amended, which is why your route has to be finalised before we submit the application.
Important: no agency can legally sell you a standalone permit. The permit must be tied to a booked tour with a guide and vehicle. Anyone offering a "permit only" service is not operating within the rules.
Document Checklist
Not everyone needs all five. Which documents apply to you depends on how you enter Tibet and how far you plan to travel once you are there.
Tibet is part of China, so you need a valid passport and a Chinese visa to enter the country — unless you are entering from Nepal. Apply at a Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country.
Required for most travellersIf you enter Tibet from Nepal you need a Tibet Group Visa issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Your agency supplies the invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau.
Nepal entry onlyThe main entry permit for the Tibet Autonomous Region. Without it you cannot board a flight or train to Lhasa. Applied for through a licensed Tibetan travel agency.
Required for all foreign visitorsNeeded to visit "unopened" areas such as Everest Base Camp, Shigatse, Gyantse, Tsetang, Nyingchi and Ngari. Your guide applies for it at the Public Security Bureau in Lhasa.
Restricted areasIssued by the military authority for politically sensitive and border regions, including Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, the Guge Kingdom, Ali, Tsochen, Kyirong and Nyima County.
Border regionsStep by Step
Six straightforward steps. You handle the documents; we handle every conversation with the Tibet Tourism Bureau.
Tell us when you want to travel, how you plan to enter Tibet — flight, train or overland from Nepal — and which places you want to see. This is what determines which permits you need.
We prepare a day-by-day itinerary and a full package quote, then hold your dates with a deposit paid by PayPal or bank transfer. Your route must be final before the permit is submitted, because it cannot be changed afterwards.
Send clear colour scans of your passport photo page and your valid Chinese visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. If you hold a student or work visa, include a letter from your school or employer explaining your stay.
Your file goes to the Tibet Tourism Bureau and is reviewed alongside the Public Security Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Office. We follow it through every stage and tell you immediately if anything further is needed.
If you fly into Tibet we courier the original to your hotel or residence in mainland China (24 hours to 3 days by EMS), or hand it to you at the airport. Since March 2026 the original is also required for train boarding, so we arrange delivery accordingly.
Your English-speaking Tibetan guide meets you on arrival and carries all permits throughout the tour — for hotel check-in, police registration and checkpoint inspections. All you need to do is enjoy the journey.
Transparent Pricing
There is no single fixed price, because the total combines a government fee with a service fee that is bundled into your tour package.
| Item | Typical cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) | Included in your tour package | The government fee charged by the Tibet Tourism Bureau plus our agency service fee. We never sell permits separately — that is illegal. |
| Alien's Travel Permit (ATP) | 50 CNY per person | Applied for by your guide at the Public Security Bureau in Lhasa after arrival. Required for Everest Base Camp, Shigatse, Nyingchi, Ngari and other restricted areas. |
| Military / border permit | Varies by region | Needed for Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, the Guge Kingdom, Ali, Tsochen, Kyirong and Nyima County. |
| Tibet Group Visa | Varies by nationality | Only for travellers entering Tibet from Nepal. Issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu with an invitation letter we prepare. |
Why we cannot quote a permit-only price: the Tibet Tourism Bureau issues permits only in connection with a booked tour that includes a licensed guide and a private vehicle. That is why the permit cost is calculated into your overall tour quote rather than charged on its own.
Recommended Routes
Six proven routes, from a short first look at Lhasa to the full western Tibet pilgrimage. Every one includes your permit, guide and private vehicle.
Where You Can Go
Tibet is not uniformly open. Some areas need an extra permit; a few remain closed to foreign travellers entirely.
These places are covered by your TTP and need no further paperwork.
An Alien's Travel Permit — and sometimes a military permit — is needed here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions our travellers ask most often, answered plainly.
Yes. Every foreign passport holder and every Taiwan resident must hold a valid Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region, whether they arrive by plane or by train. Mainland Chinese citizens and Hong Kong and Macao residents do not need one.
No. The Tibet Tourism Bureau does not accept individual applications from foreign travellers. A permit can only be applied for by a licensed travel agency registered in Tibet, which must also arrange your guide, vehicle and itinerary for the duration of your stay.
Processing normally takes 8–10 working days once we have complete documents in hand. We recommend starting the application 15–20 working days before departure. During busy periods — July, August and the first week of October — allow extra time.
Permits are never sold separately, because doing so is illegal in China. The total cost combines the government fee charged by the Tibet Tourism Bureau with the travel agency service fee, and it is included in your overall tour package quote.
The Alien's Travel Permit for restricted areas costs a separate 50 CNY per person, applied for after you arrive in Lhasa.
If you enter mainland China under a visa-free arrangement, you can travel onward to Tibet — but you still need a Tibet Travel Permit, and you may be asked to show proof of your legal entry status.
Travellers entering Tibet from Nepal always need a Tibet Group Visa issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, which we help arrange through our local partner.
Yes. Since 13 March 2026, all foreign travellers entering Tibet by train or by plane must present the original copy of their Tibet Travel Permit.
In previous years a photocopy was sufficient for train entry from most cities, so this is a significant change. Make sure your delivery arrangement gives you the original before you board.
The Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) is the entry permit that allows you to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is applied for before you travel.
The Alien's Travel Permit (ATP) is an additional document issued by the Public Security Bureau in Lhasa that allows you to visit restricted or unopened areas — Everest Base Camp, Shigatse, Gyantse, Tsetang, Nyingchi, Ngari and beyond. Your guide applies for it on your behalf after you arrive.
Most of Tibet is reachable with the right permits, but a few areas remain closed and the following require an Alien's Travel Permit — and in some cases a military permit:
Foreign travelers can also enter Tibet overland from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces by self-driving, but this must be done as part of an organized group, with a support vehicle, driver and guide arranged by a licensed travel agency. Please contact us for details.
Not on a standard tourist permit. Journalists, media photographers, diplomats and government officials require separate advance approval from the relevant Chinese authorities, and the standard Tibet Travel Permit process does not apply to them. Contact us and we will explain what applies in your case.
April to October is the main travel season, with warmer days, clearer skies and full access to Everest Base Camp and western Tibet.
November to March is colder with far fewer tourists, but some regions are inaccessible and March has historically been a restricted month for permit approvals — although that was not the case in 2026.
Trusted by Travellers
We are recommended on page 41 of the Lonely Planet Tibet travel guide (2019 edition).
This recognition reflects our credibility as a reliable local Tibet travel agency. You can trust us to provide comprehensive Tibet travel services, including assistance with arranging the Tibet Travel Permit required for visiting Tibet.
Apply Now
Send us a copy of your passport and China visa, tell us your travel dates, and we will confirm your permit plan and full itinerary within one working day. No obligation, no pressure — just clear answers from people who live and work in Lhasa.
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