Almost all PRC embassies in foreign countries issue individual tourist visas for China , which can be used for Tibet also as Tibet is part of China. At Chinese embassies in most countries you are typically given a 30 or 60 days visa.
Try and apply for a 60 day visa. Visas cannot be extended in Tibet , but can be easily extended in cities such as Chengdu , Kunming etc if you have a good reason to extend it.
After you have obtained China visa, Tibet Shambhala Adventure can arrange your Tibet permit and flight tickets (or Tibet road permits) in advance and deliver them to you in the city in mainland China from which you are entering Tibet .
As per today’s regulation of P.R.C., you will not be able to obtain an ordinary individual tourist visa for China from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu unless you have proof of an air ticket to a city within mainland China such as Chengdu (that is, not to Tibet ).
If you want to travel to Tibet from Nepal , you must get a group visa from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu through an authorized travel agent who will go to the Chinese embassy on your behalf. These ‘group’ visas typically cannot be extended once in Tibet/ or mainland China.
N.B. If you intend to enter Tibet from Nepal you should not get a China tourist visa before you arrive in Nepal as it will be cancelled in Kathmandu by the Chinese embassy.
No matter how large or small your group or even you are one pax, Tibet Shambhala Adventure can arrange your group visa in Kathmandu through our affiliate agents there for up to 2 months duration, as well as the Tibet entry and road permits. Before, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu works for visa on Monday, Wednesday and Friday only and normally we have to apply the visa on Monday and then get the visa on Wednesday or Friday.
According to the new rules today for getting China group visa in Kathmandu is that eventhough the working days of Chinese embassy has been changed and nowadays, they work from Monday till Friday but the visa application process has been longer. Tourists must wait for three working days in Kathmandu to apply for the China visa which means if you arrive in Kathmandu on Sunday, our agent in Nepal will apply for the visa on Monday and the embassy will give the visa back on Wednesday evening only. Before it was possible to have express visa if you pay higher but with the present new rule, it is not possible to have express visa so it is the same for all the tourists that you need to leave your original passports in the embassy for three working days to get China group visa for Tibet trip.
With the present new rule, you are not recommended to bring the passports on which you have any records of middle east countries visit such as a recent trip to middle east countries and have stamp on your passport. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu will not grant you the visa if you have the above records on your passport.
N.B The visa fee in Kathmandu has been increased from the year 2009 and by that time, you are able to have express visa if you pay more. The new visa fee is as below:
Visa fee for Europeans and Asians:
Normal: US$ 58 ( need 1 week time to apply)
Urgent: US$ 80 ( need 3 days time at least)
Top urgent: US$ 114 ( same day)
Visa fee for Americans:
Normal: US$ 142 ( need 1 week time to apply)
Urgent: US$ 164 ( need 3 days time at least)
Top urgent: US$ 198 ( same day)
N.B The China group visa process in Kathmandu has been changed since 2018 and there is no urgent or top urgent visa process any more. There is only way of processing China group visa which is three working days. The new visa fee is as following:
Visa fee for Europeans and Asians:
Normal visa: US$ 80 ( need 3 working days time at least)
Visa application service charge:25US$ Per Person
Visa fee for Americans:
Normal visa: US$ 164 ( need 3 working days time at least)
Visa application service charge:25US$ Per Person
