Apply Tibet Permit with X1 Visa, Go to Tibet with X1 Visa

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How to Apply Tibet Permit with a X1 Visa

X1 visa is a Chinese student visa issued to foreigners who come to China for long-term study (more than 180 days). It is no problem for tourists with X1 visas to travel to Tibet. When applying for the Tibet Permt, in addition to providing a passport, a scanned copy of the visa (if you are not travelling to Tibet during the validity period of the visa, you should provide a scanned copy of your residence permit), you will also need to provide proof of being at school, or student ID with your photo.

Tips for X1 visa application:

I. Required documents:

Passport: Original passport valid for more than 6 months with a blank visa page and a copy of the information page.

A visa application form and a passport photo: People's Republic of China Visa Application Form with a recent white-background passport-sized photo glued to it.

(1) The original and a photocopy of the offer letter from the Chinese university or school;

(2) The original and a photocopy of the Foreign Student Visa Application FormJW201 or JW202.

Please note:

The holder must apply for the residence permit to the local Exit and Entry Administration within 30 days upon entry into China.

II. Tibet Permit application procedure with X1 Visa

Foreign travelers entering Tibet must be organized tours with a reception unit and a confirmed travel itinerary. Tibet Permit is also required as a must entry pass issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) to board the flight or Tibet train. Overseas Chinese and Taiwan residents need to get the Tibet Permit in the same way as for the international tourists. For residents of Hong Kong and Macau, there is no need to apply for the Tibet Permit. All you need to take is your HK/Macau SAR passport and Home Return Permit.

Step 1: Confirm with us about your travel time, travel itinerary, hotel reservation and other related details.

Step 2: Email us a scanned copy of your passport, your visa, and the invitation letter 25-30 days in advance.

Step 3: After confirming the tour group information, we will submit the documents to the Tourism Bureau to apply for your Tibet Permit. Usually the Tibet Permit will be issued 7 days before your Tibet trip starts. If you are taking a domestic flight in mainland China to Tibet, we will deliver the original Permit to the you. If you are going to take a train, we will send the scanned copy to you and you can just print it out. (the train passengers only need to take a copy of Tibet permit to board the train).

III. Who needs to apply for Tibet Permit?

1. Non-Chinese citizen ID card holder/Taiwan residents

2. Non-Chinese Passport Holder - Foreign Passport Holder

3. Overseas Chinese (Chinese with foreign passports) also need to apply for Tibet Permit

Note: Government officials, diplomats and journalists have to apply for the Tibet Permit through the Tibet Foreign Affairs Office and arrange receptions.

In addition to the Tibet Permit, other documents are required for travel to Tibet:

a. Frontier Pass

The frontier pass is the abbreviation of the “Border Security Pass”. If your itinerary includes border areas such as Medog, Zhangmu, Yadong, Dingri (Everest), Shiquan River in Ngari, Pulan, etc. you need to apply for a Frontier Pass in accordance with the Chinese law.

Domestic tourists are recommended to apply for a Frontier Pass at the police station where your household registration is located. Unless you prefer a Frontier Pass with Tibetan language on it for commemoration, you will have to apply for it in Lhasa. Other places such as Shigatse and Nyingchi can also be done, but they are more troublesome.

If you want to apply for a Frontier Pass in Lhasa, an easy way is to have a travel agency to handle it. Otherwise, you will start a complicated set of procedures.

For foreign tourists: Frontier Pass is generally arranged by the travel agency.

b. Alien’s Travel Permit

A Tibet Permit is good enough to visit Lhasa, Namtso, and Shigatse. But if you want to visit Nyingchi, Shannan, Changdu and other areas, you will need to apply for a Alien's Travel Permit. This permit can be applied by a travel agency with the application for your Tibet Permit.

Note: Only foreign travelers and Taiwan residents need to apply for an Alien’s Travel Permit. Mainland and HK/Macau tourists do not need to apply for it.