Is a Chinese visa required for entering Tibet without passing through the rest of China?

Is a Chinese visa required for entering Tibet without passing through the rest of China? - Crop anonymous stylish female sitting on sandy ground with sand flowing through hands in evening sun

If flying to Tibet through Kathmandu or Hong Kong and not setting foot in the rest of China, is a Chinese visa necessary to enter Tibet, or only the Tibet travel permit?

I do need a visa for mainland China other than under the 72/144-hour TWOV arrangement, which doesn't apply in Lhasa. Since Tibet has autonomy, however, I wonder whether a Tibet Travel Permit alone would be sufficient?






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Do you need a Chinese Visa to visit Tibet?

Do I Need a Visa for Tibet? Yes. A special permit, separate from a visa for China or Nepal, is required to travel to Tibet. Permits typically allow for one entry into Tibet and are valid for maximum of three months.

Can you enter Tibet from China?

There are two ways of entering Tibet if travelling through mainland China. The first option is to take the plane from Beijing to Lhasa, with a stopover in Xining. The second is to take the train on the scenic Qinghai-Tibet railway, although the overall journey will take 40 hours.

Can you travel to Tibet independently?

You cannot travel independently in Tibet and can only do so with a private guide as part of a small group. Therefore a third-party organiser must obtain a group visa for Tibet before entry.

Do you need permission to go to Tibet?

Tibet Travel Permit, also known as Tibet Visa or Tibet Entry Permit, is an indispensable travel permit for international tourists to enter Tibet in addition to Chinese visa. For every foreign traveler, Tibet Permit is required as a must entry pass to board the flight or Tibet train bound for Lhasa.



Journalist's Trip to Tibet Shows China's Control




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