The permit you need
Taiwan travellers to the mainland travel on a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, commonly called the Taiwan Compatriot Permit. It is not only an entry document; it is also the identity document you present when checking into a hotel and when boarding internal flights, so it needs to be with you throughout the trip.
Keep the original on your person and store a copy separately as a backup. If the permit has less than six months left before expiry, it is worth renewing before you travel, since a soon-to-expire document can cause difficulty at a checkpoint or a hotel desk.
If your trip includes Tibet
A Tibet trip adds a further requirement. Taiwan travellers need a Tibet permit and must travel with a guide; the region cannot be visited independently. The permit cannot be applied for personally and has to be arranged through a licensed agency, so this is something we handle for you as part of booking.
How long paperwork takes
We suggest applying at least a month before departure, and earlier in peak season. The Tibet permit usually takes ten to fifteen working days and requires the itinerary to be settled first, including how you enter and leave Tibet, the number of days and the accommodation. If your route includes Everest Base Camp, Ngari or certain border areas of Xinjiang, a frontier pass is needed as well.
When to just ask us
Document rules are set by the authorities and can change, so please check the latest official notice before you travel. If you are unsure what your itinerary requires, tell us your plans and we will set out exactly what to arrange and when.