Tibetan Travel: A Breakdown of the Required Documents

A haven of mystery and enchantment, so secluded, so tucked away near walls of sky grazing mountains lies Tibet and the city of Lhasa. A city many will never get to see. A city that not even the most glamorous or gritty movie can depict in a manner wholly realistic. For these reasons and more adventurous students from around the globe dream of traveling to the Tibetan region and seeing the glories of Tibet and Lhasa for themselves. Unfortunately, the city isn’t as easy to reach in reality as it is in our vivid and limitless imagination. However, it isn’t impossible. One must simply know the challenges involved and overcome them one by one.

The first of these inevitable challenges lies in getting there. Of course this task may not sound so hard, but there are a number of documents needed to actually enter the region. You must first choose an entry point, typically China. However, you can also choose to enter Tibet through Katmandu in Nepal. Either way, you’ll need a Chinese visa to enter China. These can be obtained through the nearest Chinese Consulate or Embassy. If you live in a big city there is probably a consulate somewhere nearby. For those residents of more remote towns, you’ll have to send your paperwork into the nearest embassy, so leave ample time before departing for sending and receiving documents. In all there are four documents you will need to enter and move freely around Tibet. Depending on where you plan to travel in Tibet will decide which ones you need.

As mentioned, the first is the Chinese visa. This is necessary for all foreign travelers as you will need one to enter into China. There are many different types of visas available and the prices range from $50.00 for a single entry (valid for 3 months for a duration of 30) and prices go up from there. Questions and concerns should be address to your local Chinese consulate.