Enter Tibet from Nepal

Not only does Nepal border with Tibet, but it boasts the tourist hub of South Asia. So, a great number of tourists every year enter Tibet from Kathmandu by air or by overland.

According to the Chinese immigration regulation, travelers who enter Tibet from Nepal are required to apply for both of China Group Tourist Visa and Tibet Visa (also named Tibet travel permit). For both travel documents, individual travelers can only get them through a local Tibetan travel agency.

In this article, we will focus on how to get Tibet Visa and China Group Visa successfully for your once-in-a-lifetime Tibet Tour from Nepal.

Latest Notice:(updated in June 2024)

According to the latest policy, the China Group Visa will only be issued to a tourist group that consists of at least 4 travelers. You have to travel together both in and out of the Tibet Autonomous Region via a pre-arranged tour with a travel agency.

For solo travelers, we can help you find group members and ensure you get your China Group Visa. With local offices in both Lhasa and Kathmandu, we have successfully organized Nepal to Tibet tours for thousands of tourists.

If you hold a passport from one of the countries eligible for 15/30-day visa-free entry to China, you do NOT NEED to apply for the Group Visa and find group members. Simply apply for the Tibet Travel Permit with your valid passport.

Just tell us your travel plan, and we'll turn your dream trip into a reality.

1. How to Get Tibet Travel Permit and China Group Visa to Enter Tibet from Nepal?

Step 1: Confirm Your Tibet Trip in Advance
It is suggested to inquire about your Tibet tour at least 1 month in advance. Our 1-on-1 travel consultant will contact you and help you arrange the trip according to your needs. Feel free to discuss your Tibet tour with our travel consultant.

Once agree with the proposed itinerary, you need to sign the tour contract by paying the deposit. Then, email the photo image of your passport to us.

Step 2: We Submit Tibet Travel Permit Application on Your Behalf
We will gather your travel information and submit your Tibet Permit application to the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) on your behalf as the individual application is not accepted by the Bureau.

Generally, after 8-9 business days, TTB will issue a Tibet Travel Permit and send the Visa Invitation to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

Your issued Tibet Travel Permit will be kept by our Tibetan guide, who will meet you at the airport or the land border. There's no need to have it delivered to you - you will receive it when you arrive in Tibet.

Step 3: Arrive in Kathmandu at least 5 days in advance for the China Group Visa Application
You need to arrive in Kathmandu at least 5 days earlier before you enter Tibet either by flight or by road.

Our local staff will meet you at our Kathmandu office. You need to provide your original passport, and passport-sized photographs, fill out the application form, and pay the visa fee. We will do the rest for you.

Insider Tips: While waiting for the issuance of the Group Visa, you can take a short trip to visit Kathmandu, Pokhara, or some other nearby destinations. We can also arrange the Nepal tour for you. Feel free to share your travel ideas with us.

Step 4: Get the China Group Visa and Get to Tibet
Generally, it takes 4 working days for the Group Visa issued. Once we get your China Group Visa, our staff will send it to your group for your flight or overland trip to Tibet.

Step 5: Get a Tibet Travel Permit upon arrival in Tibet and Fulfill Your Tibet Trip
Our Tibetan guide will have the Tibet Travel Permit ready for you and meet you at the airport or the land border. With all the necessary travel documents ready, enjoy your Tibet tour with us.

A Sample of China Group Visa

2. What Documents are Needed to Apply for A China Group Visa and Tibet Permit?

Since the processing of China Group Visa takes at least 4-business days, you are advised to arrive earlier in Kathmandu.

While for Tibet Permit, you need to start preparing at least 20 days before you for Nepal. All you need to do is emailing the photo of your passport information to us.

3. How Much Does a China Group Visa and Tibet Travel Permit Cost?

(Updated on Jan., 2024)

Please Notice:

1. The above is the Group Visa Fee charge only. You need to pay an additional USD 20.00 per person for the service for Group Visa processing.

2. You can get a guaranteed Group Visa in 3 working days with an extra VIP service at USD 32.00 per person.

3. For the latest and detailed information, please feel free to contact us.

4. We arrange the Tibet Travel Permit for Free for our customers

4. How Long Does It take to get My China Group Visa and Tibet Permit?

Though the general processing of Tibet Permit takes 8 to 9 working days in Lhasa, you should confirm your trip and offer your passport information to us at least 20 days before you leave for Nepal. It takes time to apply for a Tibet Permit and get the Visa Invitation. If you plan to visit Mount Kailash from Nepal, it takes longer to get all the necessary travel documents. So leave enough time for the Tibet Permit application for a Mount Kailash tour.

Normally, it takes 4 working days to process your China Group Visa in the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu (Mon to Fri during office hours). For an urgent visa, it takes 3 working days.

A Sample of Tibet  Permit

5. Where Can I Get My China Group Visa and Tibet Permit?

The China Group Visa needs to be applied through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu with your original passport. So, it can be only applied after you arrive in Kathmandu.

The Tibet Permit is issued by the Tibet Tourist Bureau in Lhasa. You simply provide the scanned copy of your passport to us once you book the trip, and we will handle the rest for you.

The issued China Group Visa will be given to your group for your flight or overland journey to Tibet. As to the Tibet Permit, it will be kept by your Tibetan guide throughout your Tibet tour.

6. Where will My China Group Visa and Tibet Permit be checked?

Your China Group Visa will be checked as you board the Kathmandu-Lhasa flight or cross the Sino-Nepal border (Gyirong port) by road to Tibet, China. While your Tibet Permit will be kept by your Tibetan guide and he or she will show it to inspectors at different checkpoints when needed.

7. What's the Difference between China Group Visa and Chinese Visa?

Firstly, both two visas allow international travelers to enter and exit China. The major difference is that they are used differently. To enter Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) from Nepal, only China Group Visa will do. Check the following table to learn more differences:

Please be aware that the China Group Visa is a special type of visa to Tibet, China. Once your name is written with other travelers, you guys have to enter or exit China at the same time.

8. If I already have a Chinese Visa, do I still need to get a China Group Visa?

Yes, you still need to apply for the Group Visa for a Nepal Tibet tour. So, it is not suggested to enter Tibet from Nepal if you already have a Chinese Visa, as your existing Chinese Visa will be invalidated when the Group Visa is issued by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

9. Do I still need a China Group Visa to enter Tibet from Nepal with a visa-free passport?

No, you don’t need a Group Visa to travel to Tibet from Nepal. Similarly, if you get to Tibet from the mainland of China, you don’t need a Chinese Visa either.

You can easily apply for the Tibet Travel Permit with you valid passport only. So if you hold a passport from a 15/30-day visa exemption country, don’t miss the chance for an easy trip to Tibet in 2024/2025.

Hassle-free Travel from Nepal to Tibet with Us at Vision Tour

As the only local Tibet travel agency that has an established office in Kathmandu, we, at Tibet Vista, ensure you a seamless travel experience from Nepal to Tibet (TAR). From the China Group Visa to the Tibet Travel Permit, our local staff at both offices will secure your required travel documents for Tibet entry. All you need to do is book your Nepal Tibet tour in advance and we will take care of the rest for you.