Entry, exit-entry or transit
Anyone travelling under 90 days is a temporary visitor and gets an entry visa. Exit-entry visas are for residents leaving temporarily and coming back; transit visas for passing through.
Paperwork,
Plugs, Tugrug
Everything administrative in one place: who needs a visa, which class to apply for, and the practical facts about money, power, phones and holidays once you land.
We can help with the application
We'll Send the Travel Programme Your Form Asks For
Once your trip is confirmed we provide the itinerary and booking documents in writing.
Start here
Do You Need One at All?
Foreign nationals who wish to enter or stay in Mongolia must obtain a visa of the class matching the purpose of their visit. Nationals of countries with visa exemption agreements are exempt to the extent those agreements allow. Citizens of 34 countries, including most of the EU, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, can visit as tourists without a visa for up to 30 days until the end of 2026, and US citizens for up to 90 days. Most other nationalities apply for an e-visa at evisa.mn. Rules change often, so check before you book.
Your passport needs 6 months
Every foreign citizen travelling to Mongolia must hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
Apply before you fly
If you do need a visa, apply online for an e-visa at evisa.mn, or at the Mongolian diplomatic or consular mission nearest you.
Staying over 30 days?
A foreign national staying more than 30 days in Mongolia must register with the Immigration Agency of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar, or one of its local branches, within 7 working days of arrival.
Visa Classes
Validity, length of stay and number of entries differ by class. If you are travelling with us and need a visa, you need a tourist (J) visa.
J
Tourist
For anyone visiting as a tourist, whatever passport they hold. This is the one for our trips.
B
Business
For a foreign national visiting for business purposes.
S
Student
For study, higher education, vocational training, scientific research.
T
Investor
For an investor or a senior manager of a foreign-invested entity, branch or representative office.
HG
Employment
For work under an employment contract, whatever passport is held.
D / A
Diplomatic & official
Diplomatic passports and UN laissez-passer holders (D); official business, government invitations and foreign media (A).
O
NGO & humanitarian
For visits under the auspices of non-governmental or international humanitarian organisations.
SH / TS / H
Religious, migrant, private
Religious organisations (SH), emigrants holding migrant permission (TS), and private visits or family already resident (H).
How long it's good for
Validity runs from 90 days to a year depending on entries. Single or double entry allows up to 90 days' stay; multiple entry for temporary visitors is 30 days; transit is 10. A typical tourist visa is valid 90 days with a 30-day stay.
Visa on arrival
An on-arrival visa may only be issued if you are coming from a country with no Mongolian diplomatic mission. You need an inviter (a person or an organisation) to apply for your visa approval 14 days before you arrive. For tourism and business visits, the inviter applies to the Immigration Agency of Mongolia; for official (A) visas, to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What an Inviter Has to File
For an on-arrival visa, your inviter submits the paperwork 14 days ahead. If we're your operator, most of this comes from us.
01
An official letter or request from the inviter, with the intended itinerary and purpose of travel.
02
A copy of the inviting organisation's certificate.
03
A copy of the traveller's passport, valid for at least six months.
04
The travel programme and a copy of the return flight booking.
05
A fee of 1,000 tugrug per traveller. The traveller pays the visa fee on arrival.
Once You're Here
Currency
Tugrug (MNT)
The currency is the tugrug (MNT). Banknotes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 tugrug. Check the current exchange rate before you travel.
Cards & ATMs
Visa, Mastercard, Amex
You can use Visa, Mastercard and American Express in Ulaanbaatar at hotels, airline offices, shops, supermarkets and most travel agencies. ATMs are available in many hotels and supermarkets and on the main streets. Carry cash for the countryside.
Time
GMT +8 in Ulaanbaatar
Local time in Ulaanbaatar is GMT+8. The three western provinces (Uvs, Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii) are one hour behind the capital. Mongolia does not use daylight saving time.
Electricity
220V / 50Hz
In Mongolia the current is 220V/50Hz, and sockets take European-style two round-pin plugs.
Phones
Four networks, 4G almost everywhere
Mongolia has four mobile operators: Mobicom, Skytel, Unitel and G-Mobile. All of them run 4G networks covering most of the country, so you can buy a local SIM card here and keep in touch with family and friends.
Internet
Wi-Fi in the city, patchy outside
Most restaurants, pubs and large stores in Ulaanbaatar have Wi-Fi. On tour you can get an internet connection in some villages and towns, and mobile data covers most of the country.
Getting in
Three main entry points
There are three main entry points: Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulaanbaatar; Sukhbaatar/Altanbulag on the Russian border in the north; and Zamiin-Uud on the Chinese border in the south.
Shops
10am to 8pm
Most shops and department stores are open 10 am to 8 pm.
What to buy
Cashmere, leather, silver
Cashmere, wool products, leather, gold and silver jewellery, traditional clothes and vodka.
Public holidays
New Year1 January
Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar)3 days, January or February
International Women's Day8 March
Mother and Child Day1 June
Naadam Festival11–15 July
Chinggis Khaan's Birthday / National Pride DayNovember (lunar date)
Independence Day26 November
National Freedom and Independence Day29 December
Numbers to keep
Fire101
Police102
Ambulance103
Sunpath, 24/79914 3722
Customs
The following goods may be brought into Mongolia duty-free: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco; 1 bottle of vodka, 2 bottles of wine and 3 cans of beer; personal effects; and goods worth up to US$1,000.
Prohibited without permission: palaeontological and archaeological finds (without special permission); collections of plants and their seeds; birds and wild or domestic animals; and wool, raw skins, hides and furs (without permission from the relevant authorities).
For anything consular, such as visas, contact the nearest Mongolian diplomatic or consular mission, or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on +976 51 261684 or dep10@mfa.gov.mn.
Not Sure Which Visa You Need?
Tell us your nationality and dates. We'll tell you what applies and send the trip documents your application needs.