How the Tibet permit works
A Tibet permit is not something a traveller can apply for alone, and it is one of the few documents in China that must have a travel agency behind it. We arrange it on your behalf. In return, the timetable for the trip has to be settled before the application goes in.
The reason is that the permit itself contains the details of your visit. It lists how you enter and leave Tibet, how many days you stay and where you are accommodated. Nothing can be vague, which means the itinerary needs to be final before the paperwork begins.
How long it takes
Processing usually runs to ten to fifteen working days. In peak season, or around a festival, it can take longer. We suggest applying as soon as the itinerary is agreed rather than waiting, and we will tell you the expected timing so you can arrange flights around it.
- The itinerary must be final before we apply.
- Entry and exit routes, days and accommodation are all listed.
- Permit rules require travelling with a guide; independent travel is not allowed.
- Ten to fifteen working days is typical, longer in peak season.
Hong Kong and Taiwan travellers
Requirements differ by document. Hong Kong residents entering on a Home Return Permit do not need a Tibet permit, though registration is still required and the trip is arranged through an agency as usual. For Taiwan travellers, the permit is needed alongside a guide. If the route includes Everest Base Camp, Ngari or certain border areas, a frontier pass is also required.
When to just ask us
Because the permit depends on a settled itinerary, the simplest approach is to plan the Tibet leg with us from the start. Tell us your dates and how you would like to enter and leave, and we will take the paperwork from there.
