It is relatively easy to get the permits before 2012

Generally speaking, Tibet entry permit (TTB Permit) and Alien's travel permit are necessary for foreigners traveling to Tibet. Tibet entry permit, also known as Tibet visa, is a must for boarding the train or flight to Tibet while the travel permit is required for traveling to "restricted" areas in Tibet. "How to get Tibet permits?" becomes the most frequently asked question among tourists who are planning a tour to Tibet.
It is relatively easy to get the permits before 2012 except for some special period when Tibet is closed to foreigners temporarily. However, the situation has been changed since Tibet Tourism Bureau issued new policy on Tibet permits. The new policy stated that Tibet permits will not be issued unless there are at least 4 tourists with the same nationality in the same tour group. Later, it became more harsh. Tibet permits will be issued to a group with minimum 5, even 6 travelers with the same nationality. All members in the group are also required to enter Tibet from the same city of China or Kathmandu and enjoy the same tour Itinerary.
For example, there is 6 tourists joining in a group tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu, but 4 of them want to take train from Beijing to Lhasa, while the other two plan to take Shanghai to Lhasa train. In this case, they must make an agreement on from which city they will go to Tibet, from Beijing to Lhasa by train or from another city, Shanghai, Chengdu or Xining.
This situation may last to the end of this year, which indicates that it is very hard for individual travellers to get Tibet permits. Therefore, it is advisable for individual tourists to join in a group tour so as gain more chance to get Tibet permits. Tibettravel Org offers many group tours travelling to different places of Tibet and lasting from 4 days to 10 days, like 6 days tour to Lhasa and Namtso Lake, 7 days tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu and 8 days tour of Lhasa and Everest Base Camp. Once you are willing to join in us, Tibet Travel Org will help you to get Tibet permits in 2012 to carry out your travel plan to the roof of the world.