Brief introduction concerning Tibet permits
Tibet permits refers to three kinds of documents. They are: Tibet Entry Permit, Alien's Travel Permit and Military Permit. These permits are official documents issued for the protection of Tibetan tradition, Tibetan religion, Tibetan cultural heritage and the environment.You will require different permits when you go to different areas. Essentially, you will only need the Tibet Entry Permit if you just stay in Lhasa, but you will need the police verified travel permit if you plan to go further to Shigatse, EBC, Nyingchi, etc. Usually when we say Tibet permit thins refers only to the Tibet Entry Permit (TTB Permit).
Some tourists may think that the Tibet Entry Permit is a visa. However, actually it is not a visa,  although has a similar function. The visa is a document issued to those who enter into another independent country or district, whilst the Tibet Entry Permit is issued to enter Tibet, an autonomous district of China. With Tibet being a part of China. Therefore this permit is not a visa. However, The permit is only issued to foreigner travellers (with the exception of diplomats, journalists, government officials, Taiwanese, and overseas visitors) who travel in Tibet. Said diplomats, journalists, government officials, Taiwanese and overseas who would like to get into Tibet should arrange their passage via the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibetan  Government.

See the Pictures of the three kinds of Permits as below:
  TTB    PSB
    Military Permit
                                               
Detailed information regarding Tibet permits:
1.      Tibet Entry Permit (TTB)             
The Tibet Entry Permit is issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, so it is also called TTB permit in short. You need it to enter Tibet. When you take a flight or train from any city of China to Lhasa you will need to show this permit when you check in. Furthermore, whenever you buy a flight or train ticket to Lhasa you need to show this permit. The TTB permit is also needed for overland travelling by Land Cruiser or other 4WD vehicles, but this can only be arranged by the travel agency whom organize the trip.

2. Alien's Travel Permit(PSB)
   The Alien's Travel Permit is issued by the People's Security Bureau, so it is also called the PSB Permit. If you want to go further to the "unopened" areas, you will need an Alien's Travel Permit issued by the PSB of Tibet. As for the updated restrictions, you must apply to the PSB through the same agency who had helped you to arrange the TTB (if you would like to go further to the unopened areas).
We can only arrange your Tibet Travel Permit (Aliens' Travel Permit) after you arrive in Lhasa, because we need your original passport and China visa to arrange it. Please hand your original passport and visa to your guide upon your arrival.

There is a short list of some unopened areas up to now which requires a PSB Permit for travelling:
(1) Shannan:  Samye Monastery, Tomb of Tibetan King, Trandruk Monastery, Yumbulakhang
(2) Shigatse: Sakya Monastery, Mt. Everest, Rongphu Monastery, Zhangmu.
(3) Gyangtse: Pelkor Chode Monastery & Kubum Stupa.
(4) Ngari Region: Mt.Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Tsaparang, Ali, ect.
(5) Nyingchi Region: Basum-tso, Pomi, Rawo-tso, ect.
(6) Chamdo Region: Chamdo, Riwoche, Tengchen, ect. 

3. Military Permit
   This is issued by the Military Affairs Office. You need it to pass the check-in when you travel to un-open areas such as the Mt. Kailash region.
If tourists would like to get into Tibet through the Highway road from Sichuan, Yunnan, Xijiang or Qinghai, they need the Military Permit to pass the check-point.

Applying for permits:
At the time you book the tour with us, with all your personal information and necessary documents, we need 2 to 3 working days to arrange your Tibet Entry permits, and one to two more days to send it to your last stop city before your entry into Tibet. During peak season (especially, July, August, September), this process may take one or more extra days.

Please download the PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM and complete the form with your personal information, and then e-mail it to us at happydragonhostel.com (with the message listed as ‘regarding Tibet), with the required documents (copy of your visa with the entry stamp and the front page of passport) attached.

Attention:
1. Generally we need three days to process the Tibet permit once you supply the full necessary documentation. You can buy air tickets without the permit, but when you change your air ticket to a boarding card, you will need to show your passport and the Tibet Entry Permit, otherwise you will be stopped at the airport. This case is the same regarding taking  train transportation. You cannot buy the train ticket yourself without the Tibet Entry Permit, though our agency can help you buy train tickets. You will still need to show the Tibet Entry Permit, your passport and train ticket(s) all together to pass the check point. 

2. The following details of travelers holding "L" class visa are required for obtaining the permit: Your full name, nationality, passport number, gender, date of birth and occupation. If you do not hold an "L" Visa, and possess an other, e.g "F/X/Z" etc, then please also send the worki/study certificate or any other documention of your company or inviting organization.

3. If you do not book any tour (e.g Land cruiser with driver/guide ) from us, we cannot help you obgtain any permit. Nor can any other travel agency provide "permit-only" services.

4. Only the guide may hold the permit after your entry into Tibet. You are not allowed to take  it to travel anywhere you would like to with the exception of Lhasa city, otherwise you will  need another permit, namely the Aliens Travel Permit. Otherwise, if you are stopped by the police you will be deported from Tibet immediately, or have trouble politically and economically. Furthermore, our travel agency having helped you obtain the permit will also be in trouble with fines and possible termination of business.

5. If you are coming to Lhasa from Kathmandu, you should obtain your China visa from Kathmandu, because irrespective of whether you have  already obtained your visa in your own country or not, you are required to obtain another visa in Kathmandu, this process being  regulated in an official memo between China and Nepal.

6. If the Tibetan authority refuses to issue the Tibet Entry Permit because of any tourists’ own problem, we cannot nor will not be held responsible in said case.