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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ABOUT MONGOLIA
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FAQ |
 Visa
regulations |
Currency |
Food
& Services |
| Customs
regulations |
Accommodation |
Medical Info. |
| Danger
& Annoyances |
Electricity |
Tourist Time |
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VISA: Visas for Mongolia are issued by its consulates and diplomatic
missions in foreign countries and by its consular representatives.
When travelers arrive at Ulaanbaatar airport border without
visas, the immigration officers will issue one entry/exit
visa good for 30 days for a charge of US$53, need to complete
one application form, submit two photos and must be accompanied
by an official letter-visa (from "Samar Magic Tours").
Only the Ministry of External
Relations may issue multiple entry/exit visas.
CONSULAR
INFORMATION:
-The following materials are required to obtain a Mongolian
visa:
Valid passport.
One passport sized photo.
Application form.
-Either an invitation of the receiving entity (state, government,
non-governmental organization, business entity) or an official
request of the sending country and the organization.
-or, for tourists wishing to stay over 30 days up to 90
days, a letter of invitation from a travel agency of Mongolia.
-or, if you are traveling on a personal invitation of a
citizen of Mongolia, an invitation approved by the Office
of immigration, naturalization and foreign citizens of Mongolia,
and applicant's written statement concerning his/her financial
credibility to cover his/her stay in Mongolia.
-or, for those passing Mongolia in transit, onward
ticket and visa for next destination are required.
Fees charged for Mongolian visa:
Single entry-exit visa – US$25; for urgent service
(within a working day) US$50, this kind of visa is valid
for three months from the date of issuing.
Multiple entry-exit visa valid for six months - US$65 ,
for urgent service (within a working day) US$130,
Multiple entry-exit visa valid for one year – US$130;
for urgent service (within a working day)
US$ 260
Exit visa –US$20, for urgent service US$40, this visa
is valid for 10 days from the date of issuing. Visa extension
valid for one week – US$15; for urgent service (within
a working day) US$30; US$2 per a day exceeding a week.
Transit visa-US$15; for urgent service US$30;
Multiple transit visa valid for one year-US$ 50;
 Visa Issue - Mongolian Embassy in Beijing, China: Mongolian visas are valid for 90 days from date of issue. Visas cannot be forward dated to allow for those Australians or other nationals who may be taking a longer travelling time before they reach Mongolia. It may therefore be appropriate to obtain your Mongolian visa from the Embassy in Beijing.
-Location: The Embassy is at 2, Xui Shui Bei Jie, Jian Guo Men Way, Beijing China 100600. The entrance to the Visa Section is at the near of the Embassy.
-Contacts are: tel: 65321203, fax: 65326216, email: monembbj@public3.bta.net.cn. -The appropriate visa application for the Beijing Embassy can be obtained from their website: www.mongolianembchina.org.cn.
The Friendship Store is on Jainguomenwai Dajie. Go down Jainhua Lu street at the end of the Store (near the entrance) and turn right at the first cross street (Xiushui Nanjie). The Mongolian Embassy is the second building from the intersection on the left-hand side (approximately 150 metres from the corner).
-Application: Applications must be in person or by an appropriate representative. The Embassy does not receive postal applications.
-Timing: The Visa Office is open every weekday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Normal issue time is four days. However it is possible to obtain same-day issue at an additional fee. For same day issue, lodge you application before 11:00 am and the visa will be ready after 16:00 hrs (4:00 pm).
-Cost: You must pay the visa fee in Chinese currency (RMB).
-Documents: The documents required are *a valid passport with at least six months to expiry date; *one passport sized photo; * completed application form; * travel itinerary for tourist visa, or letter of invitation from tourist company.
Mongolian Consulate in New Zealand: Mongolia opened an Honorary Consulate in New Zealand on 23 March 2007.
The Mongolian Honorary Consul is Mr. Peter Allport.
-Consulate office
Address: 86 Kings Crescent, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand.
-Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 10:00am to 3:00pm.
-Contacts are: Fax: 64-4-5666293;
-Email: MongolianConsulate.NZ@alpega.com
Mongolia Embassy in Canada:
-Visa for tourists, a letter of invitation from a travel agency. Visas are processed within 5-7 working days. Emergency visas can be processed within 24 hours for additional fee.
-For additional information, please contact: Consular Section
Embassy of Mongolia 151 Slater Street, Suite 503
Ottawa, Ontario,K1P 5H3,Tel: +1 (613) 569-3830,
Fax: +1 (613) 569-3916,
E-mail: mail@mongolembassy.org
LIST OF COUNTRIES AND REGIONS WITH NON-VISA REGIME
FOR ALL TYPES OF PASSPORT HOLDERS:
Cuba - no need for visa for a visit not exceeding one month.
Hong Kong - 14 days for all type of passports. There is
no visa fee for diplomatic and official passports. Ordinary
passport holders pay visa fee if they travel for more than
14 days.
Israel - 30 days for all type of passports.
Kazakhstan - 90 days for all type of passports.
Malaysia - 1 mouth for all type of passports.
Philippines - 21 days for all type of passports.
Singapore - 14 days for all type of passports.
USA, Kazakhstan -no need a visa for a visit not exceeding
three months Malaysia, Israel - no need a visa for a visit
not exceeding one month Philippines - no need a visa for
a visit not exceeding three weeks
Singapore - no need a visa for a visit not exceeding two
weeks
India - requirement of Mongolian visa without visa fee.
MONGOLIA HAS CONSULAR CONVENTIONS WITH THE FOLLOWING
COUNTRIES: Afghanistan, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, DPRK,
Hungary, Laos, Poland, Romania, Russia, United Kingdom,
USA, Vietnam, Yugoslavia.
MONGOLIA HAS TREATIES ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE
WITH THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES: Bulgaria, China,
Cuba, Czech, DPRK, France, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Poland, ROK, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia,
Vietnam. 
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CUSTOMS:Every tourist will complete a customs declaration form on
arrival, which must be retained by them until their departure.
This allows the free import and export of articles for personal
use during your stay. The contents of checked-in baggage
must be declared on arrival if the total value of those
contents exceed US$1000 in value. The contents of checked-in
baggage must be declared upon departure if the total value
of those goods exceeds US$500.
Mongolia allows the following items to be brought in duty
free:
1 Litre of Spirits.
2 Litres of Wine.
3 Litres of Beer.
200 Cigarettes.
250 Grams of Tobacco.
The
customs declaration forms asks the visitor to declare the
amount and currencies of money being carried. Visitors are
advised that if they fail to declare the amount of money
they are carrying, the money can be confiscated by customs
officials. Visitors taking antiques and fossils out of the
country must have official documentation to do so. Some
shops will provide the necessary documents upon purchase.
Alternatively, permission can be obtained from the Ministry
of Enlightenment in Ulaan Baatar.
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DANGER AND CRIME: Mongolia is a safe place to be.
As a visitor you are unlikely to experience any serious
problems. However, like anywhere else there are a few
things that visitors should be aware of, things that will
need extra care and attention. Foreign visitors are targets
for a very small minority of thieves.
In general, travelers should be extremely cautious at these specific locations:
-Chinggis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar: Tourists arriving at and departing from this airport are frequently targeted for robbery and pick pocketing by organized groups.
-The State Department Store and the Area Around the Circus: Tourists are targeted by organized pick pocket gangs at the entries/exits/elevators of the store and in the areas around the store along Peace Avenue and down to the circus.
-Naran Tuul Black Market (bazaar): Organized criminal groups look for and target foreigners for robbery and pick pocketing.
-Caution is advised when using public transportation or when taking taxis and in crowded public areas, such as open-air markets, the Central Post Office, and the Gandan Monastery.
-Please exercise extreme caution when taking taxis, as there have been several reports of foreigners being robbed and/or assaulted while riding in taxis.
-It is recommended to have the hotel, restaurant, or store make taxi arrangements for you. Also, request that a native speaker write your destination address in Mongolian, since most cab drivers do not speak English.
-Private unmarked cars often act as taxis here; their availability is high, but their consistency of performance, fare, and safety are low. It is not recommended to use unmarked taxis. If you find a cab driver that you like (English speaker, trustworthy, clean car, etc.) request their mobile phone number for future use.
-Crime rises sharply before, during, and after the Naadam Summer Festival in July, throughout the summer tourist season, and during and after Tsagaan Sar, the Winter Festival, in January or February.
-While Mongolia is relatively safe, violent muggings and
attacks do occur from time to time. You should avoid going
out alone on foot at night. Instead use the taxis to return
to your hotel. They are clearly identifiable and inexpensive.
Many bars and restaurants will telephone for one for you.
-In February 2009, a resident Japanese
teacher was attacked and killed walking home in the centre
of town in the early hours of the morning. The motive
was thought to have been theft.
-Valuables should be kept in a money belt and kept underneath
your clothing. Be careful about being seen with large
amounts of money outside. Being out late at night is not
advisable, especially if you are alone. Avoid gers districts
and other poorly lit areas. Take a torch with you.
Vodka may be a popular drink in Mongolia
which used in many celebrations, but it is also the source
of a big alcohol problem. The problems are more serious
in Ulaan Baatar and the aimag centres than in the countryside.
Drunks tend to me more of an annoyance
than a danger. Drunks are easily recognised by a stumbling
walk. They tend to be on their own rather than in large
groups. If you are approached by a drunk, try to walk
away. If they follow, try running - they're unlikely to
catch up with you if they've had a lot to drink. If you
can find a policeman, all the better. Experience has shown
that they are very tough on drunks annoying or threatening
foreigners, although the immediate punishment may be something
you're not used to.
Dogs,
both stray and domestic should be avoided. Many are vicious
and some are rabid. This is the case whether you're in a
ger district in the city or at a ger in the middle of the
countryside.
When
it comes to getting train tickets, getting on a bus, walking
through a market or entering shops, don't be surprised if
you suddenly find an elbow in your side or a kick in the
shin. It's not personal. It's the Mongolian Scramble. Go
anywhere where there's a lot of people and you'll find out
about it. Being polite won't get you very far - nor will
getting angry. In Mongolia, do as the Mongolian's do. But
don't get carried away!!. If you wish to donate some money,
find out about projects that are supporting the city's street
children and put a donation to the best possible use.
Click here for more information
about Mongolia.
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CURRENCY AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: The Mongolian currency is the Tugrik (T or MNT) which is
available in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000,
5000 , 10,000 , and the New Notes 20,000 (since
Summer 2006) Tugrik Notes. Coins are beginning
to become into circulation and are in denominations of MNT
20, 50, 100 and 200. All notes carry the face of "Chinggis"
Khan or Sukhbaatar on them and because of their age, can
often look alike. The exchange rate is constantly changing.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Traveler’s checks in U.S. dollars are accepted at some hotels and may be converted to dollars or Tugrugs at several banks.
-Credit cards can be used at a variety of hotels, restaurants, and shops in Ulaanbaatar.
-Outside of the capital, travelers should have cash.
-Cash advances against credit cards are available at some commercial banks such as Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia, Golomt Bank of Mongolia, Khan Bank, and Xac Bank. Note that most credit card companies will pass on the 3% "foreign currency conversion fee" to you.
-International bank wire transfers are also possible.
-There are a handful of VISA and Maestro/Cirrus ATM machines in Ulaanbaatar, but they do not always function and are not reliable. VISA and Master Card can be used in the ATM machines at the Chinggis Khaan hotel, Ulaanbaatar hotel, Bayangol hotel, Golomt Bank of Mongolia, Trade development bank's headquarters, Trade Development Bank's south of Sukhbaatar Square.
-ATM machines do not exist outside the capital.
-US Dollar travellers' cheques can be cashed easily
and converted to Mongolian Togrogs.
-You can transfer money
to Mongolia using commercial means such as Western
Union or Money Gram.
Currency Converter
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ACCOMMODATION:The standards of accommodation vary widely between Ulaan
Baatar and the countryside.
In Ulaanbaatar city: There are now a
large number of hotels within the capital with expensive
prices between US$100.00 and US$240.00. The quality of the facilities,
services and food generally increases in price. You can
find easy several 4 hotels and 3 hotels.
 Some words about Ulaanbaatar Hilton Hotel,5 -What happened to the opening of the Ulaanbaatar Hilton Hotel?: Hilton Hotels Corporation and real estate developer Star Estates have signed an agreement for Hilton to manage the Hilton Ulaanbaatar, the newest and most lavish hotel development in the heart of Mongolia’s capital.
Scheduled was to open in May 2008, but till today 2010 the Hilton Ulaanbaatar Hotel has not been constructed. The Hilton Ulaanbaatar will provide 240 guestrooms, and four cutting edge restaurants and bars. Conference and Banqueting facilities will include a 500-seater ballroom and seven meeting rooms.
Some News about Shangri La Hotel,5 in Ulaanbaatar city-What happened to the opening of the Shangri La Hotel in Ulaanbaatar?: If you look at that sign closely it says "Shangri La Mongolia
LLC". It has nothing to do with the Shangri La hotel chain
at all. It was all a marketing gimmick. This building
is renting for offices, right now!.
Click
Here to read Travel Reviews about the Former Ulaanbaatar
Hotel,5 at
(www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293956-d500801-r21017148-Ulaanbaatar_Hotel-Ulaanbaatar.html)
Some News about the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ulaanbaatar city: The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the scheduled opening in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia of a new hotel: The Radisson Blu Hotel, Ulaanbaatar with 175 guest rooms, in 2011
In the countryside: There a few hotels
of generally a poorer standard in the Aimag (province)
centres, although most tourists will stay in specially
constructed ger camps. These camps provide accommodation
in the round felt houses used by nomads and usually have
separate toilet, washing and restaurant facilities. Tourists
can camp virtually where they like although they are advised
to stay away from settlements. Laws also prohibit camping
within certain zones of protected areas.
Welcome
to "Chinggis" Tourist Camp!
Welcome to
Mr. Gomez Hostel in Ulaanbaatar city!
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ELECTRICITY:
- The power supply in Ulaanbaatar is now very reliable and
there are only the occasional black-outs. Electricity is
220V, 50Hz. The sockets throughout the country accommodate
the European-style 2-pin plugs. In the countryside, the
power supply still has frequent interruptions. In many cases
this is due to the cost of fuel. Wiring in many places needs
updating and so care should be undertaken.
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FOOD:
-Despite what you might hear about food supplies in Mongolia,
it's now very simple to have a balanced diet, even if you're
a vegetarian. If you're intending to eat out in UB, there
are a large number of restaurants serving quality, Cuban
& Latin American, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese,
Italian, English, French, Russian, and of course Mongolian
cuisines...
Click here to Welcome you
to "El Latino" Restaurant in the Centre of Ulaabaatar city (since 1999!)
There's a mandatory 10% 'government' tax levied in Ulaan
Baatar's posher restaurants and hotels. In the countryside
things are a bit different. But, you do not worry because,
Samar Magic Tours will offer you a quality
food and cook during your trips in the country side.
Although some of the larger Aimag (provinces) centres will
have supplies suitable for foreigners, the Sums will have
little more than biscuits and chocolate.
The extreme climate here means that many Mongolians, especially
those living in the countryside have to eat a lot of protein
and fat to keep themselves warm and healthy. Visiting herders
in the countryside will inevitably mean that you will be
offered a number of meat and dairy products. Even if some
of them look unappetizing, you will please your host greatly
if only you try a little.
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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: No specific vaccinations are required for Mongolia, though
there are a few that could prove useful. Medical facilities in Mongolia are very limited and do not meet most Western standards, especially for emergency health care requirements. Many brand-name Western medicines are unavailable. Ulaanbaatar, the capital, has the majority of medical facilities inside the country; outside of Ulaanbaatar, medical facilities and treatment are extremely limited or non-existent. Specialized emergency care for infants and the elderly is not available. Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate payment in cash for health services. Infectious diseases, such as plague, meningococcal meningitis, and tuberculosis, are present at various times of the year. Sanitation in some restaurants is inadequate, particularly outside of Ulaanbaatar. Stomach illnesses are frequent. Bottled water and other routine precautions are advisable.
Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation either within Mongolia or to other countries, are extremely expensive and can cost in excess of US $100,000. Evacuation companies will not initiate an evacuation without a fee guarantee beforehand and in full. Please check with your insurance provider before traveling and consider supplemental medical or travel insurance.
-Please note that not all insurance companies provide medical evacuation coverage for Mongolia. Currently, SOS Medica Mongolia, UB International Clinic is the only clinic that maintains a dedicated medical evacuation service in Mongolia.
-Tourists are advised to buy mineral water or at least boil their water before using it. Giardia and other water-borne diseases can easily be
picked up. Mineral water is in good supply in the capital
and many of the Aimag (provinces) centres.
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TIME: The best time to travel to Mongolia is from May to September
. The pick season is on July, during
"Naadam" Festival
in July 11-12-Click Here for "2011 Naadam" Festival Package Tours
-However, July and August are the two wettest months of the
year. The season lasting from November to March is cold.
The best time to visit the Gobi is June or September as
temperatures aren't so hot then. For more information about
Climate and more, please visit our web page at:
Info about Mongolia
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