page_title: Visa policy of China
section_title: Tibet Autonomous Region
hierarchical_section_title: Visa policy of China / Region-specific visa restrictions / Tibet Autonomous Region
caption_attribution_description: 中文（中国大陆）‎: 外国人入藏函English: Tibet Travel Permit for foreigners
context_page_description: Visitors to the mainland of the People's Republic of China must obtain a visa from one of the Chinese diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. The two Special Administrative Regions – Hong Kong and Macau – maintain their own independent border control policies and thus have their own separate visa requirements.
  Chinese visas are issued both outside China, by the Chinese diplomatic missions, and in China, by the Exit and Entry Administrations of the county-level Public Security Bureaus. In order to enter China, however, a non-Chinese national should apply to the visa-issuing authorities outside China for a Chinese visa. Because Hong Kong and Macau maintain their independent border control policies, ordinary Chinese visas are valid for Mainland China only and are not valid for Hong Kong or Macau, so travelers must apply for separate visas for Hong Kong or Macau should they require one for traveling to these regions.
  The government of the People's Republic of China allows holders of normal passports issued by some countries to travel to Mainland China for tourism or business purposes for up to 15, 30 or 90 days without having to obtain a visa.
context_section_description: Non-Chinese passport holders entering Tibet must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) prior to departure, issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau. Although any travel between Tibet and other parts of Mainland China is considered domestic travel with no immigration checks, the TTP will be checked for all non-Chinese passport holders when going on board any buses, trains or airlines that are bounded for the TAR.
  The only way to obtain a TTP is to arrange a tour operated by a Tibet-based travel agent which at least includes hotels and transportation. Visitors are also not permitted to travel by public buses across Tibet and are only allowed to travel by private transportation as organised in the tour. Moreover, if entering Tibet from Nepal, one must also join a group tour and be only allowed on a group visa. The TTP has to be handed in to the tour guide upon arrival at the airport or train station, and the tour guide will keep the permit until the traveler leaves the TAR. The processing time of a TTP is at least 15 days.
  Moreover, the TTP only covers travel to Lhasa and Nagqu, and visitors who wish to visit other areas in Tibet must also apply for an Alien's Travel Permit (ATP) issued by the Foreign Affairs Section of the Lhasa PSB. The cost for the ATP is CNY 50 per person. Holders of the ATP are authorized to travel to the following restricted areas of Tibet:
  Shigatse: Sakya Monastery, North Base Camp of Mt. Everest, Rongbuk Monastery
  Tsetang: Samye Monastery, Valley of the Kings, Changdruk Temple, Yungbulakang Palace
  Gyangtse: Palcho Monastery and Kubum Stupa
  Ngari Region
  Nyingchi: Pagsum Lake
  Chamdo Region
  The TTP is also required by nationals of Republic of China (Taiwan) holding a Taiwan Compatriot Permit or a Chinese Travel Document, but it is not required for Chinese nationals residing in Hong Kong or Macau with a Home Return Permit, or any person with a Chinese Resident Identity Card. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan residents with Resident Permit are also exempt from TTP requirements. Foreign diplomats and journalists are prohibited to travel to Tibet without the permission of the Chinese government and, if approved, can only join tours that are accompanied and organized by Chinese government officials. In practice, journalists are escorted by MFA and MPS officials for the entire duration of their visit and their movements are heavily limited in order to prevent them from communicating with the Tibetans.
  In March 2016, the government of TAR announced intentions of reform, which include the streamlining of TTP and ATP application procedures and shortening processing time of the permits. There is no timeline of implementation of these measures as officials claimed that they were "still being studied".
caption: Tibet Travel Permit for foreigners
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