Passport and Visa in Tibet

All visitors to Tibet from outside of China require a valid passport and a standard Chinese entry visa. The Chinese visa must be obtained before you arrive in China. They are relatively easy to get and are available from most Chinese embassies and consulates. The cost of the tourist visa varies from USD $12 – 120 depending of the nationality of the applicant as well as they type of visa required. Visas can be single or multiple entry and can range in validity from six to twelve months. It usually takes around three days to get a visa application approved so remember not to leave it until the last minute. However, if you are in a rush there is an express service available, but at an additional cost.

It is advisable not to mention that Tibet is your destination when you apply for a Chinese visa. Due to the political sensitivity surrounding the area it can result in your visa application being rejected. Choose another city in mainland China instead.

Once you have a Chinese visa you need to apply for a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) in order to gain entry to Tibet. This can take up to fifteen days so allow plenty of time!
If you are travelling from Nepal to Tibet, please do not apply Chinese visa yourself as it is different procedure. You get a group visa in a paper not in your passport. When you book your Tibet tour with Accessible Adventure, the company will be responsible for applying the visa.