On this page
Who needs one
- Taiwan residents: yes.
- Foreign nationals: yes.
- Hong Kong residents on a Home Return Permit: no permit, but real-name registration and an agency-arranged guide.
- Mainland Chinese residents: no.
The key rule: guided travel only
Individuals cannot apply. A local Tibetan travel agency must apply on your behalf, and you must travel with a guide following the declared itinerary. Buying your own flight and arriving independently does not work — airlines check the permit at check-in.
Documents required
- Copy of your Taiwan Compatriot Permit or passport photo page with sufficient validity.
- Chinese visa for foreign nationals.
- Fixed entry and exit dates and cities.
- A complete itinerary with nightly accommodation and sights.
- Basic background information such as occupation, for certain categories.
Timing and uncertainty
- Usually 10–15 working days; longer in peak season or around festivals.
- The permit is a physical original that must travel with you; copies are usually refused.
- Tibet occasionally restricts entry for Taiwan and foreign travellers at short notice — we re-plan if that happens.
Additional permits
- Everest Base Camp, Ngari and parts of Nyingchi need a border pass, which we arrange.
- Some monastery halls have separate rules.
- Closed areas need provincial tourism bureau approval.
Health
There is no medical test requirement, but Lhasa is 3,650 m and Namtso 4,718 m. Guests with cardiovascular or serious respiratory conditions should not travel. Insurance including high-altitude evacuation is strongly advised — see our altitude guide.
What we do
We arrange the Tibet permit and border passes, engage licensed local guides and vehicles, design a gradual altitude profile, and put oxygen in the car. You only supply document copies and dates.