What is Included?

By the law of the People’s Republic of China, in addition to China visa, foreigners also need Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) to be able to board a train or plane to Lhasa. For this, you need to pre-arrange an itinerary through a legal travel agency in Lhasa before arriving in Tibet.

You need travel permits to travel outside Lhasa Prefecture, eg. Alien's Travel Permit & Military Permit, and you can currently only get these by hiring transportation and a guide as part of your itinerary.

If you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, besides all the Tibet Permits, you will have to travel on China Group Visa which can only be obtained through the joined effect of travel agencies in Lhasa & Kathmandu.

Here at Great Tibet Tour, a Lhasa-based local travel agency, with all the advantage of a local company, we provide you with a worry-free Tibet travel experience by taking care of all these permits applications.

What We Need to Apply TTB

We need the following documents & info from each and every traveler to obtain Tibet Travel Permit (TTB).  The time needed to apply for it changes irregularly. But we usually need at least 16 days prior to file the application with these documents &. info. Tibet Tourism Bureau will issue TTB permit about 7 days or so prior tour starting date.

*Colour-scan/photo of valid passport photo page

*Colour-scan/photo of valid China visa page
(except L Visa, tourist visa, any other types of China Visa need additional stamped paper in Mandarin from your school/company in China, in which your name, passport No., position, company add should be stated.)

*From which city of China you plan to enter Tibet;                  
 Of which city of China you plan to depart to after your Tibet tour     
(please be aware, entering/departing city will be print on your permit, once issued it would be the only city you be able to enter/depart. takes extra time & fee if later you want to change it)

* Job occupation. If currently unemployed or retired, pls let us know your former job.
(journalists, government officers, and  professional film/photography team, etc. won't be able to travel Tibet through travel agency)

Tibet Travel Permit (TTB)

Tibet Tourism Bureau PermitA TTB permit is currently required to get into Tibet. Without one, you will not be able to board a flight or train to Tibet and will not be able to secure the other permits you need to continue traveling throughout Tibet.

Nowadays you can only get a TTB permit through a tour agency in Tibet (agencies outside Tibet can arrange trips, but ultimately they subcontract to travel agencies in Lhasa, such as Great Tibet Tour). You can no longer travel to Lhasa, meet up with some travelers and organize a tour there. Everything must now be arranged beforehand, including any trekking itinerary you have planned.

To get a permit you need to:
*Work out an itinerary detailing exactly where you want to go in Tibet
*Agree with a price and send a deposit
*Send us documents & info we needed to apply for TTB permit
*Arrange an address in your entering city before Tibet (eg. hotel), to receive your posted TTB permit, if flying to Lhasa

You can book your own train or air ticket to Lhasa or have Great Tibet Tour arrange this for you.
You need to have the original TTB permit in your hands in order to board a flight to Lhasa. Mostly we arrange TTB permit to post to your hotel of your entry city in China by S.F Express, usually, takes abt 2~3 days.
A photocopy or scan of an original TTB permit is currently all that is required to board a train to Tibet.

Notes:
*Chinese resident of Hong Kong & Macau does not require a TTB permit to enter Tibet.
*Taiwanese need to consult us case-by-case since the rules change often
*Foreigners visitor on business/study/resident visa in China need additional docs to apply for TTB permit
*Journalists and embassy staff won't be able to get a TTB permit as a tourist

What TTB Looks Like
TTB Permit usually combined with two pages.
On Page 01, it states your tour details, such as your travel agency’s name, your tour number, when you first arrive in Tibet, when you depart, entry & departing city, etc. but above all, check the Permit No. on the upper right corner which is printed in red by Tibet Tourism Bureau.
On Page 02, you will see your name(printed in Chinese way,family name + given name)/ nationality/ gender / passport No. / profession / date of birth.

 
Other Permits: Alien's Travel Permit & Military Permit

With TTB permit you will be able to enter Tibet and travel Lhasa and around. but if you were to go further to the regional capital, eg. Mt Everest, etc., you will have to budget an hour or so in Shigatse for your guide to process the Alien Travel Permit, which is issued by the Public Security Bureau ?PSB). Usually, you can apply for it once you arrive at Lhasa.

Sensitive border areas – such as Mt Kailash, the road to Kashgar and the Nyingtri region of eastern Tibet – also require a Military Permit.

You should give your agency 20-day or so to arrange all you permits, 30-day if Military Permit. the authorities generally won't issue permits more than 15-day in advance and certain areas can close without warning, so you’ll need a certain flexibility if headed off the beaten track.

Alien's Travel Permit
 
alien's travel permitIn addition to TTB permit, if you were to visit certain areas, Alien's Travel Permit will be required. Unlike TTB permit which will be applied in advance without your original passport, Alien's Travel Permit will be applied after your arrival in Tibet with your original passport.

Areas require Alien's Travel Permit:
Tsetang:   all the places you will visit such as Samye, Yumbulhagang, Trundruk etc.
Shigates: Sakya, Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
Gyantse:   Pelkhor Chode Monastery, Kubum Stupa
Ngari:        all the places you will visit such as Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasorovar etc.
Nyingtri:    all the places you will visit such as Draksumtso, Pomi etc.
Chamdo:  all the places you will visit such as Chamdo, Riwoche etc.

Military Permit
 
Military PermissionMilitary Permission is required if you want to visit the border areas such as Mt Kailash, eastern Tibet, or overland tour to Tibet from Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang and Qinghai.

Areas require Military Permit:
Ngari:       all the places you will visit such as Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasorovar etc.
Nyingtri:   all the places you will visit such as Pomi etc.
Chamdo: all the places you will visit such as Chamdo, Riwoche etc.
Overland from/to Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang or Qinghai