Chinese Visa for Tibet Travel

Should I mention my visit to Tibet when applying for the Chinese Visa? Well, it’s a common question that baffles many.

For our clients, you don't need to hide your Tibet visiting plan when apply Chinese Visa, Tibet Vista has a good reputation worldwide, most of the embassies know Tibet Vista and showing tour contract with Tibet Vista will help you to obtain Chinese visa smoothly.

However, if you've booked a trip with other travel agencies, it's highly advisable not to mention it because it makes things far easier and you can quickly get your Chinese Visa without further trouble.

Here's why.

Best Choice: Do Not Mention Tibet Visit. Why?

It is not the first time we are asked by tourists, " why do you suggest not mentioning visiting Tibet in the China Visa applicants? " "I do not want to take risk of being caught out? " "I do not want to tell a lie to Chinese Embassy, I want to do the right thing and do not want to get denied, how can I do? " The common questions asked by our tourists is that is it necessary to mention about visiting Tibet when applying for Chinese Visa. Theoretically, we suggest not mentioning it, and why? What is the best way to successfully get Visa from Chinese Embassy?

Tibet Vista may help in some ways to explain the situation and advice the best way to solve the problem. However, their concern is not necessary, because Chinese Government offers two ways for visitors to get both Tibet Permit and Chinese Visa. Here are details and advantages and disadvantages respectively.

For convenience and efficiency, Tibet Vista recommend B - Getting Tibet Permit after Chinese Visa.

A) Get Tibet Permit before Chinese Visa

Tourist just need to hand in their travel itinerary and Passport through Tibet Vista to Tibet Tourism Bureau to apply for Permit and a Visa invitation letter. Then go to Chinese embassy to apply for Chinese Visa by themselves with these two documents.

Advantage: Tourists can state the complete travel details before getting into China, get a confirmation from Embassies.

Disadvantage: Tibet Permit and Visa invitation letter are issued only around 20 days before travelers getting into Tibet. That makes big trouble to tourists who want to confirm the trip with early flight tickets booking. They have to face the very embarrassing situation that everything is ready but Visa. They may not have sufficient time to deal with it. In addition, if 1 or 2 travelers apply for Chinese Visa in this way, it might be rejected, because officially, Chinese government prefers bigger group to travel in Tibet than 1 or 2 individual backpackers.

Notice: But for Tourists who travel to Tibet from Nepal, Only A is applied. You don’t have to get Chinese Visa first on your own but get Chinese Group Visa Only through the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. Obviously, tourists need a Nepal travel agency to handle the application. Do not worry, Tibet Vista has local Nepal travel agency partner in Kathmandu can help with very small amount of service charge.

B) Get Chinese Visa before Tibet Permit

Tibet Local Tourism Bureau is also very friendly for tourists with Chinese Visa, and will later issue Tibet Permit fast and smoothly within Just 7 to 10 working days. If tourists choose B, they do not need to state they are going to visit Tibet, otherwise they must be told to get to A) by embassadors.

Advantage: Almost all of tourists prefer this way to get Chinese Visa and Tibet Permit. Because it is highly efficient, and their travel planning will carried out in order. They can buy cheap flights earlier and arrange everything in advance as Chinese Visa can be ready far earlier than their departure.

Disadvantage: You have to skip the details of visiting Tibet from tour plan when reporting it to Chinese Embassy.

Both ways are Ok. But You are strongly advised to use B) as most tourists do. It is easier, faster and more practical. In fact, some of Tibet Vista's clients intend do A) but finally they ended up choosing B, because of incontinence of doing A.

Follow the 4 Steps to Apply for a Chinese Visa

Step 1: Decide which kind of Chinese Visa you need. For travel purpose, L Visa is what you need. Then find the Chinese embassy or Chinese consulate closest to you in your country.

Step 2: Prepare the relevant travel documents: a passport valid at least for 6 months; passport copy; application form; 2 head shot photos (33mm x 48mm); round-trip flight booking information; hotel booking confirmation.

Step 3: Go the Chinese embassy and submit your Chinese Visa application in the Visa office, and later pay the visa fee.

Step 4: Normally, the processing of a Chinese Visa takes 4 business days. Then, just go to the embassy and get it.

If you do add Tibet to your travel list, what would happen?

If you do include Tibet in your itinerary, your application, as an individual one, is more likely to get denied. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy would expect you to offer Tibet Permit for the visa application.

The tricky thing is to get Tibet Permit, the Tibet Tourism Bureau will ask you for a Chinese Visa. So the contradictory system only complicates the situation. It will also affect your flight and hotel booking, etc.

Is it lawful not to mention Tibet as I apply for a Chinese Visa?

Yes, of course. It is not necessary to feel guilty for hiding the fact that you will visit Tibet, which is not a lie. Because Chinese government allows travelers to add a new destination to Tibet after you reported travel plan and got Visa. Tourists are entitled to add or change a destination in their travel plan, including Tibet.

After I Get Chinese Visa, How about Tibet Permit?

After you get the Chinese Visa, you are supposed to email the photo image of your passport information and Chinese visa page to your travel consultant who will help you submit the Tibet Permit application. - Please check the details for getting Tibet Permit.

Conclusion

From our practical experience, you’d better not mention Tibet visit when you apply for a Chinese Visa. It is the quickest way to get both Chinese Visa and Tibet Permit, a great way for overall tour planning.

Do remember to prepare relevant travel documents for Chinese Visa application: a passport valid at least for 6 months; passport copy; application form; 2 headshot photos (33mm x 48mm); round-trip flight booking information; hotel booking confirmation.

After you get the Chinese Visa, email photo image of passport information and Chinese Visa page to our travel consultant to apply for Tibet Permit.

For those who plan to visit Tibet from Nepal, you need to get China Group Visa (not ordinary Chinese visa) and Tibet Permit. And we offer both services to you.

If you have more questions about Chinese Visa or getting Tibet permit or China Group Visa from Nepal, please feel free to email us for a free consultation and our travel consultants will listen to your needs and offer many travel solutions.