Tips For Travelers to Tibet
Permits are required to visit Tibet as well as many remote areas not normally open to foreigners. A travel permit for Tibet can be obtained through local travel agents. Permits cost approximately renminbi (RMB) 100, are single-entry and valid for at most three months. Most areas in Tibet are not open for foreigners except Lhasa City and part of Shan Nan. Foreigners can be fined up to RMB 500, taken into custody, and deported for visiting restricted areas. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Visa Office of the Embassy of China (PRC) at Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20007, or telephone (202) 338-6688 and fax (202) 588-9760. For a list of services and frequently asked visa questions and answers, travelers can view the Chinese Embassy's website. There are Chinese Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.
THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: The Chinese Government will sometimes not authorize the travel of official U.S. personnel to certain areas of Tibet. These travel limitations may hinder the ability of the U.S. Government to provide assistance to private U.S. citizens in those areas. U.S. tourists are also sometimes not authorized to travel to certain parts of Tibet.