- - Tibet permit and China visa

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There are overall four documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet.

- One is the Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your country (If you go to Tibet via mainland China).
- One is Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB), which you have to obtain in order to enter Tibet.
- One is the Alien Travel Permit (PSB) when you are planning to travel to the 'unopened' areas in Tibet.
- The other is the Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas.

Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit

It is necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and is obtained as part of tour arrangements for travel to Tibet. When you take a flight or train to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight or train ticket to Lhasa you need to show this permit. TTB permit is also needed by groups traveling by Land Cruiser but this will be arranged by the travel agency organizing the trip. Here is a picture of TTB permit:

Travel Permit ( PSB Permit)
It is required to visit 'unopened' areas. It is issued by Foreign Affairs Section of the Local Public Security Bureau (PSB). Usually you can apply for it once you arrives at Lhasa. For tour group our guide will ask you for your passport and TTB permit and submit it to the Foreign Affairs Section of PSB. It normally takes several hours and the cost is 50 yuan/person. For individual travellers you need to join the tours to 'unopened' areas, and the local travel agencies will arrange the PSB as well. Please note that there is no travel agency can provide 'PSB permit-only' service. A must service includes land cruiser and guide. Here is a picture of PSB permit :

Which parts of Tibet are listed as the closed areas?

At present, you have to apply for a Travel Permit if you are planning to visit the following places:
Tsedang: Samye Monastery, Tomb of Tibetan King, Trandruk Monastery, Yumbulakhang
Shigatse: Sakya Monastery, The Mt. Everest, Rongphu Monastery
Gyangtse: Pelkor Chode Monastery & Kubum Stupa
Ngari Region: such as Mt.Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Tsaparang, Ali, ect.
Nyingchi Region: Such as Basum-tso, Pomi, Rawo-tso, ect.
Chamdo Region: Such as Chamdo, Riwoche, Tengchen, ect.

Military Permit

It is required if you are planning to travel to Ngari, Nyingchi, and Nagqu which are regard as the military sensitive areas in Tibet. It is issued by the Military office in Lhasa. Travel agencies will arrange it as you will visit this areas. It usually takes about 3-4 days.

Important Issues about Tibet Permit:

1. All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

2. Generally it needs three days to get the TTB if you could supply the full necessary documents. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy the air or train ticket for you, and you can pass the check-in with the permit.

3. The details of the travelers are required for TTB Permit: name, nationality, passport number, Sex, date of birth and occupation ( The copies of your passport and china visa)

4. If you do not book any tour (Like Land cruiser with driver, guide ) from us, we can not help you get the permits. No travel agency can provide "permit-only" service.

5. Only the guide could hold the permit after you establish yourself on Tibet land. You are not allowed to bring with it.

There are nine types of China visa, which falls into two categories, namely, ordinary and diplomatic visa. The Ordinary visa consists of eight types, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters F, L, Z, X, C, J-1, J-2, G, and D.

Ordinary Visa

L Visa = Tourist visa
Issued to foreigners who enter China temporarily for touring, family visiting or other personal affairs. Single-entry, double-entry tourist visa are available. The maximum stay in China for each entry is 30 days. Multiple-entry is not granted for tourist visa.

No visa is required for those foreigners who travel to Hong Kong and Macao Only. For those who would like to travel to Tibet, an approval notice from China Tibet Tourism Bureau is required to apply tourist visa. Telephone number of China Tibet Tourism Bureau: 86-891-6834313. fax number: 86-891-6834632.

F Visa = Business/Visit Visa
Issued to foreigners who are invited to China for business visit, research, lecture, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges. Single-entry, double-entry, 6-month-multiple-entry, one-year-multiple-entry business visa are available. The maximum stay in China for each entry is 30 days.

Z Visa = Work Visa
Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.

X Visa = Student Visa
Issued to foreigners who come to China for study or intern practice for a period of six months or above.

C Visa = Crewmember Visa
Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and their accompanying family members.

J Visa = Journalist Visa
J-1 visa issued to foreign journalists who are posted to China for at least one year.
J-2 visa issued to foreign journalists who are on temporary interview mission in China.

G Visa = Transit Visa
Issued to foreigners who transit through China.

D Visa = Residence Visa
Issued to foreigners who are going to live in China permanently.

Diplomatic and Service Visa
Issued to the foreign government officials and the staff of diplomatic missions and of the United Nations who travel to China for official mission or accreditation.

Co.: Sichuan China International
Travel Service (CITS, Chengdu)
ADD: 513A/F, Block A, Golden
Hawaii,No.84,west street,Chengdu,
China
Tel: 86-28-66615141,66615143
Fax: 86-28-66615147
Mobile:86-0-13551264372
Email:chinawesttour@hotmail.com