There are two kinds of permits (Tibet visa) for traveling in Tibet: Tibet Entry Permit (TTB permit) and the Alien's Travel Permit (PSB permit).

Because Tibet has unique geography，climate，religion，and traffic considerations，it has not been fully opened to foreign travelers，who must have a Tibet Entry Permit before being allowed to buy a air or train ticket to Tibet. Obtaining a Tibet Entry Permit usually requires working through a travel agency，who will plan a detailed itinerary for your time in Tibet. You must pay for a tour guide and transportation before receiving your permit，and the period of validity cannot be changed or extended. Moreover，the name listed on this document is not yours, but rather that of the travel agency that arranged it for you.

Application for Tibet Entry Permit has to be delivered at least ten days prior to the entry date. Information submitted should include the traveler's full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, nationality and occupation. All should be listed exactly as on the passport. Passport and visa duplicates are necessary. A Tibet Entry Permit usually costs around RMB 200. One Tibet Entry Permit is issued for each tourist group and is held by the guide. No individual foreign tourist is allowed to carry it.

Important Issues about Tibet Travel Permit
1. All kinds of people can get Tibet permit through a travel agency except diplomats, journalists, and government officials who should travel to Tibet under the arrangement by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Government.

2. After having a permit, a travel agency could buy you the air or train tickets, and you can pass the check-in at the railway station or airport and the check point reroute with the permit.

3. Only the guide could hold the permit after you establish yourself on Tibet land. You are not allowed to bring with it and travel to anywhere you want because except Lhasa you need another permit named as Alien's Travel Permit (PSB permit). If you wish to leave Lhasa for some other place, your must first let the travel agency assist you in obtaining the Alien’s Travel Permit（PSB permit）that allows your to visit another special area. Otherwise you alone are responsible for whatever outcome may transpire.

4. Please note that if you do not book any tour from us, we can not help you get the permits. No travel agency can provide "permit-only" service. Here is a note from Lonely Planet:
"Lhasa PSB will not issue travel permits to individuals and will direct you to a travel agency. Agencies can arrange a travel permit to almost anywhere but only if you book a Land Cruiser, driver and a guide."

5. You need to apply for the travel permit at least 10 days prior to your entry date. Generally it needs three days to get the photocopy of Tibet permit if you could supply the full necessary documents. But if you want to get the original one，it needs another 3 days（or more）to Express Deliver the permit. There is a trick that when you apply for China visa， please do not mention Tibet. After you get China visa you can easily get Tibet permit. Otherwise you have to wait for Tibet permit and then you can get China visa. Of course you will face the risk of that you might be refused to come to Tibet even if you get China visa but your destination is Tibet. In our experience seldom does TTB refuse tourists if they are not of those three kinds of people mentioned above: diplomat，journalist，government officials.

6. We only help you obtain a permit from the local authority. The cost for a permit includes the charge by the government and the service fee by CTS. Usually this cost is included in the quotation for a package tour.

7. Other documents are the same as you travel to other places of China - you need hold a valid passport with valid visa (issued by Chinese Embassy). If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you'd better get China visa from Kathmandu because no matter you've already got the visa in your country or not, you must get a visa in Kathmandu, which is regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal.

Other Tips for Travelling In Tibet
You can choose Chinese food, western food, Nepali food and Tibetan food In Lhasa and some other big cities. But in remote towns and areas, choices are limited, so please bring some high-calorie snacks with you, like chocolates, beef jerky and eggs.

For the clothing, we suggest casual attire style and layered clothing. In day time you may need only a T-shirt or at most a jacket, but at night you may need a coat. Down coat is necessary if you go beyond Lhasa and Shigatse to remote areas, the Everest Camp or further to Mt.Kailash. Sun glasses, sun blocking cream, moisture scream are very necessary to be in your packing list.

All travelers are required to complete a heath report on the train to Tibet. The high altitude and people's reaction to it is one of the difficulties to travel to Tibet. But it is not so serious as you imagined if you know it and get prepared for it.

-Do exercises to keep you fit before coming to Tibet.Avoid catching a cold.
-Make sure you have a good sleep the night before you flying to Lhasa. You'd better not to take any activities for the first day in Tibet.
-After getting off your airplane in the airport, walk slowly, take some deep breath. Do not do anything severely. Ascend to higher altitude gradually. DO NOT ASCEND ANY HIGHER if you feel bad.
-Prepare some AMS pills according to your doctor's suggestion.

Please behave well in the religious areas, sacred monasteries and unspoiled natural environment. Take your garbage with you and have respect for Tibetan habits.