Many travelers are still confused of the visa for travelling from Nepal to Tibet, as a local operator, we would like to share some simple but useful information with you, so as to make your trip planning easier.

What is the Tibet Group Visa (TGV)

Tibet Group Visa, also called TGV,  is a special visa granted to foreign visitors who travel from Nepal to Tibet, visitors only need to have this Tibet Group Visa for Nepal-Tibet route, and Nepal-Tibet-China route, NO other visa is required. 

It is the ONLY visa for Nepal to Tibet Route

If you are travelling from Katmandu to Tibet (overland or by plane),  you will need a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) + Tibet Group Visa (TGV).  Tibet Travel Permit will be applied by us in Tibet and our guide will hold the original permit waiting for you at Lhasa airport for pickup, you do not need to have the Tibet Travel Permit for flight boarding from Kathmandu to Lhasa, what you need to show at airport is the TGV. 

Note: 

• Please DO NOT apply for Chinese Visa in your country if you travel from Nepal to Tibet, the TGV is the only visa to cover your Nepal-Tibet route, or Nepal-Tibet-China route. If you have a China visa already, it will be automatically cancelled when apply for TGV in Chinese embassy located in Kathmandu.

• Since it is a group visa, it means group action, if you are a group of 2 or more persons, you need to enter Tibet and depart Tibet/China together on same date and same flight, if you enter or depart at different date/flight, please make sure you tell us beforhand, so that we can apply TGV seperately for you. This is very important, if we do not seperate the TGV, you will NOT be able to board on the flight. 

Who can NOT get TGV

• The following countries have to apply China Visa & Tibet Group Visa in their own respective country.

• If any client who has traveled to following RED marked countries for more than 2 weeks , they will NOT able to get Tibet Group Visa.  

What we need to apply TGV ?

After you book the Tibet tour with us, you will need to send us your passport copy by email attachment. Meanwhile, you need to provide the following information,  then our Nepal office worker will start the TGV application.

• Kathmandu arrival date + Tibet arrival date

• Tibet departure date 

• If you also plan to travel further to mainland China after Tibet, you will need to specify all the Chinese cities in your visiting list, and the date you fly home from last Chinese city, all these will be written on the TGV.

How to get TGV ?

• Send us your passport copy by email, then we will use your passport copy to apply for TGV invitation letter in Tibet.

• Once the invitation letter is obtained, Tibet travel agent forward the invitation letter to the Nepal agent.

• Our Nepal agent worker will meet you at your Kathmandu hotel, then you will give your originall passport + 2 passport size photo + TGV cost to our worker, and fill in the TGV form. 

• Our Nepal worker will forward the invitation letter to the Chinese embassy for visa preparation

• At least 3 working days later Nepal agent worker will return to your hotel and give you the TGV + passport back. 

• Next day after you have the TGV, you can board on the flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, our Lhasa guide will hold the Tibet Travel Permit and wait for you at the Lhasa airport. 

Note:

• The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu only works from Monday to Friday and do NOT work during public holidays and weekends. So please kindly check with us beforehand to see of your stay in Nepal is ok to apply TGV

• You will also be required to forward 2 passport size photos (the photos must be 28mm-wide, 33mm-long) at the embassy (you may bring 2 photos from home or just simply take instant photos in Kathmandu) Please do check with us beforehand for the photos issue, we will send you the photo taking guide by email or Whatsapp. 

Different Types of Tibet Group Visa (TGV)

*Normal Application:

Days Required: 5 working days

1) If you give us your original passport in Monday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Friday noon time

2) If you give us your original passport in Tuesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you next Monday noon time

3) If you give the us original passport in Wednesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Monday noon time

4) If you give us your original passport in Thursday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

5) If you give the us original passport in Friday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

6) If you give us your original passport in Saturday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you next Friday noon time

7) If you give us your original passport in Sunday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Friday noon time

*Semi Urgent Application:  

Days Required: 3 working days

1) If you give us your original passport in Monday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Wednesday noon time

2) If you give the us original passport in Tuesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Thursday noon time

3) If you give the us original passport in Wednesday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in Friday noon time

4) If you give the us original passport in Tursday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Monday noon time

5) If you give the us original passport in Friday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Tuesday noon time

6) If you give the us original passport in Saturday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

7) If you give the us original passport in Sunday morning, then we can get TGV and passport back to you in next Wednesday noon time

Reference Holidays for Embassy:

During following holiday times, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu will not accept TGV application, please kindly note. 

• Jan: New year from 1st to 3rd Jan

• Feb: Spring Festival from 15th-21th Feb.

• March: no holiday

• April: 5th, 6th, 7th, 30th

• May: Labor Festival from 1st to 5th May

• June: Dragon Boating Festival on 18th June

• July: no holiday

• August: no holiday

• Sept: Middle Autumn Festival on 24th Sept

• Oct: National Holiday from 1st to 8th Oct

• Nov: no holiday

• Dec: no holiday

• All weekends
  

Special Note for Kathmandu to Lhasa flight

The flight shuttling between Kathmandu and Lhasa is only daily departure in certain months, if you plan to book any flight beforehand, please DO check the flight availability and the date with us beforehand.

How to book flights to Tibet

We actually book online as you, but booking via us you have to pay booking fee, which will turn out to be more expensive than the price you can get online, so we suggest you to book flights on your own to save money. Please do NOT book flights via airline company's official website, because these official websites need Tibet permit for flight booking, but we are not able to get Tibet permit until 10-20 days before the tour. We suggest you to book the flights via special booking platforms, you can use credit card and accumulate points or miles if booking on your own. There are various booking platforms and not Tibet permit required to book flights. Here are some recommendations, or you can search more in your country.  www.expedia.com,   www.skyscanner.net,   www.chinatraveldepot.com/,   www.chinatour.net/flight/