Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Visas
Cost
Standard tourist visas generally last 30 days from the date of entry and you must
enter Mongolia within three months of issue. Each embassy or consulate sets its own
price. For single-entry/exit visas you can expect to pay: A$100 in Canberra, UK£40 in
London, C$90 in Ottawa and Y250 in Bĕijīng.
Issuing time
Visas normally take several days, or even up to two weeks, to issue. If you
want your visa quicker, possibly within 24 hours, you will have to pay an 'express fee',
which is double the normal cost.
Multiple-entry visas
Multiple-entry/exit tourist visas are usually only issued to foreign
residents who do a lot of travel.
Transit Visas
These visas last 72 hours from the date of entry. This period will only allow you to get off
the Trans-Mongolian train for a very short time before catching another train to Russia or
China. A single-entry/exit transit visa costs between US$25 and US$60, depending on
where you apply for it, but cannot be extended. You will need to show the train or plane
ticket and a visa for the next country (Russia or China).
Visa Extensions
If you have a 30-day tourist visa, you can extend it by another 30 days. For extensions, go
to the
Office of Immigration, Naturalisation & Foreign Citizens
(INFC; 11-1882;
9am-1pm & 2-6pm Mon-Fri) in UB. The only catch is that if you stay longer than 30 days
you have to be registered at this office (which you should have done within seven days
after arrival).
The office is located about 1.8km east of the airport (next to the large sports arena), an
inconvenient 15km trek from the city centre. The office is usually quite busy, so you
should expect to spend an hour or two here getting your stuff done. There is a small cafe
here that serves lunch if you get stuck during the lunch hour. An information desk with
English-speaking staff can help answer your questions and point you to the correct line.
The INFC office is a branch of the main visa office of the
Ministry of External Rela-
tions
(cnr Peace Ave & Olympiin Gudamj; 9.30am-noon Mon-Fri). You may be sent to
the ministry if your visa situation is complicated (ie you require a work permit). The en-
trance is around the back. In Mongolian it's known as: Gadaadiin Irgen Haryatiin Asuudal
Erhleh Gazar.
If you have already registered, you should apply for an extension about a week before
your visa expires. It costs T3600 per day but the minimum extension is seven days. You
will need a passport-sized photo and must pay a T5000 processing fee. The extension will
be issued on the same day. Credit cards may be accepted, but it's best to bring cash in
case the machine isn't working.