Why Tibet Permit Is A Must

If you want to "restricted" areas in Tibet, you will need an Alien travel permit issued by the PSB (Public Security Bureau) of Tibet. The Alien travel permit is also sometimes referred to as the PSB permit. Following is a picture of the Alien travel/PSB permit :

Tibet permit or Tibet entry permit

Alien Permit

Foreign Affairs Office permit"

military area entry permit

How to get the travel permits?

Because we are a LOCAL travel agency, we can easily obtain travel permits on your behalf. Simply send us the following information:

1) Your full name;

2) Your gender;

3) Your date of birth;

4) Your passport number;

5) Your nationality

All information must be exactly the same as in your passport. In addition, we will need to know your occupation, as journalists and government officials/political personnel may require more complicated procedures in order to be issued a permit.Please be advised that you need to apply for the travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date.Also note that if you do not book a tour with ATT, we can not help you get a permit. No travel agency can provide "permit-only" service. Here is a note from Lonely Planet:

Where To Get Tibet Permit

Travel agency will transaction the Tibet Permit, only in this way, can you get the Tibet Permit unless you are diplomats, journalistis , and government officials. If you are doing those sorts of jobs, contact with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibetan Government, and it will transact Tibet Permit for you.

When You Can Get Tibet Permit

Since you apply for Tibet Permit, it will cost three days to handle it when you offer all of the necessary documents. Then, the Express Deliver will post your Tibet Permit to you, and it usually costs at least three days

Pay attention that you have to apply for Chinese visa in the first place, since Tibet is a domonation belongs to China.s

Who Must Have Tibet Permit & Exception

Tourists who would like to visit Tibet must have Tibet Permit, no atter how many or few places they want to tour. Only if they get Tibet Permit, can they enter Tibet.

The exception of Tibet Permit
Travel agency cannot transact Tibet Permit for following people, journalists, diplomats and government officers. They need to contact the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibetan Government to handle a Tibet Permit.

More About Tibet Permit

There are two kinds of permit, the Tibet Entry Permit(TTB permit)and the Alien Travel Permit(PSB permit). TTB Permit is needed when you book a flight to Lhasa and check in at the airport in Lhasa. In addition, you have to show TTB Permit when you join the group trip that arranged by travel agency. As for the PSB Permit, you must show it if you are going to "restricted" area in Tibet.

1. After you getting the Tibet Permit, the travel agency will book you an air ticket, and you have to show the Tibet Permit when you check in at the airport.

2. The moment you get in Tibet, you are required to hand in you TTB Permit, and your tour guide will keep it. Nevertheless, you will face the legal problems when you travel outside Lhasa without PSB Permit. What's worse, the travel agency that help you acquire the permit will also face sanctions.

3. Remember that there is no legitimate travel agency offers "permit only" service, hence, don't trust any travel agency that sells you a Tibet travel permit.

4. Notice that there is service charge when you apply for Tibet Permit. In addition, ATT also charge the minimal fee for the time, paper work, and to the reimburse the transportation and delivery fees included in a Tibet travel permit.

5. As for the cost of the Tibet travel permit, our travel agency only help you obtain it from the local authority, and it is included in your tour package quotation.

6. You have to get a Chinese visa as well as a Chinese passport before you apply for a Tibet travel permit. It is advised to get a Chinese visa from Kathmandu (despite whether you already have a Chinese visa), since it's a special administrative situation between China and Nepal.

Why is Tibet Permit needed?
Tibet permit is a MUST documentation when traveling to Tibet without it you cannot have a tour to Tibet. Besides, Tibet is in any way an area under China' sovereignty, at most it is now a province, and it is not a completed open area in China.
Tibet entry permit is a different say in details, compared to Tibet permit. Tibet permit is a general address. It is comparatively speaking, a kind of documentation compared to others like accommodation, transfers, meals, etc. which are all necessary elements in your Tibet tours. While saying Tibet entry permit, is said to other kind of permits such as Alien's Travel Permit, Foreign Affairs Certificate, Military Area entry permit, etc. So Tibet entry permit refers to a certificate with which you can enter Tibet. And only after you establish yourself in Tibet you can then have a tour, and you can apply other kinds of permits afterwards.