Tibet: visas requirements in 2015
I'm am European (French) and plan a holiday in Tibet.
Considering the political circumstances, I assume I need to apply for a visa to stay there for 3 weeks, is this correct?
If yes, what's the procedure at the moment (2015)?
Best Answer
Currently no new permits are being issued for travel before April 1 and all travelers in Tibet at the moment have to exit the country by 15 February.
If you plan to fly in via China, you will need to apply first for a Chinese Visa (standard tourist visa). Then through the tour company arranging your Tibetan travels you apply for a Tibet Travel Permit. If you plan to visit the Everest base camp or other restricted areas, then an additional permit to travel there is required.
For overland travel into Tibet from Yunnan or Sichuan, an additional travel permit is required.
If you plan to enter from Nepal, then you need a Tibet Group Visa in lieu of the China Visa (unless you plan to continue afterwards in China). Plus all of the Tibet permits mentioned above.
The China Visa, Tibet Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit all need to be arranged before arriving by several weeks. The Everest base camp and overlanding permits are applied for after you get there.
The company arranging your Tibetan travels can handle most of this on your behalf (except the China visa which you apply for at the nearest Chinese Embassy).
Of course, as this is China & Tibet, rules can change without notice and do so frequently.
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What visa do I need to go to Tibet?
Tibet is a part of China, thus no extra Visa is needed for traveling there. Tibet Travel Permits must be handled by a travel agency in China and independent applications are not accepted. The application procedure is very simple: the only required documents are travelers' passports and China visa copies.Do I need a permit 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.Are foreigners allowed into Tibet?
Tibet welcomes foreigners from all walks of life. But if you are a journalist or a diplomat, you cannot travel to Tibet as an ordinary tourist. No travel agency can handle your tour in Tibet or help to apply for your Tibet Travel Permit. You have to be approved by the China Foreign Affairs Office to visit Tibet.Is Tibet still closed to foreigners?
Tibet is now open to foreign tourists after its closure of over a year due to COVID-19 precautions. China expats with a Tibet Permit can now easily visit Tibet without any limitation or quarantine.Tibet Travel Permit: How to Get Tibet Travel Permit (Tibet Visa) Successfully in 2019 and 2020
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