Green Book

Green Book (Gyalthon Manyul)

What is the Green Book?

The Green Book has over the years in effect has become the passport of the exiled Tibetans to claim their rights from the Tibetan Government in Exile. Also in future it will become a base to claim Tibetan citizenship. Today, it is used for school admission, school or university scholarship, and employment within the exiled community. Payment of the voluntary contribution is a condition to gain voting rights in parliamentary elections.

What are the Annual Dues?
US$96: 18 years and older and employed
US$46: Students and Unemployed

What are the Green Book Requirements?

A. Tibetans having legal/permanent residence in North America AND having old Green Book

• Copies of US/Canadian passport or Green Card or Asylum granted I-94 (affix photo of copy of I-94)
• Copies of old Green Book
• Latest payment of chatrel receipt copy

B. Tibetans having legal/permanent residence in North America BUT not having old Green Book

1. Tibetans born in North America or have been residents before the Resettlement Program of 1992 and have citizenship need to submit birth or citizenship certificates along with proof of full chatrel payment from the age of 6
2. Recent legal residents have to submit the following:

• Copies of US/Canadian passport or Green Card or asylum granted I-94 (affix photo of copy of I-94)
• A recommendation letter from welfare officer in India/Nepal/Bhutan stating that the applicant is a bonafide Tibetan refugee of that settlement, and has not applied for Green Book before from its office
• Copy of school certificate or birth certificate showing date of birth and name of parents
• Copy of Indian or Nepalese RC and IC
• Letter from the  Tibetan Association stating that the applicant is a bonafide Tibetan living under its jurisdiction
• Full chatrel payment from the age of 6

C. Tibetans from Tibet having no legal residence and with or without old Green Book

1. Those Tibetans coming from India, Nepal and Bhutan to North America

• Letter from the Reception Center having name and date of birth
• Entry permit issued by Indian government at Nepal or RC copy
• Copies of old Green Book if any
• Latest payment of chatrel receipt copy

2.  Tibetans coming directly to US or Canada from Tibet

• Copy of visa showing direct arrival from Tibet
• Copies of passport or travel document

D. Other Requirements

• Please send the photo and fill up the form completely s per instruction

Download:
Green Book Application Form

Background Information:

The July 1972 General Assembly of the Tibetan Freedom Movement’s recommended all Tibetans living in exile make a monthly voluntary contribution to the Tibetan Government in Exile. A monthly voluntary contribution of Indian one Rupee was suggested.

The following month different Tibetan communities began contributing towards this initiative. The organization set up to collect voluntary contributions is the Tibetan Freedom Movement and their local chapters. The voluntary contributions are asked from every Tibetan above the age of 6 to help pay the expenses of the Tibetan government in exile, also referred to as the Central Tibetan Administration. The Tibetan Freedom Movement is an organisation under the Assembly of Tibetan Peoples Deputies (the Tibetan Parliament in Exile).

Over the years due to financial inflation, the monthly voluntary contribution has also been increased. Today for example, Tibetans who live outside India, Nepal and Bhutan above the age of 18 pays contributes US$96 annually. Unemployed and students pay US$46 and those financial difficulties make a nominal contribution. There are also individuals who contribute more than US$96 and individuals that run successful businesses in India and Nepal make a more substantial contribution from their annual profit. The total amount raised annually is used towards the partial funding of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

The Green Book has over the years in effect has become the passport of the exiled Tibetans to claim their rights from the Tibetan Government in Exile. Also in future it will become a base to claim Tibetan citizenship. Today, it is used for school admission, school or university scholarship, and employment within the exiled community. Payment of the voluntary contribution is a condition to gain voting rights in parliamentary elections.

Tibetans inside Tibet do not have Green Books. If a Tibetan were to return and be found with one, it would undoubtedly be a basis for persecution since the Green Book is the most official document issued by the Tibetan Government in exile.

(Source: Government of Tibet in Exile)