Passport and visa regulations
Nationalities
| Passport required | visa required | Return ticket required | |
| Deutschland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Austria | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other EU countries | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passport information
Generally required, must still be valid for at least 6 months upon entry, and at least 9 months for two or more entries.
Note on the endorsement in the passport
Travel to Tibet is basically possible, but there are always temporary restrictions or travel bans. Basically, when traveling to Tibet: All foreigners need a special permit to visit the Tibet Autonomous Region. This can be applied for at the Chinese missions abroad or in Beijing at the Tibetan Travel Agency, 118 Beisihuan Donglu on the 1st floor of the Tibet Building, Tel.: +86 10 6498 0373. It is advisable to book hotel and flight reservations only after receiving approval. It is obligatory to hire a driver and guide provided by the Tibetan travel agency.
Visa information
The Tibet Autonomous Region is a Chinese province. All travelers from the above countries therefore need entry visas for China. Single entry visas are i. Generally valid for 30 days, although 60 or 90 day visas are also available. Many Chinese embassies have delegated the issuance of visas to visa agencies. In this case, travelers should contact the visa agency directly to apply for a visa, not the embassy.
- Thembaprograms: Offers ultimate guide to duty-free shopping in Tibet, China. Also includes import and export regulations, as well as embassy and telecommunication information about this country.
Note on the visa
(a) Journalists must be accredited by the press department of their local Chinese embassy before applying for a visa. (b) Business travelers need an official invitation from the Chinese company or organization to apply for a visa. (c) Citizens of countries not listed in the table above should contact their local embassy for entry requirements.
Cost
Germany: The following Chinese visa fees apply to German citizens: Tourist and business visa (valid for 3 months for stays of up to 30 days each): €30 (single entry), €45 (double entry); €60 (multiple entries). Business visa (valid for 6 months): €60 (multiple entries). Business visa (valid for 12 months): €90 (multiple entries). The following Chinese visa fees apply to Turkish citizens with a residence permit for Germany: Tourist and business visa (valid for 3 months for stays of up to 30 days each): €30 (single entry), €50 (double entry); €70 (multiple entries). Business visa (valid for 6 months): €70 (multiple entries) Business visa (valid for 12 months): €100 (multiple entries). Supplement for priority processing: same day (acceptance by 11.00 am): €30 per person; within 2 working days: €20 per person. Visa extension is possible under certain circumstances in China. Austria: The following Chinese visa fees apply to Austrian citizens: single entry visa (valid up to 3 months): €30; double entry visa (valid for up to 6 months): €45; multiple entry visa (valid for up to 6 months): €60; multiple entry visa (valid for up to one year): €90; For Turkish citizens with a residence permit for Austria, the following Chinese visa fees apply: single-entry visa (valid up to 3 months): €33; double entry visa (valid for up to 6 months): €50; multiple entry visa (valid for up to 6 months): €70; multiple entry visa (valid for up to one year): €100; Surcharge for preferential processing: same day (acceptance by 10:00 a.m.): €33; within 3 working days: €23; Visa extension is possible under certain circumstances in China. Switzerland: The following Chinese visa fees apply to Swiss citizens: Tourist and business visa: 80 CHF (single entry, valid for 3 months), 100 CHF (double entry, valid for 6 months), 130 CHF (multiple entry, valid for 6 months), 190 CHF (multiple entries, valid for 1 year). Group visa: 80% of the individual visa fee. Surcharge for preferential processing: on the same day (acceptance only until 11:00 a.m.): 50 CHF per person, within 2 working days: 35 CHF per person. Group travel: 15 CHF per person. The details of the visa fees for foreign nationals with a residence permit for Switzerland can be obtained from the consular representation. The extension of the visa is under circumstances in China possible.
Validity
Tourist visa: 3 months (single, double and multiple entry). Business visa: 6 months (multiple entries), 12 months (multiple entries). Transit visa: maximum 7 days.
Processing time
Visas should be applied for as early as possible, but no earlier than 50 days before the planned departure. As all visas are issued by the authorities and processed according to their importance, it may take some time before an application is approved. However, visa processing usually takes 4-7 working days. Express processing takes 1-3 working days. Note: Sameday processing has been discontinued in Frankfurt, but express processing is still possible. Sameday processing may be possible in Berlin.
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
