Tibet Group Visa: Essential Guide to Obtaining Travel Permits for Group Adventures

Chinese Tibet Group Visa

The Chinese Tibet Group visa is a special visa required for all foreign tourists who enter Tibet from Nepal. It is a single-entry visa, valid for a maximum of 30 days. The visa is not stamped in your passport but is issued on a separate sheet of paper. It lists all of the members of your group and the dates of your tour in Tibet. Each member of the group will receive two copies of the visa. One copy will be collected upon arrival in Tibet, and the other will be collected upon departure. All members of the group must enter and leave Tibet at the same time.

What is a group visa to Tibet from Nepal?

The Tibet Group Visa (TGV) is a special visa required for foreign tourists who enter Tibet from Nepal. It is a single-entry visa, valid for a maximum of 30 days. The TGV is not stamped in your passport but is issued on a separate sheet of paper. It lists all of the members of your group and the dates of your tour in Tibet. Each member of the group will receive two copies of the visa. One copy will be collected upon arrival in Tibet, and the other will be collected upon departure. All members of the group must enter and leave Tibet at the same time.

TGV can be used to travel to mainland China from Lhasa, but there are some conditions. You must travel with a tour group the Chinese government has approved and have a valid Tibet Travel Permit. You cannot travel independently in mainland China with a TGV.

If you plan to travel to Tibet from Nepal, you should apply for a TGV through a travel agency in Nepal. The processing time for the visa is usually four working days.

Important Things to Know about Group Visa to Tibet

Whether you already have a China visa in your passport, it will automatically expire when you apply for a group visa to Tibet. So, if you are flying from Kathmandu to Lhasa by flight or traveling overland via the Gyirong border, you do not need to apply for a China visa in your home country.
The group visa to Tibet is valid for 30 days. You can visit Tibet and other mainland Chinese provinces within these 30 days.
All travelers with a Tibet Group Visa must enter Tibet from Nepal together, travel in Tibet together, and depart from China together. All China tour itineraries must follow the scheduled and submitted itinerary on the group visa. (Per the latest rules, a Group Visa requires at least five travelers from the same country.)
To obtain a group visa, the applicant needs to book a Tibet tour with a reputable Tibet travel agency. Subsequently, the agency can apply for a group visa invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau. In Kathmandu, the application should be submitted to the China Embassy through an authorized travel agency, along with the Group Visa application and the invitation letter.

How to Apply for the Chinese Group Visa

Because you must apply for the Chinese Group Visa in Nepal, arriving in Kathmandu a few days in advance, preferably at least 3-5 working days before your tour starts, would be best. Follow these guidelines to understand the process of obtaining a China Group Visa in Nepal:

Step 1: Confirm your tour itinerary and send us a scanned copy of your passport. We will be able to help you get an invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau.

Step 2: When you arrive in Kathmandu, please hand over your original passport to our staff. You must come to Kathmandu three working days before your intended travel date. Could you provide your original passport, a personal photo, and the visa fee to our team in Kathmandu?

After the visa application is turned in, you will be asked to present at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu for a biometric process.

Step 3: Receive your Chinese Group Visa. Once our staff obtains your China Group Visa, they will promptly deliver it to your hotel in Kathmandu.

These revised instructions maintain clarity and ensure travelers understand the process clearly.

Required Documents for Tibet Group Visa

Invitation Letter Confirmation: Your Kathmandu-based tour operator will receive confirmation of the invitation letter from Tibet. This confirmation will include the visa number, approved travel date, your name, date of birth (DOB), passport number, and nationality.
Visa Application Form: The TGV application form is the same as the regular Chinese visa and can be obtained at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. Clients should complete the visa application form themselves or have their agent assist. Ensure that all the information provided in the form is accurate.
Recent Passport-sized Photograph with White Background: You can obtain a photograph in Thamel or near the Embassy, with a quick turnaround of 10–15 minutes. Alternatively, you can bring one from home.
Return Flight or Train Tickets and Tour Itinerary: Provide your flight tickets to or from Lhasa or mainland China, along with your day-to-day Tibet tour itinerary.
Photocopy of Your Passport: Prepare one photocopy of your passport.
Existing Chinese visa copy (if applicable): Make a copy of your Chinese visa. Please note that your existing Chinese visa will be canceled and reissued as a paper visa under the TGV. If you have a multi-entry China visa, consider traveling from Mainland China instead of Kathmandu.

Just to let you know, after submitting the visa application, you will need to visit the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu for a biometric process.

Just so you know, the visa application process should be facilitated through the tour operator based in Kathmandu, as they will help you process the TGV.

Tibet Group Visa Fee Structure (From Kathmandu, Nepal)

Nationality	No. of Entry	Ordinary (5 Days)	Urgent (3 Days)	Extreme Urgent (2.5 days)
US Citizen	Single	147	179	205
Canadian Citizen	Single	96	128	153
Romanian Citizen	Single	96	128	153
Brazilian Citizen	Single	140	171	198
Israeli Citizen	Single	58	90	116
Panama Citizen	Single	85	118	144
Argentinian Citizen	Single	65	100	125
For Citizens of all other countries	Single	65	100	125

Updated in 2023, the structure of the Tibet Group Visa (TGV) Fee can be changed without prior notification.

Where will the group visa be checked?

At Kathmandu Airport: When picking up your flight ticket from Kathmandu to Lhasa, ensure you have your original passport and Tibet Group Visa for verification. You will then proceed to board your flight to Lhasa. Upon arrival at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, our Lhasa tour guide will be waiting for your original Tibet Entry Permit.
At Gyirong Port: If you are taking an overland tour to Tibet from Kathmandu via Gyirong Port, present your original passport and Tibet Group Visa at the security check at Gyirong Port. Our Tibet tour guide will have your original Tibet Entry Permit and meet you on the Chinese side of Gyirong Port.
Other Checkpoints: Your Tibet Group Visa will be checked at various locations, including hotels, security points, train stations, and airports, especially at the airport from which you depart China. Therefore, keeping your Tibet Group visa safe is essential until you have left China.

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Tibet Group Visa