Getting a visa for Tibet at short notice

I have some holiday leave that I need to clear fast, and was considering a week's trip to Tibet with my girlfriend. (I'm Australian, she's Singaporean).


The only week I'm able to get off is the week starting Feb 8, which is coming up very soon. Because it's such short notice, I'm a bit afraid to book any flights/hotels in Tibet in case we can't get the visas in time. But I also read that they won't issue you with a visa without proof of flights and accommodation. It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation. Also I read that they only issue Tibetan visas to visitors on tour groups and not to 'free and easy' travelers.


Can anyone offer any advice on how to go about it? Will the Chinese Embassy a) give us the visas for Tibet, and b) if they do, would we get them in time?


Thanks in advance,

G

Seems to late..

There are overall four documents required for foreign tourists who want to travel freely in Tibet.

- One is the Chinese Visa

- One is Tibet Tourism Bureau Permit (TTB), which you have to obtain in order to enter Tibet.

- One is the Alien Travel Permit (PSB) when you are planning to travel to the 'unopened' areas in Tibet.

- The other is the Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to some military sensitive areas.


Passport

All individuals entering Tibet must hold a passport valid for at least six months.


China Visa



Tibet is part of China, under the Chinese Central Government's Sovereignty. Thus to travel to Tibet, you have to obtain a China Visa at first stage before all are followed up. Visas for individual travel in China are very easy to get from most Chinese embassies. Most Chinese embassies and consulates will issue a standard 30-day, single entry tourist visa in three to five working days ( an 'L' means travel). If you are lucky, some embassies abroad may give you a 60 or even 90days. But in Hongkong it is very easy to get a 90 day visa, most agencies can arrange it in one day. If you want more flexibility to enter and leave China several times, most Chinese embassies will issue a double-entry visa. Usually only ' L' visa can travel in Tibet, but recent with a resident or business visa still can travel in Tiet.


Tips from our WindHorse Tour when you apply for a China visa to Tibet:

It's better not to mention Tibet as your travel destination when you are applying for a visa to China (China Embassy in Kathmendu is the exceptional). Because you may be refused by stating that you will go to Tibet. Otherwise, you need to get a Tibet Permit beforehand and apply for a China visa with it then. It is very difficult to apply for a Tibet Permit when you are abroad, or you need to join some groups.

I recommend a web:


www.windhorsetour.com


,they provide more solid inf. about Tibet