Tibet Permit for Kailash Yatra: Visa, Permits, Documents

To reach Mount Kailash you need four documents, each one built on the one before it: a Chinese visa, a Tibet Travel Permit, an Aliens' Travel Permit and a military/border permit for Ngari. Before any of them, every pilgrim needs a passport valid for at least 6 months — an Election/Voter ID is not accepted. A Chinese visa only lets you into mainland China; on its own it will not get anyone into Tibet. The Tibet Travel Permit can only be obtained by a registered agency. Overland from Nepal, everyone travels on a Chinese Group Visa issued in Kathmandu, and any existing Chinese visa in your passport is cancelled. Permits are included in our packages; documents must reach us at least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules; 2027 terms confirmed later).

Current status: Kailash yatras are currently on hold after the August 2026 Rasuwa floods, and the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung road crossing is currently closed. We are building the 2027 priority list now — message us on WhatsApp to be added. 2027 dates and rates will be confirmed once the Tibet side confirms.

Quick facts — Tibet permits for Kailash Yatra

Fact	Value
Prerequisite	Passport valid 6+ months (not one of the four)
The four documents	Chinese visa → Tibet Travel Permit → Aliens' Travel Permit → Military/border permit (Ngari)
Election/Voter ID	Not accepted for Tibet
Chinese visa	Group Visa issued in Kathmandu; any existing Chinese visa is cancelled
Tibet Travel Permit	Only obtainable through a registered agency
Aliens' + military/border permits	Obtained by the agency
Cost to you	Permits are included in our packages
Documents reach us	At least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules; 2027 terms confirmed later)
Age	Pilgrims over 70 not permitted; minors checked case by case with us before booking
Saga Dawa	Usually May–June (4th Tibetan lunar month); 2027 dates published once confirmed

Why Tibet needs its own permits

Mount Kailash lies in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China, in the Ngari area. Tibet has its own entry controls on top of the normal Chinese visa. Every foreign pilgrim — Indian, Nepali or any other nationality — needs Tibet permits in addition to a visa, and these are checked at the border and at checkpoints inside Tibet.

This is why every Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is sold as a guided group tour through a registered agency.

Before you start: the passport

The passport is the prerequisite, not one of the four documents — nothing else can be applied for without it. Every pilgrim needs a passport valid for at least 6 months from the travel dates, with blank pages and no damage. An Election/Voter ID is not accepted for Tibet. If your passport is near expiry, renew it first.

The four-document chain

Each document is issued on the basis of the one before it, and a missing link stops the whole application.

1. Chinese visa — enters mainland China, nothing more

A Chinese visa lets you into mainland China. That is all it does. Overland from Nepal, every pilgrim travels on a Chinese Group Visa issued in Kathmandu — a single group document listing everyone in the group. Any existing Chinese visa in your passport is cancelled when the group visa is issued, so if you hold a valid Chinese visa from a previous trip, plan for it to be cancelled.

2. Tibet Travel Permit — enters the Tibet Autonomous Region

The Tibet Travel Permit is what allows entry into the TAR. A Chinese visa alone will not get anyone into Tibet. The permit names every pilgrim in the group and lists the dates and route. Only a registered agency can obtain it — individuals cannot apply, and it is never issued for independent travel.

3. Aliens' Travel Permit — anywhere beyond Lhasa

Travel anywhere in Tibet beyond Lhasa needs an Aliens' Travel Permit, which covers Mansarovar and Kailash. The agency obtains it.

4. Military / border permit for Ngari

Kailash and Mansarovar lie in Ngari, a restricted border prefecture, so a military/border permit is also needed. The agency obtains this as well.

You do not apply for any of the four yourself — permits are included in our packages, and we handle them once your documents are complete.

Documents we need from each pilgrim

• A clear colour scan of your passport (valid at least 6 months, with blank pages)
• Recent passport-size photographs (white background) — we tell you the number and format
• The visa application form (we send you the template)
• A medical fitness certificate from your doctor (required for pilgrims aged 60+)
• For international (non-Indian, non-Nepali) pilgrims: details of your entry into Nepal once you arrive

All documents must reach us at least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules; 2027 terms confirmed later). The original passport is needed in Kathmandu for the group visa — we explain the handover when you book.

Timeline — when to send what

Step	When
Confirm the pilgrim's age and passport validity	Before booking
Confirm your yatra booking	As early as possible — join the 2027 priority list
Send us all permit documents	At least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules)
We apply for the Tibet Travel Permit and Group Visa	After your documents are complete
Group Visa issued in Kathmandu	Shortly before departure
Yatra begins from Kathmandu	Day 1

Late or incomplete documents are the most common reason a pilgrim cannot travel. The Saga Dawa period (usually May–June) is the busiest, so send documents early.

Cost

You do not pay separately for the Chinese Group Visa or the Tibet permits — permits are included in our packages. 2027 rates for the yatra itself are quoted on request.

Common reasons applications run into trouble

1. Passport too close to expiry or damaged — renew it if it expires within about 9 months of your travel dates.
2. Not enough blank pages in the passport.
3. An existing Chinese visa — it will be cancelled when the group visa is issued; tell us about it up front.
4. Name spelling that doesn't match the passport exactly — including spaces and middle names.
5. Trying to use an Election/Voter ID — it is not accepted for Tibet. A passport is required.
6. Age — pilgrims over 70 on the travel dates are not permitted.
7. Incomplete medical certificate — it should be on the doctor's letterhead, signed and stamped, and recent.

What if a permit is refused?

The Chinese authorities make the final decision, and no agency can promise a permit. If a permit is refused, we will talk through the options with you — such as moving to a later departure. The terms for refunds and changes are in your booking conditions; please read them before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Tibet permit myself?

No. The Tibet Travel Permit can only be obtained by a registered agency, for an organised group. You must travel with an authorised operator.

I already have a Chinese visa. Can I use it for Kailash?

No. A Chinese visa alone does not get you into Tibet, and when you travel from Nepal you go on the Chinese Group Visa issued in Kathmandu. Any existing Chinese visa in your passport is cancelled when the group visa is issued.

Can Indian pilgrims use an Election ID (Voter ID)?

No. An Election/Voter ID is not accepted for Tibet. Every pilgrim needs a passport valid for at least 6 months.

What is the difference between the Chinese Group Visa and the Tibet Travel Permit?

The Chinese visa lets you enter mainland China, nothing more. The Tibet Travel Permit lets you enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. For Kailash you also need the Aliens' Travel Permit (for anywhere beyond Lhasa) and the military/border permit for Ngari. All four are checked at the border and at checkpoints inside Tibet.

How long are the permits valid?

Only for your group, your dates and your route. They cannot be extended or used for independent travel within Tibet.

Can children get a Tibet permit?

Minors are checked case by case with us before booking. Tell us their ages early. The parikrama crosses Dolma La at 5,630 m, so we discuss each family's situation individually.

Is there an age limit?

Yes. Pilgrims over 70 are not permitted on any route — this is a Chinese authority rule. A medical certificate is required for pilgrims aged 60+. See Kailash Yatra age limit & fitness.

Ready to start?

If you book a Kailash Mansarovar Yatra package with us, we handle the Chinese Group Visa and Tibet permits for you. Send us your documents at least 30 days before entry into Tibet and we do the rest.

For questions about your situation — passport expiry, an existing Chinese visa, group size — message us on WhatsApp +977 9810 351 300 or send a custom inquiry.