What the Tibet Travel Permit actually covers

The Tibet Travel Permit (西藏旅游许可证) is what foreigners need on top of a standard Chinese visa to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. The rules around it confuse most first-time visitors. Here is what it actually covers.

What the permit is

A document, issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau through licensed Tibetan agencies, that authorises foreign visitors to enter the TAR. It's separate from the Chinese visa: you need both. The TAR's rules require all foreign visitors to be on an organised tour with a licensed agency, with a guide accompanying you throughout.

What you get

The standard tour package covers: - Permit processing. - Hotel bookings (only foreigner-licensed hotels). - A guide who accompanies you to all sights. - Internal transport (vehicle for sightseeing days). - Entry tickets to major sites (Potala, Jokhang, Drepung, Sera).

A typical 4-day Lhasa package runs ¥3,500–¥6,000 per person on a small-group basis. 8-day Everest Base Camp packages run ¥6,000–¥12,000.

What you don't get

• Independent travel: you cannot wander off solo. The guide stays with you.
• Choice of hotel below the licensed list: most guesthouses don't have foreign-licensing.
• Border-zone access: Mt Kailash, Tashkurgan and similar require additional Aliens' Travel Permits and Military Permits, arranged separately by the agency.
• Guaranteed entry: in some periods (typically the early March anniversary period), Tibet may close to foreigners; your agency handles cancellation/reschedule.

How to apply

1. Choose a licensed Lhasa agency (several dozen reputable ones). 2. Send passport and Chinese visa scans 15+ days before travel. 3. Agency processes the permit (¥250–¥500 in agency fee, plus government fees). 4. The permit is delivered to your hotel on the mainland or sent ahead. 5. Show passport + visa + permit at the airport on the way to Lhasa.

Altitude

Lhasa is 3,656m. The first day is rest. Acetazolamide (Diamox) reduces AMS risk if started 24 hours before arrival; consult a travel doctor. Avoid alcohol day one. Hydrate aggressively. Most agencies build a half-day rest at the start of any package.

What's worth doing

The standard 4-day Lhasa tour covers Potala, Jokhang + Barkhor, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka. That's the right minimum.

Additions worth the extra days: - **Yamdrok Lake** — sacred turquoise lake, 4,440m, day-trip from Lhasa via the Khamba La pass. - **Shigatse and Tashilhunpo Monastery** — 2-day extension; the seat of the Panchen Lama. - **Everest Base Camp (north side)** — 3-day extension from Shigatse; world-altitude experience.

Skip on a first trip: Mt Kailash kora (12+ days, hard altitude, complex permits).

Verified-date note

Permit rules and the country list of permitted nationalities change occasionally. Verified May 2026; confirm with your booking agency before flights.

Cost summary

A reasonable first-time Tibet trip runs ¥6,000–¥10,000 per person all-in for an 8-day Lhasa-Shigatse-Everest itinerary, plus international flights and the mainland portion of the journey.

It's the most paperwork-heavy region in China. It's also one of the more rewarding.