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TIBET TRAVEL PERMITS
INFORMATION CENTER
TIBET AREA TRAVEL PERMITS
FIRST CLUE:
Do not mention visiting Tibet on your application for your
Chinese visa. For up to date Tibet travel restrictions check
our TWYA blogs or connect the
Chinese embassy nearest you.
As a
tourist in China, there are several Tibetan areas you can
visit without permits, such as
Yushu near Xining. Travel permits for Tibet refers to
the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region). However,
other areas may or may not be "open" to visitors depending
on the current Chinese regulations. Please double check with
a travel agency in the area you want to visit BEFORE making
your plans. Usually our guides are connected with travel
agencies in their areas who help them get your permits. If
this doesn't work out, contact a travel agency IN the area,
such as
www.tibetanconnections.com in Xining, China or
www.shangrilatours.com for the TAR/Lhasa/Friendship
Highway areas. These agencies can assist you if you book a
tour with them.
Tibet Travel Permits &
Tibet Visa
There are two kinds of
permits (Tibet visa) for traveling in Tibet: the entry
permit (TTB permit) and the Alien's travel permit (PSB
permit).
TTB Permit - Tibet Entry
Permit (Tibet visa)
When you buy a flight or
train ticket to Lhasa you need to show this permit. When you
fly from any city to Lhasa you will need to show this permit
when you check in at the airport. TTB permits are also
needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be
arranged by the travel agency or guide organizing the trip.
PSB Permit - Alien's
Travel Permit
If you want to go further to
the "unopened" areas, you need an Alien's travel permit
issued by PSB of Tibet. It is called "Alien's Travel Permit"
or "PSB permit". Here is a picture of PSB permit :
How to get the travel permits?
Getting a permit for Tibet seems
almost impossible, but if you use the right travel agency
it's not that difficult. You will need to supply this
information.
1) full name
2) gender
3) date of birth
4) passport number
5) nationality
6) china visa number
All information provided
must match exactly the information on your passport. If you
are a writer, journalist, researcher, or any way involved or
connected to Tibetan organizations, websites, or political
matters regarding Tibet politics you may be denied a permit.
You need to apply for the
travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date.
Important
Issues about Tibet Travel Permit
1.Most people
can get a Tibet permit through a travel agency except
diplomats, journalists, and government officials
who must travel to Tibet under the arrangement through the
Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.
2. After having a permit, a
travel agency could buy you air tickets, and you can pass
the check-in at the airport and the check point enroute with
the permit.
3. Only the guide may hold
the permit after you arrive. There is no free travel in
Tibet. You must have a guide. Otherwise if you are stopped
by the police you will be sent out of Tibet and/or have
trouble politically and economically. Furthermore, the
travel agency which helped to get you the permit will also
be in trouble, facing fines or closure.
4. There is a service charge
(by the government) to get the Tibet permit. And it takes
time, paper work, transportation fee and delivery fee to get
a permit for you. The agency will explain this fee and their
charges to obtain it.
How long can I get
Tibet Permit?
Generally it takes three
days to get the Tibet permit if you could supply the full
necessary documents. It may take ten days in some
circumstances, and another 3 days (or more) to Express
Deliver the permit.
Other documents and
information:
CHINESE VISA
Other documents are the same
as you travel to other places of China - you need a valid
passport with valid visa (issued by Chinese Embassy). Be
sure your Chinese visa is valid for your entire length of
stay. If you apply for a one-year visa, you'll be allowed to
stay in China for three months, leave and return, but if you
don't like the cost of leaving and returning be sure your
air tickets get you in and out within that three month
period. The Chinese government charges a very hefty fee at
the airport if your visa has expired, plus you may never get
another visa for China. To extend your visa while in China,
find a public services bureau, but take this warning;
American's are charged ten times what some other countries
pay to extend a visa!!!!!!!!!!!!
ARRIVING FROM NEPAL
If you are expecting to get
to Lhasa via the
Friendship Highway from Kathmandu, even if
you applied for a have a "Tibet" visa before you left home,
you will still need to get a visa in Kathmandu, which is
regulated officially between China and Nepal.
CHINESE VISA APPLICATION
INFORMATION
NOTICE: Chinese Embassies
process visas, but it is usually worth doing it online to
avoid the long lines and frustration of the process. Find a
reliable China visa service ONLINE. They require you to send
them your ORIGINAL passport, so be cautious! For instance,
ask a local travel agency or the embassy to recommend a
company. We do not recommend because companies on the
internet change, but there are some good ones out there. It
may take between 10 days and three weeks so don't delay.
Call them, ask for references, don't deal with one that
doesn't have a phone number. Get one located in one of the
cities that have a Chinese embassy in your country. Use
common sense.
FIRST CLUE:
Do not mention visiting Tibet on your application for your
Chinese visa.
MOST POPULAR
CHINESE VISA TYPES
Tourist Visa (L Visa)
Issued to foreigners who enter China
temporarily for touring, family visiting or other
personal affairs. Single-entry, double-entry or
multiple-entry are all available for tourists. The
duration of (each) stay is 30, 60, or 90 days
respectively.
Business Visa (F
Visa)
Issued to foreigners who are
invited to China for business visit, research, lecture,
scientific, technological and cultural exchanges.
Single-entry, double-entry, multiple-entry business visa
are available. The duration of (each) stay is 30, 60 or
90 days.
Work Visa (Z visa)
Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or
employment in China, and their accompanying family
members. Only single entry work visa is available.
Multiple-entry is not granted for work visa. The
duration of stay varies.
Student Visa (X/F
Visa)
Issued to foreigners who come to
China for study or intern practice for a period of six
months or above. Only single entry student visa is
available. The duration of stay varies. Multiple-entry
is possible for 1 year study.
CHINESE EMBASSIES in USA
Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
Address: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202)5889760
Fax: (202) 588-9760
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, IL
Address: 1 East Erie Street, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: (312) 573-3070/3071
Fax: (312) 803-0122
Chinese Consulate General in Houston, TX
Address: 3417 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
Tel: (713) 520-1462
Fax: (713) 521-3064
Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, CA
Address: 443 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Tel: (213) 807-8088
Fax: (213) 807-8091
Chinese Consulate General in New York, NY
Address: 520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 244-9392
Fax: (212) 465-1708
Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, CA
Address: 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Tel: (415) 674-2900
Fax: (415) 563-0494
DISCLAIMER: The data
on this website is the collaborative experience by both travel
professionals and non-professionals, contributions, and research of
various websites, books, documents, research, articles, associates,
attorneys, etc. The information on this site may or may not be accurate
or up to date. The primary purpose of this site is education and service.
We do not advocate any specific course of action, but offer ideas to think
about. What you do with this information and any course of action you
decide to take, if any, is entirely your responsibility. We wish you happy
travels.