Who needs what
- Hong Kong residents: a Home Return Permit normally suffices for the mainland; Tibet requires real-name registration but no Tibet permit.
- Taiwan residents: a Taiwan Compatriot Permit; Tibet additionally requires a Tibet Travel Permit and travel with a guide.
- Foreign nationals: a Chinese visa; Tibet requires a Tibet Travel Permit.
- Border regions (Everest Base Camp, Ngari, parts of Xinjiang): a border pass.
What we arrange
- Tibet Travel Permit (needs document copies, entry/exit dates and a full itinerary)
- Border passes (Everest Base Camp, Ngari, parts of Xinjiang)
- Timed-entry bookings for capped sites such as the Mogao Caves
- Checking that your Home Return Permit or Taiwan Compatriot Permit has enough validity left
Allow enough time
- A Tibet permit usually takes 10–15 working days, longer in peak season.
- Border passes can be applied for together with the permit but need a fixed itinerary.
- The Tibet permit is a physical original you must carry; photocopies are usually not accepted.
- Tibet occasionally restricts entry at short notice due to policy or weather — that is outside our control.
What we cannot do
Home Return Permits and Taiwan Compatriot Permits must be applied for in person by you or a relative through an authorised body. We cannot do it for you — but we will remind you to check validity before you confirm, so you do not buy flights against an expired document.
