Following reports of more than 50 Indian pilgrims stranded in Kathmandu without the correct paperwork, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an urgent advisory on 29 June reminding travellers planning the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to obtain valid Chinese visas and Tibet entry permits in advance. While the MEA operates two official routes through Lipulekh (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La (Sikkim), an increasing number of devotees are booking cheaper packages via Nepalese tour operators. Some agencies reportedly encouraged pilgrims to begin the journey and “collect visas en route”, resulting in travellers being denied onward passage at the China–Nepal border.
![MEA warns Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims: secure Chinese visas and permits before departure]()
VisaHQ can smooth this often confusing process by allowing applicants to check requirements, upload documents and submit Chinese visa requests online from India, with live support that reduces the risk of last-minute border surprises; full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/india/
The advisory urges pilgrims to: (1) use only operators registered with India’s Ministry of Tourism, (2) ensure passports are valid for at least six months beyond travel dates, (3) carry printed copies of Chinese permits, and (4) take comprehensive medical insurance covering high-altitude evacuation. Consular teams in Kathmandu and Lhasa have been instructed to extend emergency assistance but warned that on-the-spot visa issuance is not possible. Corporate mobility managers with employees joining faith-based leave schemes should verify that HR policies include a documentation checklist; insurance providers may also require evidence of valid China visas before honouring claims. The MEA said it is discussing streamlined group-visa arrangements with Beijing for the 2027 pilgrimage season.
VisaHQ can smooth this often confusing process by allowing applicants to check requirements, upload documents and submit Chinese visa requests online from India, with live support that reduces the risk of last-minute border surprises; full service details are available at https://www.visahq.com/india/
The advisory urges pilgrims to: (1) use only operators registered with India’s Ministry of Tourism, (2) ensure passports are valid for at least six months beyond travel dates, (3) carry printed copies of Chinese permits, and (4) take comprehensive medical insurance covering high-altitude evacuation. Consular teams in Kathmandu and Lhasa have been instructed to extend emergency assistance but warned that on-the-spot visa issuance is not possible. Corporate mobility managers with employees joining faith-based leave schemes should verify that HR policies include a documentation checklist; insurance providers may also require evidence of valid China visas before honouring claims. The MEA said it is discussing streamlined group-visa arrangements with Beijing for the 2027 pilgrimage season.
