Mount Kailash Permit: What You Need for a Mount Kailash Tour

Taking a tour to Mount Kailash—the most sacred peak in Tibet—requires several permits. For foreign travelers, you first need a Tibet Travel Permit as an entry permission. Apart from that, you also need two other permits: the Alien’s Travel Permit and the Military Permit.

There's no need to worry—you won’t have to deal with the paperwork yourself. All you need to do is find a reliable local travel agency, provide the required information, and they’ll take care of the necessary permits for your Tibet journey on your behalf. Here at ChinaTibetTrain, we provide a one-stop service for all our clients, ensuring all permits are in hand before your departure and offering you a hassle-free journey.

Chinese Visa—The First Step for Your Mount Kailash Tour

As the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is part of China, all foreign travelers visiting Tibet—including those planning to trek to Mount Kailash—must have a valid Chinese visa.

However, here comes the great news: To make it easier for foreign tourists to visit China, the Chinese government has introduced a favorable visa-free policy, which is valid until the end of 2025. Citizens from 47 countries, including France, Germany, and Malaysia, can visit China without a visa for up to 30 days. If you’re not sure whether your country is on the visa-free list, feel free to reach out to us to confirm.

If you're not from one of these countries, don't worry—it’s actually pretty simple to get a Chinese visa. The documents you’ll need to prepare include a passport with at least six months of validity, two recent passport-sized photos, proof of round-trip flight tickets and hotel reservations, and the Chinese visa application form.

Once you have gathered all these documents, you can submit them at the Chinese embassy or consulate in your location and pay the required fee. Typically, you will receive your Chinese visa within 3-5 working days.

Plus, if you plan to enter Tibet from Nepal, you’ve got two options: either use your personal Chinese visa, or apply for a Chinese Group Visa for entry to Tibet. Keep in mind, though—the Group Visa has to go through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, and you can’t apply for it on your own. But no need to worry about that part—we can help you with the Group Visa application. We recommend contacting us in advance to ensure a smooth travel arrangement.

All foreign travelers visiting Tibet must have a valid Chinese visa.

Tibet Travel Permit—Required for All Tours in Tibet, including Kailash

The Tibet Travel Permit is the most important and basic document you will need for your Mount Kailash tour. It is also known as the “Tibet Entry Permit” or “Tibet Visa”. As a foreign traveler, you cannot enter Tibet without this permit, and it is required before boarding flights or trains to Tibet.

This permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, and individual applications are not allowed. Instead, it must be applied for through an authorized local travel agency. That is why our team at ChinaTibetTrain will handle the application on your behalf. All we need are your passport and Chinese visa.

Usually, the Tibet Travel Permit can take 7-14 business days to process, and the delivery of the permit to your hotel or other address in mainland China takes a further 3-5 days. Therefore, we recommend contacting us at least 20 days before your planned departure to ensure that your permit is ready in time.

The Tibet Travel Permit is the most important and basic document for your Mount Kailash tour.

Aliens' Travel Permit & Military Permit—Additional Documents Needed for Mount Kailash

Besides Lhasa, there are six other prefectures in Tibet, including Shigatse, Ngari, Lhokha, Nagchu, Nyingchi, and Chamdo. If you want to go outside of Lhasa and visit some remote or restricted areas, like Mount Kailash in Ngari, you need to apply for the Alien’s Travel Permit issued by the local Public Security Bureau.

The application for this permit must be done after you arrive in Tibet, as it requires your original passport, Chinese visa, and Tibet Travel Permit. Fortunately, this process is relatively simple and quick, usually taking only 1-2 hours and costing 50 RMB per person.

Since Ngari Prefecture is regarded as a military-sensitive area in Tibet, you should also obtain the Military Area Entry Permit (Military Permit) and the Foreign Affairs Permit before your trip to Mount Kailash. The former is issued by the Military Office in Lhasa while the latter is issued by the Foreign Affairs Office in Lhasa. To apply, you need to provide your passport and Tibet Travel Permit. It typically takes 10-15 business days for us to assist with the application of these two permits, so it’s important to plan well in advance.

The Alien’s Travel Permit is required to visit some remote or restricted areas in Tibet.

How Do Indian Pilgrims Get the Mount Kailash Permits?

For Indian pilgrims, Mount Kailash is more than a tourist destination—it’s one of the holiest sites in Hinduism. However, the application procedures for Tibet Permit for Indian pilgrims is quite different from those of other foreign nationalities.

Indian pilgrims need to apply for the Tibet Permit through one of two official channels: the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region or the Pilgrim Center, short for Tibet-India Pilgrim Reception Center. Besides, the permit for Indian pilgrims needs to be verified and issued jointly by the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet Military Region, Armed Police Tibet Frontier Corps, and the Department of Public Security of Tibet Autonomous Region.

As the official agent of the Pilgrim Center, ChinaTibetTrain is authorized to provide free Tibet tour consultancy service for Indian pilgrims. Thus, you can also contact us for free consultancy and we will gladly answer your questions and clear up any doubts you may have.

Join Our Mount Kailash Tour for Smooth Application of All Travel Permits

At ChinaTibetTrain, we understand that applying for multiple permits can be confusing, especially when traveling to a remote destination like Mount Kailash. That’s why we’re here to assist you every step of the way. As an experienced Tibet travel agency, we specialize in arranging hassle-free Mount Kailash tours and all the necessary permits for you.

By booking your Mount Kailash tour with us, you can rest assured that all the required permits will be arranged in advance, allowing you to focus on enjoying your spiritual journey without worrying about paperwork. Whether you're traveling alone or as part of a group, we offer tailored services to ensure that your Mount Kailash pilgrimage is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Tourists can fully enjoy their trip by joining our Mount Kailash tour.

Conclusion

A trip to Mount Kailash can be unforgettable for a lifetime, while it is also part of the adventure to obtain those necessary permits. The process of applying for these permits might seem complex at first, but with the right guidance and support from a trusted Tibet travel agency like us, you can easily get them as required.

Whether you’re a nature lover or a trekking enthusiast, we’re here to handle the details so you can focus on experiencing the beauty and serenity of Mount Kailash. If you have any other questions regarding Mount Kailash permits, just reach out to us and we’ll be happy to assist.