Tibet requires all foreign visitors to join organized tours with licensed guides; independent travel is not allowed.
In 2025, the Tibet Travel Permit remains mandatory for entry, and it can only be obtained by a licensed Tibet Travel Agency like Songtsan Tibet Travel.
This guide provides everything you need to know about obtaining your Tibet permit in 2025.
Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), also known as Tibet Entry Permit, is an official document that allows international tourists to enter Tibet.
It is required in addition to the Chinese visa, and without it, you cannot board flights or trains to Lhasa, check into hotels, or pass security checkpoints in Tibet.
At Songstan Tibet Travel, we handle the entire application process for you, and we include the TTP free of charge when you book a tour with us.
All foreign travelers are required to have this document to enter Tibet (TAR), including expats living in China. This requirement extends to various categories of visitors:
Independent travel is not allowed and only licensed travel agencies can apply for your permit.
To apply, simply send us :
✅ A clear scan of your passport (valid for 6 months)
✅ Chinese Visa (unless your nationality qualifies for the China visa-free policy)
Additional requirements include:
Tell us your travel preferences, and we’ll create a confirmed itinerary, required for the permit application.
Apply for your Chinese visa or check if you qualify for China’s visa-free entry (over 60 countries enjoy this benefit in 2025; ask us for details).
Email us a scan of your passport and visa. We'll submit your application to the Tibet Tourism Bureau (processing usually takes 8-9 business days).
We'll express ship your permit to your chosen address.
It takes on average 8-9 days for the processing of the Tibet Permit in Lhasa. However, we highly suggest that you send us the required documents at least one month before you leave for Tibet.
✅ Plan Ahead: Apply at least 20 days before your intended travel date
✅Use Authorized Agents: Providing genuine documents to the travel agency. This includes scanned copies of the Chinese visa and passport. (Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the intended entry date)
✅Changing your travel plans. Once your permit is issued, you cannot change your itinerary without reapplying for a new permit.
When planning your journey to Tibet, you have two main entry choices: either through China or through Nepal. Each route has its own requirements.
Route: Fly to any major city in China, then take a domestic flight or train to Lhasa.
Required: TTP + Chinese Visa
Important: You must spend at least one night in a hotel in China before heading to Lhasa.
Route: Fly to Kathmandu, then take a direct flight to Lhasa or travel overland via the Gyirong border.
Required: Group Visa + TTP (The normal Chinese visa is not required)
Visa-Free nationals Exception:
If you're entering Tibet via the Gyirong Border from Nepal, you won't need a Group Visa, but you will still need the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP). In this case, our guide will deliver the TTP directly to you at the Gyirong border.
If you're flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa, you also won't need a Group Visa, and you'll still need the Tibet Travel Permit. However, in that case, we won't send you the TTP beforehand. Instead, we will provide it to you when you arrive at Lhasa airport.
The key point to remember is that even with visa-free status, you still need the Tibet Travel Permit for both entry methods.
Arrival Timing:
Plan to arrive in Kathmandu at least 5 days before your Tibet trip to have the time to process the group visa.