If you hold a British, Irish, EU, Australian or New Zealand passport and you’re travelling to Mongolia as a tourist, you don’t need a visa in 2026 for stays of up to 30 days. Mongolia has extended its visa exemption for citizens of 34 countries, and it runs until 31 December 2026. Your passport is enough. If you’re American, the rules are different and more generous: up to 90 days, under a separate long-standing arrangement.
The catch is that the exemption only covers tourism. Work, study, business, private visits or anything longer than the allowance and you’re back to needing a visa. This is the one article on this blog where your nationality genuinely changes the answer, so I’ve broken it down passport by passport — including what to do if you’re Indian and not covered at all, and what you need to know if you’re doing the Trans-Mongolian and also need Russian and Chinese visas.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia? It depends on your passport
- UK, Ireland, EU and Schengen countries, Australia, New Zealand: no visa for tourism, up to 30 days, until 31 December 2026. This is the temporary 34-country exemption, and the FCDO confirms it for British passport holders.
- United States: no visa for stays under 90 days, for tourism or business. This isn’t part of the temporary scheme — it comes from a bilateral policy that has been in place since 2001, so it doesn’t expire at the end of 2026. But if you stay more than 30 days you must register with the Immigration Agency within 7 days of arrival.
- Canada: Canadians also enter without a visa, under a separate arrangement rather than the 34-country list. Specialist sources disagree on whether the allowance is 30 or 90 days, so if you’re planning a long trip, confirm the current limit with a Mongolian diplomatic mission before you book anything.
- India: not covered by the exemption. You need a visa, and the eVisa is the practical route — see the section below.
Whatever your passport, one requirement is universal: at least 6 months of validity from your date of arrival. You’ll be refused entry with an expired document, or with one you previously reported lost or stolen.
The 30-day exemption, in detail
On 31 December 2025 the Mongolian government extended the visa exemption for citizens of 34 countries by another year. It applies to tourism only, allows a maximum stay of 30 days and runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026. It’s part of the “Years to Visit Mongolia” programme, which the government has extended to 2028 to build year-round tourism.
- You can extend by another 30 days. The request goes to the Mongolian Immigration Agency, in person or online, and it’s chargeable. It must be filed at least 5 working days before your current permission runs out.
- Your biometrics are taken on arrival, at border control, as soon as you land at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar.
- Check that you actually get stamped. The FCDO flags this specifically: make sure the border officer puts a stamp in your passport, or you can run into trouble when you try to leave.
Because the exemption has an expiry date and gets renewed year by year, check it’s still in force shortly before you travel. For British passport holders the reference is the FCDO’s Mongolia entry requirements page.
Mongolia’s electronic visa (eVisa)
If your nationality isn’t covered — Indian passport holders, most importantly for readers of this blog — Mongolia’s eVisa lets you apply online without going near an embassy. It covers three categories: tourism (K2, up to 30 days), sports, cultural events and filming (K4), and transit (K6, up to 10 days). You apply at the official portal, evisa.mn, standard processing is around 3 working days, and your passport must have at least 180 days of validity when you apply. Two things worth knowing: the eVisa is single-entry, and it is neither extendable nor convertible into another visa type once you’re in the country. Apply through the official portal rather than an agency — the government charges no express or emergency fees, so anything advertised as a rush service is a markup.
When you still need a proper visa
Outside tourism, a visa is compulsory: work, study, business travel, private visits, or any stay beyond your allowance. For anything longer than 30 days, or for double and multiple entry visas, you’ll usually need prior approval from the Immigration Agency in Ulaanbaatar, arranged by your host, employer or partner organisation in Mongolia — the embassy can’t issue the visa without it. That’s why these applications need weeks, not days. Contact the Mongolian embassy in your own country for the current document list and fees, since they vary from mission to mission.
Registration, border zones and travelling with children
- Registration. Your hotel or landlord registers you using an app. If you’re travelling independently or staying with friends, you have to register yourself with the Mongolian Immigration Agency — you don’t need to go in person. You’ll be issued a digital residence permit showing your passport number, address, photograph and fingerprints, and you should carry it at all times.
- Border zones. Mongolia treats border security seriously and foreigners aren’t routinely allowed near the frontiers. The authorities can classify a strip up to 100 km inside the border as a border area, and you need permission from the State Frontier Guard Authority to travel there. Your tour operator normally arranges it, but it has to be done in advance.
- Travelling with children. Adults accompanying children who aren’t their own should carry a notarised letter from the parents or legal guardian confirming the arrangement.
Which border crossings you can actually use
This is the part most people get wrong, and it matters enormously if you’re combining Mongolia with Russia or China. Only a handful of land crossings are open to foreigners — the rest are reserved for Mongolian, Chinese and Russian nationals. According to the FCDO, there are normally eight entry points open to British passport holders:
- Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar
- To China: Zamin Uud (road and train), Bulgan (road, west), Bichigt (road, south-east)
- To Russia: Sukhbaatar (train), Altanbulag (road), Tsagaannuur (road, far west), Ereen-Tsav (road)
If you’re crossing the China–Mongolia border by train, expect a delay of a few hours: the two railways use different track gauges and the carriages have to be lifted and re-bogied. On the Russian side, the FCDO states that you can only enter Mongolia from Russia by public bus, train, taxi or private vehicle, and that international flights on that route are suspended — so build the Sukhbaatar rail crossing or Altanbulag road crossing into your plan rather than assuming you can fly. There’s a fuller picture of the crossings on the Russian side in my guide to Russia’s borders.
Doing the Trans-Mongolian? Get your Russian visa at home
If you’re crossing Mongolia by train, hold on to this: Mongolia waiving your visa says nothing about Russia or China. Each visa is a separate job, and each one has to be done before you leave.
And here’s the detail that derails people every year: it is difficult to obtain Chinese or Russian visas in Mongolia. The FCDO tells British travellers to sort both out with the Chinese and Russian embassies at home before setting off. The Russian consular offices in Ulaanbaatar no longer issue entry visas to foreigners who aren’t resident in Mongolia, so arriving in Ulaanbaatar hoping to fix it there is not a plan.
- For Russia you need a Russian visa, either the electronic e-visa or a traditional one. If you’re not sure which applies to you, start with the guide on which Russian visa you need.
- For China, rules have moved a lot recently and depend on your nationality. I go through the current position in the article on whether you need a visa for China — but wherever you land on that, don’t leave it to be sorted out in Ulaanbaatar.
For building the route itself, I’ve put the whole thing together in the complete Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian planning guide.
Insurance, vehicles and cash
- Travel insurance. Mongolia is enormous and thinly populated, hospitals in the capital expect payment up front, and provincial facilities aren’t equipped for complex treatment. You want a policy covering medical costs, hospitalisation, air ambulance and repatriation for the whole trip. If you’re continuing into Russia, take one that covers the entire route — I explain how in the guide to travel insurance for Russia.
- Bringing your own vehicle. Tell the tax authorities and border troops in advance and complete a customs declaration, either at the border or at the Ulaanbaatar City Customs Office next to the train station. Bring your driving licence, ownership records and insurance. If you don’t leave Mongolia in the same vehicle you entered with, you’ll pay customs tax based on engine size and value — and abandoning it is not an option.
- Cash. Declare currency or travellers cheques worth 10,000 US dollars or more and keep the certified declaration, or the money can be seized when you leave.
Frequently asked questions about the Mongolia visa
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
If you hold a UK, Irish, EU, Australian or New Zealand passport and you are travelling as a tourist for up to 30 days, no: your passport is enough, thanks to the exemption that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa under a separate arrangement. Indian passport holders are not covered and need a visa. For work, study, business or longer stays, a visa is required whatever your nationality.
How long can I stay in Mongolia without a visa?
Up to 30 days for tourism under the 34-country exemption, or up to 90 days for US citizens. You can extend by a further 30 days by applying to the Mongolian Immigration Agency, in person or online, at least 5 working days before your current permission expires. The extension is chargeable.
Do I have to register with the authorities in Mongolia?
Your hotel or landlord registers you using an app. If you are travelling independently or staying with friends you must register yourself with the Mongolian Immigration Agency, which you can do without going in person. You will receive a digital residence permit showing your passport number, address, photograph and fingerprints, and you should carry it at all times.
For the Trans-Mongolian, do I also need Russian and Chinese visas?
Yes. The Mongolian exemption does not apply to Russia or China. Both should be arranged before you leave home, because it is difficult to obtain Chinese or Russian visas in Mongolia. Russian consular offices in Ulaanbaatar no longer issue entry visas to foreigners who are not resident in Mongolia.
Which border crossings between Mongolia and Russia can foreigners use?
Normally four: Sukhbaatar by train, and Altanbulag, Tsagaannuur and Ereen-Tsav by road. Other crossings are open only to Mongolian, Chinese and Russian nationals. The FCDO also states that you can only enter Mongolia from Russia by public bus, train, taxi or private vehicle.
