All visitors to Mongolia require a visa unless they come from a visa-exempt country. Depending on the purpose of visit, 62 categories of visa classified under nine types are issued, according to the Mongolia Immigration Office.
A foreign national can apply for a visa at the invitation of a Mongolian citizen or business entity.
Organizations, business entities, and citizens inviting foreign nationals must apply for the appropriate category of “visa permit” to the Office of Foreign Citizens and Naturalization in advance and obtain a visa for entry from the Diplomatic Mission and Consulate of Mongolia overseas.
When traveling from a country that does not have a Mongolian diplomatic mission or consulate, the inviting party must apply for a visa at the border 14 days prior to the arrival.
The inviting party can apply for a “visa permit” in person or online. In the case of online submissions, the requests can only be submitted on behalf of the sponsoring organization.
1. Investor visa
An investor visa (B) is for a foreign investor or senior official holding a managerial position within a foreign-invested entity, its branch or representative office.
When issuing visas to investors, the focus is on the actual investment in Mongolia, job creation, and tax payments. In addition, a residence permit in Mongolia shall be issued and extended for a period of up to three years on the basis of a permit issued by an authorized agency, type of business activity, tax payments, lease agreements, and number of jobs created.
The following investor category visas are issued to foreign nationals:
- a B1 visitor visa for investors of foreign invested enterprises;
- a B1-1 visitor visa for persons related to an investor of a business entity with foreign investment intentions;
- a B2 visitor visa to foreign nationals appointed as an investor’s representative or holding an executive management position of a foreign-invested business entity;
- a B2-1 visitor visa for relatives of foreign citizens appointed by the investor’s representative or executive management of a foreign-invested business entity;
- a “B3 visitor visa for foreign nationals working as a representative of a foreign legal entity;
- a B3-1 visitor visa is issued to a relative of an overseas citizen working as a representative of a foreign representative office.
Required documents for investor visa permission:
- a formal written request from the sponsor organization including details of the organization’s areas of activity, duration of the invited person’s stay in Mongolia, and the visa issuing location must be included;
- a copy of the State registration certificate of legal entity;
- tax statement of the legal entity;
- an up-to-date reference from the State authority in charge of investment affairs;
- reference details showing any potential criminal record – to be issued from the administrative office or local police authority of the overseas national’s country of residence;
- recent bank statements of the visa applicant for the last 6 months;
- other required documents as may be requested, such as cooperation agreements, employment contracts, social insurance statements, work plan and program etc.;
- receipts of stamp duty payment
- a completed application form (to be submitted online).
2. Visas for business purposes:
A temporary business visa (K1) is granted to overseas nationals visiting Mongolia for the purposes of temporary business, representing a legal entity.
According to the revised regulations, business class visas will be issued to overseas nationals.
Required documents for business purposes visa permission:
- request from the sponsor organization (including details of the organization’s areas of business activity, duration of the invited person’s stay in Mongolia, and the location of visa issue must be included);
- a copy of the sponsor company’s state registration certificate showing legal entity and certificate of incorporation;
- a valid passport or a similar document (passports must be valid for at least 180 days);
- other required documents such as tax statements, cooperation agreements, employment contracts, work plans and programs, etc.)
- receipt of stamp duty payments;
- a completed application form (to be submitted online).
3. Visas for employment:
“C” visas are issued in 20 different categories to overseas nationals visiting Mongolia for employment, depending on the field of employment. A work permit must be obtained before visiting Mongolia, and the time taken to secure this must be factored into the visa application process. Typically, a work permit is granted for 12 months but may be extended upon reviewing a request from the organization, work performance, and clear reasons for extending employment in Mongolia.
The categories of work visas include:
- a C1 visa for overseas nationals coming to work in construction, roads, bridges, and development sectors;
- a C3 visa for overseas nationals coming to work in geology, mining, oil, and energy sectors;
- a C4 visa for overseas nationals coming to work in the financial, economic, and legal sectors;
- a C11 visa for overseas nationals working in the transport sector or carrying export freight.
The categories of work visas include:
- a written request from the sponsor organization, including details of the organization’s areas of activity, duration of the invited person’s stay in Mongolia, and the visa issuing location;
- a copy of the certification of incorporation/ state registration certificate of legal entity and certificate of licensed organization;
- a detailed job description;
- a valid passport or a similar document (passports must be valid for at least 180 days);
- proof of preliminary permission, issued by the General Agency for Labor Welfare Services;
- other required documents, as requested;
- a valid employee ID card and accreditation from the sponsoring organization;
- receipts of stamp duty payments;
- a completed application form (to be submitted online).
4. Tourist visas:
Visa requests for visits to Mongolia of up to 30 days or less may be submitted to the Mongolian Embassy or Consulate in the foreign national’s home country. Travel visas include the following categories:
- a K2 tourist visa foreign nationals visiting the country as a tourist;
- a K3 tourist visa for stays up to 3 days that will be issued to tourists near the border region by a Diplomatic Representative’s Office of Mongolia;
- a K4 visa for overseas nationals visiting to participate in cultural and sports competitions and events, or to create movies and related media content;
- a K6 visa is for overseas nationals transiting through the territory of Mongolia;
- a K7 visa is for overseas nationals participating in a short-term tourism program with the opportunity to work following the international agreement of Mongolia made on equal terms with other countries;
- K2, K3, K4, and K6 visas are respectively considered visa-free travel if the travel duration is up to 30 days.
Required documents for tourist visa permission:
Tourists are required to prepare the following documents when applying for a K2 visa for up to 30 days, either at a diplomatic mission of Mongolia abroad or at an international border crossing.
- a valid passport or a similar document (passports must be valid for at least 180 days);
- when traveling with their family members, an invitation from an authorized personnel and a request from sending organization are required
- proof of financial means during stay, including proof of purchase of both the arrival and return portions of tickets;
- receipt of stamp duty payments;
- receipt of visa fee shall be submitted to the diplomatic mission.
The Government of Mongolia has officially announced 2023-2025 as the Year to Visit Mongolia and temporarily exempted 34 foreign nationals from visa requirements for tourism in Mongolia for up to 30 days until the end of 2025 on January 4, 2023.
The visa exemption includes the following:
- 1. Austria
- 2. Belgium
- 3. Hungary
- 4. Greece
- 5. Denmark
- 6. Spain
- 7. Italy
- 8. Latvia
- 9. Lithuania
- 10. Liechtenstein
- 11. Luxembourg
- 12. Republic of Malta
- 13. Netherlands
- 14. Poland
- 15. Portugal
- 16. Slovak
- 17. Slovenia
- 18. Finland
- 19. France
- 20. Croatia
- 21. Czech
- 22. Sweden
- 23. Estonia
- 24. Norway
- 25. Iceland
- 26. Switzerland
- 27. Bulgaria
- 28. Ireland
- 29. Cyprus
- 30. Romania
- 31. Monaco
- 32. UK
- 33. Australia
- 34. New Zealand
Key considerations when applying for a visa:
- 1. If the visa application is rejected after a review, a rejection letter shall be delivered to the registered email address.
- 2. The visa permit shall be valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.
- 3. A residence permit is mandatory for temporary visitors who have stayed for over 180 days within the year.
- 4. If it is established that any documents were forged, falsely declared, or obtained a visa by a false declaration, the application may be re-submitted within 180 days, or if it is rejected on other grounds, within 30 days.
Visa waiting times:
- Regular application: - 5 business days
- Expedited (urgent): - 3 business days
Links for understanding different visa options
Mongolian visa application procedure
https://legalinfo.mn/mn/detail?lawId=16230721365191 &showType
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A MONGOLIAN VISA
Visas shall be issued by the following authorities:
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- the Mongolia Immigration Agency
- Mongolian Embassies and Consulates in overseas territories
Online service:
Overseas nationals traveling to Mongolia may apply for a visa using the following website by choosing their visa category. However, the online application is accepted only for organizations inviting a foreigner.
https://isf.mn/en/home
https://www.evisa.mn/en
Citizens of 99 countries included in the “Mongolia e-visa issuance list” can apply for e-visa from anywhere. Citizens of these countries can apply for three types of visas for up to 30 days through the e-visa system, which will be processed within 72 hours.
Category of e-visa:
- Tourist /K2/,
- Participant in cultural and sports competitions /K4/,
- Transit passenger /K6/
Order of e-visa application:
- 1. Visit www.evisa.mn
- 2. Fill out the visa application accurately and completely
- 3. Complete the payment
- 4. Visa application will be reviewed
- 5. If approved, an electronic visa with a QR code containing the applicant’s information will be sent to their e-mail address.
Standard processing:
- Evisa.mn online system accepts applications 24/7
- Immigration officers will monitor visa application documents and issuance
- Applications will be processed within 3 working days or 72 hours.
Border entry with e-visa:
Foreign citizens can enter Mongolia carrying the printed e-visa form or on a smart device along with their passport, which will be scanned at the border control for confirmation.
Considerations for e-visa application:
- 1. Accurately and completely fill in the electronic visa application information,
- 2. When applying for an e-visa, the passport must be valid for at least 180 days.
- 3. It is prohibited to use the e-visa for purposes other than the purpose for which it was issued.
- 4. Please note that the issuance of a visa does not guarantee entry into Mongolia.
- 5. If you would like to watch a video tutorial on how to apply for a visa online, please refer to the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcKzMqNPq_A
Visa exemptions:
As of August 2025, Mongolia grants visa-free access to overseas national of 30 countries and territories.
List of overseas countries and territories that Mongolia grants visa-free access to
“As of August 2025, Visa exemption also applies to holders of diplomatic passports or official/service passports of 38 countries and as well as United Nations personnel.”
Visa on arrival at international border checkpoints
A “visa on arrival” shall be applicable 14 days before an overseas national is allowed entry to Mongolia if that overseas national is from a country where there is designated Mongolian diplomatic mission or consulate.
The following documents are required for submitting a visa on arrival request:
- Letter from the sponsoring entity, including intended date of entry into Mongolia, intended duration of stay, and name of border checkpoint where the overseas national intends to enter.
- Copy of registration certificate in cases where the overseas national has made no prior application.
- A copy of a valid passport with at least six months’ validity prior to entering the country.
- Visa permit fee to be paid in advance.
- A completed application form to be submitted online.
Notice period:
- Visas are valid for a period of 90 days from the date of issue.
- Additional documents may need to be submitted when required.
Visa policy:
The individual and business organization that provides accommodation to an overseas national shall register the overseas national to the Immigration Agency of Mongolia within 48 hours after they entered Mongolia. Registrations can be made online using the website “https://isf.mn/”. Overseas visitors intending to stay in Mongolia for more than 30 days must register with the Mongolian Immigration Agency in Ulaanbaatar within the first seven days of arrival.
REQUIRED STEPS FOR OBTAINING A
WORK PERMIT IN MONGOLIA
REQUIRED STEPS FOR OBTAINING A
RESIDENCE PERMIT IN MONGOLIA
Key terms
Who is a “foreign national” or “overseas resident”?
“Foreign national” or “overseas resident” both refer to a person who has foreign citizenship but not Mongolian citizenship.
What is a sponsor?
“Sponsor” refers to citizens, business entities or organizations of Mongolia or foreign nationals legally residing in Mongolia over a 90-day period who guarantees financial resources for the purposes of inviting an overseas national to stay in Mongolia.
What is a transit visitor?
“Transit visitor” refers to an overseas national who is traveling between two countries through the territory of Mongolia (for example, between Russia and China).
What is a temporary visitor?
“Temporary visitor” refers to an overseas national visiting Mongolia for up to 90 days.
What is a Mongolian visa?
A Mongolian visa gives the overseas national permission to enter and stay in Mongolia for a certain period of time and is issued by the Mongolian Immigration Agency;
What is visa permission?
“Visa permission” refers to the documentation that grants Mongolian diplomatic and consular missions abroad the power to issue visas to foreign nationals, as permitted by the central state administrative body in charge of external relations and the state administrative body in charge of overseas citizens.
What is an electronic visa?
This is an electronic document confirming the issuance of a Mongolian visa to a foreign citizen.