How can one get a permit to drive the Chinese section of Karakoram Highway with a foreign truck?

9/17/2016 5:14:13 PM

Disclaimer 1: I have not done a similar trip with an own vehicle, so all of this is from researching the net, and some familiarity with China.

Disclaimer 2: Bureaucracy and rules in China can change quickly as the weather in the mountains, with little or no notice, depending on the political situation of the day, the mood of whoever handles your paperwork and other arbitrary stuff. It pays to have alternative plans up your sleeve.

Need for a Chinese Travel Agency

Now I am not sure if it is an exact prerequisite, as some claim:

According to the notice, international tourists’ driving trips must be arranged by a certain number of tourism agencies with approval licenses like NAVO Tour.

but without doubt it will make for the smoothest experience to hire a travel agency to organize the paperwork and guide for you. The alternative (with unclear outcome) would be trying to get together all paperwork from the provincial government yourself, a feat which IMHO would require plenty of time, best contacts, mingling with local party cadres and excellent knowledge of Chinese or a translator.

I came across four such agencies in my research for this post and I am sure you could easily find more:

How to proceed

I would go ahead and contact several companies/travel agencies and get quotes as well as a feeling for how reliably they operate. Ideally you could try to get hold of people who previously used their services.
The process itself seems to be similar in all cases:

  • some 2-3, but minimum one month (in the case of touching only one province as you would, I still recommend planning more ahead) is necessary to prepare the paperwork for you.
  • you will need to provide a fixed itinerary beforehand (and you will be bound to it)
  • a list of other documents you will need to provide, here a sample:
    • Passport (scan or copy) & visa
    • Scan/copy of Home Driving License.
    • Scan/copy of International Driving License (permit).
    • Photo of driver
    • Motorbike/Vehicle Registration Certificate
    • Photo of vehicle or Motorbike (all four sides, with licence number on it).
    • scan/copy of technical inspection documents

What you get

Ideally the agency will then proceed with all the paperwork (after a downpayment) and on the agreed day when you cross the border there will be your guide waiting for you. Don’t think of the guide as a regular tourist guide, but someone who gets the paperwork sorted for you.

  • you will have to leave a deposit at the border, which will be refunded upon exit from China
  • apparently you get
    • some sort of temporary driving licenses
    • temporary license plates
    • travel permits for you, the car, …

The route

Given descriptions on the various sites already cited, the two crossings you have in mind are fairly standard. Do keep in mind though they are both at high altitude in the mountains and the passes will likely be closed in winter, with winter possibly extending well into what other places perceive as summer. Do not attempt to drive where the road is closed, besides bringing yourself into danger from possibly disastrous road conditions, Chinese officials will not look kindly upon you. This is a border region with heavy presence of military at times and I am aware of at least two military checkpoints on the stretch from Kashgar to the Pakistani border.

Finally I would also advise you to check whether the Pakistani part of the road is open and safe to pass.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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