The Handles Indian passports, Indian citizens, those who are traveling to Tibet, the application process for permits varies depending on the type of travel: 🔺 Indian Tourists ( Not Visiting Mount Kailash in Ngari Area ) If you are an ordinary Indian tourist not going to Ngari (Mount Kailash), You must book your tour with a local Tibet travel agency, provide your passport and other necessary information to the agency, and they will handle the application process for you. Then, at least 20 days in advance, email the photocopy of your valid passport, Chinese visa, and your photo to the agency. The Tibet travel permit will usually take 7 to 10 working days to process, and the agency will deliver it to your hotel before you take the Tibet train or fly to Lhasa. "Note": You can’t process Tibet permits by yourself. 🔺 Indian Pilgrims ( Going to Mount Kailash Ngari Area ) If you are an Indian pilgrim going to the Ngari area, you need to meet the following specific requirements and follow these procedures to apply for travel permits to Mount Kailash: Requirements • Valid passport: Indian pilgrims must possess a valid Indian passport. • Good health: Given the high altitude and challenging terrain of Mount Kailash, pilgrims should be in good physical health and free from major diseases or conditions that may be exacerbated by high-altitude environments, such as heart disease, hypertension, asthma, and infectious diseases. Procedures • Contact authorized organizations: Pilgrims can apply for permits through either the Foreign Affairs Office of Tibet Autonomous Region or the Tibet-India Pilgrim Reception Center in Lhasa. No other organizations or travel agencies are allowed to handle pilgrim applications. • Submit necessary documents: They need to provide a copy of their passport, a Chinese visa (if applicable), and other documents as required by the relevant authorities. • Wait for verification and approval: 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 will jointly verify and issue the Tibet Travel Permit. This process may take some time, so it is advisable to apply well in advance. • Obtain other permits: In addition to the Tibet Travel Permit, pilgrims also need to obtain an Alien’s Travel Permit, a Foreign Affairs Permit, and a Military Area Entry Permit. These permits are usually arranged by the travel agency organizing the trip, with the Alien’s Travel Permit being applied for after entering Tibet, and the other two permits typically taking 10-15 working days to process. "Note": Local travel agencies in Tibet are not allowed to handle applications for Indian pilgrimage permits. 🔻 Why ? Local travel agencies in Tibet are not allowed to handle applications for Indian pilgrimage permits mainly due to the following reasons: 1. Border security: The Mount Kailash area is close to the border. Stringent management of access through official channels helps ensure border security and prevent illegal border - crossing activities. 2. Standardization and safety: Centralized handling through specific authorized offices (like the Tibet - India Pilgrim Reception Center) ensures that all pilgrims meet the necessary health, safety, and regulatory requirements more effectively and uniformly. It helps to better manage the overall pilgrimage process and safeguard the well - being of the pilgrims in a high - altitude and sometimes harsh environment.