How a border pass differs from a Tibet permit
A border pass is the travel permit required for certain border regions, such as Everest Base Camp, Ngari and parts of Xinjiang near the frontier. It is not the same as a Tibet permit: the Tibet permit governs whether you can enter Tibet at all, while the border pass governs whether you can go on into the areas closer to the border within Tibet or Xinjiang.
The two are often needed together. If a route has secured a Tibet permit but no border pass, you will be stopped at the checkpoint and the journey will stall. Working this out in advance is what prevents discovering a missing document halfway along the road.
Some stops that look like a simple detour actually lie inside a border control zone, and without a border pass they cannot be entered. When we confirm a route we check it section by section and list the documents and the time needed for each.
How we arrange it
The application needs your document details and your route, and must be submitted by a travel agency; handling it yourself at the counter is awkward. Some areas also check the specific itinerary and accommodation, so the route and the rooms must match what was submitted.
- Where it applies: Everest Base Camp, Ngari and some border areas of Xinjiang.
- Alongside the Tibet permit: going on towards the border usually needs both.
- Filed by us: a travel agency submits it, which is easier than attending in person.
- Consistency: the itinerary and accommodation must match the submitted details for inspection.
What to watch out for
If your route includes these areas, we explain at the planning stage which documents are needed and leave time to arrange them, so your departure is not affected. Whether the papers are complete determines whether you can travel certain sections, so apply as soon as the route is settled.
Checks in border areas are stricter, so carry the original documents with you and cooperate with inspections. The exact scope and rules follow the latest official notice, and we confirm them once more before departure. Check the latest official notice before you travel.
When to just ask us
If your route touches Everest, Ngari or the Xinjiang border areas, tell us when you enquire. We will list the documents required and the time needed and line up the itinerary with them.
Reach us on WhatsApp at +86 177 0971 7171, on the China toll-free line 400-0971-400 or at hello@joyotour.com; WeChat is youxuantrip, with office hours from 09:00 to 21:00 Beijing time daily.
