The Tibet Travel Permit is a must for international tourists to visit Tibet. But you cannot obtain the permit without joining a tour. That is to say, you need to join a guided tour through a local Tibet travel agency and get the Tibet Travel Permit by the agency.

This is in fact a tourist-friendly policy that helps you enjoy a safe, smooth and enjoyable trip in Tibet. Also, when you book with us, you can enjoy free Tibet Travel Permit service.

Keep reading this guide to know more about why you cannot obtain the Tibet Travel permit without a tour, how to easily get the permit, the best way to travel alone in Tibet, and more.

Who Needs a Tibet Travel Permit? Why is It Required?

All international tourists, meaning anyone without a Chinese passport, are required to obtain a Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet. This also includes Chinese immigrants who hold foreign passports and residents of Taiwan.

You cannot apply for the permit on your own. Only an authorized local Tibet travel agency can apply for the permit on your behalf, and they will also arrange your Tibet tour and provide a local guide. With the permit in hand, you will be able to take a flight or train to Tibet.

The permit is required to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience in Tibet. As is known to many, Tibet is a place with extreme weather, diverse landscape, vast open spaces, and deep spiritual traditions, unlike other cities in China.

When touring Tibet, having the support of our English-speaking local guide, along with the organized permit check system, you can better enjoy a safe, authentic, and eco-friendly trip in Tibet - beneficial to both this charm region and yourself.

Join our most popular Lhasa and EBC tour, with all permits taken care of!

Can You Obtain a Tibet Travel Permit Without Joining a Tour?

We are sorry to tell you that the answer is NO. Here are two reasons explaining why you can’t get the Tibet travel Permit without joining a tour.

1. Tibet Travel Permit Can Only be Applied through an Authorized Tibet Travel Agency

According to the policy, individual application of the Tibet Travel Permit is not allowed. Only a local Tibetan travel agency authorized by the Tibetan Tourism Bureau, like us, can submit the application for you.

Here’s how it works: before the application, you need to have your Tibet tour booked with us. Your travel information, including your confirmed itinerary, travel time, number of visitors, tour agency, hotel reservation, etc., will be required for the application.

Once the permit is issued, you will see that all of the information mentioned earlier is on your permit.

2. You Must be Accompanied by a Local Tour Guide during the Whole Trip

For foreign visitors, independent travel in Tibet is not allowed. You need to join an organized Tibet tour to visit the region. During the whole trip, you need to be accompanied by a licensed tour guide provided by us.

In Lhasa, you can stroll around the city and visit restaurants and tea houses without your guide present, but you can't visit any tourist attractions. Outside Lhasa, all attractions and public transport are not available for foreign travelers.

This policy actually helps you to have a smooth trip in Tibet. Tibet is featured by harsh climate and complicated terrain. With enough experience living on the plateau, our local Tibetan guide can be a savior when you are not feeling very well.

Also, Tibet has a vast territory with a sparse population, while the public transportation conditions are not so convenient compared to cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Traveling with us, you can have a comfortable private car or tourist vehicle to smoothly get around Tibet.

What’s more, you won’t have the language barrier issue. All our Tibetan guides are fluent in English, and can help you connect with locals, and explain the stories behind every attraction in Tibet.

What Happens If You Try to Get the Permit without a Tour?

It is not a good idea to try to get the Tibet Travel Permit without an authorized tour. This could lead to denial of entry to Tibet, whether you are at the airport, railway station, or border crossing point. Both you and your travel agency could also face fines.

Even if you somehow manage to enter Tibet without a tour, you will be stopped at various checkpoints, or even escorted out. You will also not be able to obtain other travel documents needed to visit places beyond Lhasa.

Therefore, to avoid unnecessary trouble, just follow the rule of getting the Tibet Travel Permit and joining a guided tour through a local Tibet travel agency like us.

With both a Tibet Travel Permit and a tour group as prerequisites, you will be able to travel further to Mount Kailash.

Simple Way to Get Your Tibet Travel Permit with Us

Despite the fact mentioned above, getting the Tibet Travel Permit is not complicated. When you book your Tibet tour with us, we will offer you a free Tibet Travel Permit service. And the application process is simple, with only 4 steps as follows:

Step 1: Book your Tibet tour with us

Contact our travel consultant and book your Tibet tour. Confirm your travel itinerary, tour dates, and other information, which will be shown on the permit.

Step 2: Send us copies of your passport and Chinese Visa

Send us the scanned copies of your passport and Chinese Visa to make the application. Your passport must be valid for over 6 months. The Chinese Visa is applied for on your own in your home country or a third country.

Step 3: We help to submit the Tibet Travel Permit application

We will then help submit your documents to the Tibet Tourism Bureau. The approval process will usually take about 8 to 10 working days. While in the peak season, it takes longer.

Step 4: Get your Tibet Travel Permit before heading to Tibet

Once your Tibet Travel Permit is issued, we will immediately deliver it by express to your address in mainland China. With the permit, you can then board the flight or train to Tibet.

One thing to be noted is that it is recommended to contact us at least 20 days before your tour for the permit application, in case there are any delays or changes to break your plan.

Prefer to Travel Alone? Join a Private Tour

If you prefer solo travel in Tibet, the best solution is to join a private Tibet tour. In this case, you will only have your private tour guide accompanied, with no other group members.

A private tour can make sure you have a more flexible trip in Tibet. You can customize your itinerary and make last-minute changes if you want. You decide where to go, what to see, and how long to spend at each attraction.

As the leading Tibet tour operator with over 20 years of experience, we can help customize a private tour based on your travel preferences. Whether you are interested in iconic landmarks like the Potala Palace and Everest Base Camp, or looking for unique experiences such as trekking, cycling or motorbiking, we can meet your needs.

We offer one-stop services, including Tibet Travel Permit application, comfortable hotels and transportation, knowledgeable local Tibetan guides and skilled drivers, booking train or flight tickets, etc. Traveling with us, you will enjoy a safe, seamless and authentic trip in Tibet!

We can arrange your perfect private trip to the iconic Everest Base Camp and Namtso Lake!

Conclusion

To travel to Tibet, all foreign visitors are required to obtain the Tibet Travel Permit. And you need to join an organized tour through a local Tibet travel agency to get the permit. This requirement actually helps make your Tibet trip safe, smooth and enjoyable.

For tourists who’ve booked your Tibet tour with us, you can enjoy a free Tibet Travel Permit service and a simple application process. For more questions or travel ideas, feel free to contact us or book your tour with us now!