What’s the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB)?
Aliens’ Travel Permit is a document issued by the Public Security Bureau in Tibet, the insiders call it PSB as well. Compared to the Tibet Travel Permit, you may not need it to travel in Tibet. But when your travel plan includes the area outside of Lhasa and Nagqu, as a foreign tourist, you need to apply for it through a local travel agency. If you want to travel outside of Lhasa without PSB permission, the local police will stop you, then you will not be able to continue your journey in Tibet.
What does the Aliens’ Travel Permit look like?
Here is the sample of an Aliens’ Travel Permit as below.
Who needs to get the Aliens’ Travel Permit when traveling to Tibet?
- Non-Chinese passport holders like US citizens, UK citizens. In a word, all foreign tourists need it to travel outside of Lhasa.
- Taiwanese tourists who have not Chinese ID cards.
- Chinese citizens abroad don’t hold Chinese passports or ID cards.
Which areas in Tibet you will visit require an Aliens’ Travel Permit?
At present, Lhasa and Nagqu are open for foreign tourists with Tibet Travel Permit only, while the rest areas in Tibet all ask for an Aliens’ Travel Permit. As a basic document, the Aliens’ Travel Permit is needed when you travel to these areas of Tibet as follows:
- Shigatse Area: Visiting Sakya Temple, Mt. Everest, Everest base camp, Rongbuk Temple, etc.
- Gyantse County: Visiting Pelkor Chöde Monastery with Gyantse Kumbum
- Shannan Area: Visiting Samye Monastery, Trandruk Monastery, Yumbulakang Palace, Chongye Burial Mounds, etc.
- Nyingchi Area: Visiting Pomi, Ranwu Lake, etc.
- Ngari Area: Visiting Mount Kailash, Manasarovar Lake, etc.
- Qamdo Area
How to get Aliens’ Travel Permit(PSB)?
Your Tibet trip advisor will know if you need an Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB) when planning a Tibet trip for you. Unlike Tibet Travel Permit, Aliens’ Travel Permit is applied for after you enter Tibet. When you enter Tibet, your tour guide will help you get Aliens’ Travel Permit in a local Public Security Department of Shigatse, or Nyingchi with your original passport, Chinese visa, and Tibet Travel Permit. Usually, It takes 30mins to get it depending on the number of team members. The cost is RMB50/per person.
