Visa necessities for visiting Mongolia

Right here’s some nice information for anybody who has been dreaming of Mongolia’s boundless grasslands and everlasting blue skies – journey into the nation has lately develop into a complete lot simpler.

A brand new e-visa system unveiled in 2021 means queuing up at a Mongolian embassy is now principally a factor of the previous. Even higher, from 2023 till 2025, a number of nations have been granted visa-free journey into the land of Ghengis Khan.

Right here’s every little thing you could find out about getting a visa for Mongolia.

Many individuals can journey to Mongolia visa-free

In a bid to spice up tourism following the worldwide pandemic, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have been declared “the years to go to Mongolia”, and a number of nations are actually being supplied visa-free journey till the tip of 2025.

Residents of the UK, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe have been granted visa-free journey for as much as 30 days. Pre-existing visa-free journey preparations stay in place, together with for residents of the USA (as much as 90 days), Canada (as much as 30 days) and a lot of different international locations.

In complete, as of August 2023, residents of 61 international locations will be capable of go to Mongolia with out making use of for a visa. Verify in case your nation is on the listing by visiting the federal government’s visitor site and clicking on “Visa Info.”

For (virtually) everybody else, there are e-visas

In case you are not eligible for visa-free journey, your nation could also be one in every of 99 nations that may apply for an eVisa, utilizing a brand new on-line system unveiled in 2021. Vacationer eVisas – often known as K2 visas – grant stays from 30 to 90 days relying in your nation of origin. To acquire one, you’ll want to use on-line for an ETA (Digital Journey Authorisation) by way of the federal government’s eVisa portal.

You’ll have to add a scan of the data web page out of your passport, and supporting paperwork together with flight and resort bookings, journey insurance coverage and proof of funds. There’s a type to fill out, and also you’ll want a financial institution card to pay the visa payment (US$51.50 on the time of writing). Enable 72 hours (three working days) on your ETA to be issued by e-mail.

The ETA will have to be scanned by immigration officers on arrival in Mongolia. You possibly can present a digital copy in your cellphone, but it surely’s a good suggestion to carry a paper copy with you as a backup. Word that you simply’ll have to enter Mongolia inside 150 days of your ETA being issued.

Visas for longer stays in Mongolia

When you plan to journey to Mongolia for longer than the validity of an eVisa (or longer than the visa-free journey interval granted to your nation), it is best to contact the closest Mongolian embassy for probably the most up-to-date recommendation on entry necessities and visas. Discover particulars of Mongolian embassies on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Different courses of visas for Mongolia

Enterprise vacationers who plan to remain within the nation for longer than the keep allowed on an eVisa or the visa-free journey interval ought to apply for a enterprise visa. You’ll want supporting paperwork from the corporate you propose to go to in Mongolia; Mongolian embassies can clarify the method.

When you plan to work within the nation, it is best to apply for an employment visa. You’ll want help from a Mongolian employer; discover particulars on the Immigration Agency of Mongolia website.

Vacationers transiting by means of Mongolia en path to some place else can apply for a transit/short-stay eVisa, which grants a most layover of 10 days. There are additionally specialist eVisas for folks collaborating in sports activities or cultural occasions.

Can I prolong a Mongolia visa?

It’s doable to increase your visa in-country for an additional 30 days by visiting the Workplace of Immigration, Naturalisation & International Residents (INFC) close to the airport in Ulaanbaatar. This needs to be carried out a minimum of 5 working days earlier than your visa expires – you’ll want supporting paperwork (together with a a call for participation, which will be from a number or tour company in Mongolia) and a passport picture.

Extra immigration necessities for journey to Mongolia

Be sure that your passport is legitimate for a minimum of 180 days from the date you arrive in Mongolia. The Mongolian Border Company will scan your fingerprints on arrival, and in case your visa has a length longer than 30 days, you’ll have to register on the INFC in Ulaanbaatar inside seven days of arriving within the nation.

This additionally applies to residents who’re permitted a visa-free keep of greater than 30 days (comparable to vacationers from the USA) and intend to remain for longer than 30 days, and vacationers who intend to increase their visa previous 30 days. Some tour firms and guesthouses can deal with the registration in your behalf.

For the most recent rules, a superb supply of up-to-date data is the web site of the Mongolian embassy in Washington DC. Info can be obtainable from the Immigration Agency of Mongolia and the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.