Entry/Exit Requirements

You must have a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of your arrival in Mongolia. A visa is not required if you are visiting Mongolia for fewer than 90 days for the purpose of business or tourism; however, if you plan to stay in Mongolia for more than 30 days, you must register with the Citizenship and Migration General Authority of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar within seven working days of arriving in Mongolia and obtain a residency permit card. If you do not register and you stay longer than 30 days, even for reasons beyond your control, you will not be allowed to exit until you have paid a fine, which can vary. The minimum fine is one to three times the Mongolian monthly minimum wage, or approximately $96 to $288 at current exchange rates. Foreign citizens are required to carry their residency permit card or passport at all times while in Mongolia and are subject to a fine if not in possession of their documents when stopped by Mongolian authorities.

Visitors who have been in Mongolia for more than 90 days must visit the Citizenship and Migration General Authority of Mongolia in order to register their departure at least ten days before traveling. Be aware that requests to exit Mongolia can be denied for reasons such as a pending civil dispute, a pending criminal investigation, or an immigration violation. In such instances, you may not be allowed to leave the country until the dispute is resolved, however long that may be.

If you are planning to work or study in Mongolia, you should apply for a visa at a Mongolian embassy or consulate outside of Mongolia. If you do not have a visa upon arrival in Mongolia, the authorities may refuse to allow you to register to obtain a residency permit, charge you a fine, or require that you leave the country.

If you plan to arrive or depart Mongolia overland through China or Russia, you should be aware of Chinese and Russian visa regulations and obtain appropriate visas before beginning your trip. If you need a visa for Russia, you should obtain it outside of Mongolia, as it is difficult to obtain Russian visas at the Russian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

Check with immigration authorities to make sure that the border posts you intend to use in China and Russia will allow U.S. citizens to transit there and will be open when you want to use them. A number of border posts are closed to foreigners. For more information on the entry, exit, and transit requirements for Russia and China, see the Country Specific Information for Russia and China.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, Mongolia requires that its citizens provide documentary evidence of relationship and permission from parent(s) or a legal guardian for a child to travel. At this time it is not required for foreigners, however having such documentation on hand may help facilitate entry/departure.

Visit the Embassy of Mongolia website for the most current visa information or contact the Embassy of Mongolia at 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, telephone (202) 333-7117. The Consulate General of Mongolia is located at 465 California Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104, telephone (415) 622-4000.

Travelers with HIV/AIDS may be subject to additional scrutiny and are required to declare their status on a health declaration form and present themselves to the health control monitoring units at the border. For additional information, contact the Embassy of Mongolia before you travel.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.