Passport & Visa
Overseas tourists to Tibet must hold a valid passport issued by his or her homeland and a visa issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate. However, tourists from a country that has agreed upon a visa-free protocol with China can visit Tibet without a visa, but the stay usually can't exceed 30 days.
Tourists from Hong Kong and Macau holding a 'Chinese Special Zone Passport', a 'Home Visit Permit', or a 'Mainland Travel Permit' can travel directly to Tibet on their own.
Tibet Entry Permit (TTB Permit)
Overseas tourists (Non-Chinese passport holders) and Taiwanese must, in addition to their visa, obtain a Tibet Entry Permit issued by the TTB. Tourists can join a group organized by a travel agency, which will usually handle the permit for them. For individual tourists the offices of the TTB will do it for you. One can only obtain the permit where he or she departs for Tibet. Visitors to Tibet from Chengdu, Golmud, Xian, Chongqing, and other places can only buy their airplane, train, or coach ticket and check in at the airport by submitting the original permit. And visitors from Katmandu still need the permit to obtain a paper visa or a signature on your visa from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal to buy their airplane ticket and enter Tibet. While in Tibet, one is not allowed to travel alone even with the permit.
The necessary materials to apply for the Tibet Permit are similar to those demanded for a visa. They include one's basic information, such as name, nationality, age, gender, passport number, occupation (journalists and diplomatists are excluded as common tourists to Tibet), tour itineraries, general tour schedule, and phone number, as well as a copy of the visa and the first page of the passport. The permit usually takes 2 days to issue. However, it is best to allow at least two weeks for mailing and processing. When you receive the permit you can arrange the tickets, hotels, and your tour.
Alien's Travel Permit (PSB Permit)
If you plan to travel into the closed areas of Tibet, such as Tingri, Dromo, Nyalam, Nhagartse, or Purang and Pemako counties, you must further apply for an Alien's Travel Permit which is issued by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of Tibet. The opened areas of Tibet currently only cover about 16% of the whole region, so apply for one if you plan a deep exploration of the land. These documents can also be done by your travel agency. The information you need to submit is similar to those required for the Tibet Entry permit.
Other Permits
Travel into sensitive borders such as Mt. Kailash and Eastern Tibet still needs permits from the Military Area and Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet. Besides, a permit from the local Cultural Antique Department is also needed if you go to Tholing Monastery , Ruins of Guge Kingdom (Tsaparang) in Ngrai.
The government of Tibet is preparing to simplify these procedures now so this mysterious land can be unveiled to the world. Soon traveling to Tibet will be less of a headache.
Here is some information for the TTB and its offices in other regions:
TTB
Address: No. 3, Norbulingka Road, Lhasa
Mail No.: 850001
Email: ttour@public.ls.xz.cn
Tel: 0086-891-6835472, 6834315
Fax: 0086-891-6834313
Shanghai Office
Address: 103 Room, Lianhe Apartment, No. 350, Wuning Lu, Shanghai
Mail No.: 200063
Email: tibetmate@tibetmate.com
Tel: 021-62288845, 021-64311084
Fax: 021-63231016
Beijing Office
Address: Room 28F, No. A, Dongfang Yinzuo Apartment, Dongzhimen Waidajie, Beijing
Mail No.: 100009
Email: tibettour2001@vip.sina.com
Tel: 010-84477899
Fax: 010-84476503
Hong Kong Office
Tel: 00852-28383391
Fax: 00852-28841535
Chengdu Office
Tel: 028-8551719
Fax: 028-8551719
Xian Office
Tel: 029-87815987
Fax: 029-87815987
Golmud Office
Tel: 0979-483532
Fax: 0979-483532
Shangrila Office
Tel: 0887-8229028
Fax: 0887-8227892
Xining Office
Tel: 0971-8459840
Fax: 0971-8459840
Zhangmu Office
Tel: 0892-8743733
Fax: 0892-8915377
