There are reports of fuel shortages in Mongolia, including aviation fuel. Fuel supply disruptions may affect domestic and international flights, road travel and access to some remote areas. Check with your airline or transport provider before travelling, allow extra time for journeys and follow advice from the local authorities.
\nNo travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Mongolia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Mongolia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Mongolia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou can visit Mongolia for tourism purposes for up to 30 days without a visa until 31 December 2026.
\n\nTo stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons you must meet the Mongolian government’s entry requirements. For more details, contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UK.
\n\nMake sure you get your passport stamped.
\nMake sure the border control officer puts a stamp in your passport or you could face issues when leaving the country.
\n\nAdults accompanying children other than their own should have a notarised letter from the parents or legal guardian to confirm the arrangement.
\n\nFor details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Mongolia guide.
\n\nYour hotel or landlord will register you using an app. If you are travelling independently or staying with friends, you must register yourself with the Mongolian Immigration Agency. You do not need to go in person.
\n\nThe agency will issue you with a digital residence permit that shows your passport number, address, photograph and fingerprints. Always carry it when you are in Mongolia.
\n\nMongolia takes border security very seriously and foreign nationals are not routinely allowed access to border areas. The authorities can regard zones of up to 100km inside the border as a border area. If you wish to travel in these areas, you must get permission from the State Frontier Guard Authority. Only a few specified land border crossings are open to foreigners.
\n\nThere is currently a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the western provinces of Khovd, Bayan-Ulgii, Govi-Altai and Selenge in Mongolia. Mongolian authorities are taking action to stop the outbreak spreading further but other Mongolian provinces could be affected at short notice. Monitor local media for the latest information.
\n\nThere are normally 8 border points open to British passport holders:
\n\nYou may not cross into China or Russia at other border points, as they are only open to Mongolians, Chinese or Russians.
\n\nIf you travel by train across the China-Mongolia border, expect a delay of a few hours as the railways use different gauges.
\n\nIt is difficult to get visas for China or Russia in Mongolia. Ask the Chinese and Russian embassies in London about their visa requirements before travelling to Mongolia.
\n\nYou can only enter Mongolia from Russia on public buses, trains, taxis or private vehicles. All international flights are suspended.
\n\nRussian border officials will carefully examine your travel documents.
\n\nIf you have arrived in Mongolia from Russia and need assistance, call +976 (11) 458 133 and select the option ‘consular services for British nationals’.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Mongolia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nIf you become involved in a commercial dispute or a criminal investigation about a customs matter, you may be held in Mongolia until it is resolved. Ask to speak to the British Embassy, especially if the authorities say you must accept a travel ban.
\n\nIf you plan to enter Mongolia at a land border crossing in your own vehicle, inform the tax authorities and border troops in advance. Contact Mongolian Customs (in Mongolian). You must complete a customs declaration form. You can do this at the border or at Ulaanbaatar City Customs Office, next to the train station. Make sure you have your driving licence and all the vehicle documents, including ownership records and insurance.
\n\nIf you do not leave Mongolia in the vehicle you used to enter the country, you must pay customs tax. The amount of tax depends on the vehicle’s engine size and value. For information, see Mongolian Customs (in Mongolian).
\n\nIf your vehicle breaks down and cannot be fixed, you must pay for it to be transported out of Mongolia or sell it to a local mechanic.
\n\nIf you sell your broken-down vehicle to a mechanic, you must still pay customs tax when you leave. You must show the customs office evidence you sold the vehicle (proof of sale document, photos, a letter from the mechanic and a police report).
\n\nYou must not leave your vehicle unattended or abandon it. If you do, Mongolian Customs will contact the British Embassy and send you a fine. If you leave your vehicle in Mongolia, you must pay to store it with a mechanic or at an official customs warehouse. When you leave the country, you must submit a customs declaration form and show your driving licence, car ownership records and proof of valid insurance.
\n\nYou can take in up to 15 million in Mongolian tugriks.
\n\nDeclare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 US dollars or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there is no recent history of terrorism in Mongolia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nThere have been occasional instances of civil and political unrest resulting in protests. Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations for your personal safety.
\n\nPickpockets may operate in markets and crowded public places. The risk increases during the festivals of Tsagaan Sar (New Year, celebrated from December to February) and Naadam (July). Take extra precautions during these periods.
\n\nOccasionally large groups of people, including children and teenagers, harass pedestrians for money as they get into vehicles or walk into pubs or restaurants. Keep your mobile phone, passport and money in a secured bag on your person, and leave valuables in a hotel safe if possible.
\n\nViolent incidents are rare, but foreigners have been assaulted and robbed in Ulaanbaatar. Avoid being out alone at night, and ask hotels, restaurants or clubs to order a car for you. If hailing a ride, use only licensed taxis such as VIP Taxis. Alternatively use the taxi app UBCab, which is trackable.
\n\nThe Mongolian government has asked foreigners to report crimes so they can investigate and keep records. You do not need to have any further involvement and will be free to leave once you’ve made your report.
\n\nIn an emergency call the police on 102 or +976 102 from an international mobile phone. There should be someone available on this number who can speak to you in English.
\n\nAlways carry your passport. If the police ask you for ID they will not accept a copy and you could be fined. Keep copies of the photo page and the page with your Mongolian entry stamp in a separate place.
\n\nIf you are a resident, carry your registration card.
\n\nShow respect in Buddhist monasteries. Always ask for permission to take photographs and do not touch sacred images or objects.
\n\nIt is illegal to possess or use any type of drugs, including cannabis. If you are found guilty of drug trafficking, you could face a life sentence. Mongolian prisons have very basic facilities.
\n\nIt is illegal to photograph or video police, police escorts or military personnel. You could be arrested and fined. The court decides the fine based on the degree of social danger of the crime and the income of the defendant.
\n\nAlthough not illegal, same-sex relationships are not generally accepted socially.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nIt is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected species of wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. You could get a fine and a prison sentence.
\n\nMost UK phone networks operate in the cities and wifi is widely available in hotels, restaurants and bars, especially in Ulaanbaatar. You can buy local SIM cards and mobile phones. In rural Mongolia there are large areas that do not have network coverage.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Mongolia, see information on driving abroad. You need a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) and a UK driving licence. The 1949 IDP is not accepted any more. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
\n\nThere are a high number of road accidents, due to:
\n\nDriving in Ulaanbaatar is hazardous as roads are heavily congested. Outside the capital, only about 10% of the country’s roads are tarmacked and signposting is minimal. If you are planning to drive in rural Mongolia, prepare by:
\n\nMongolia does not have an extensive road network and driving can be dangerous due to the terrain.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nMongolia is a huge country with varying weather conditions from +35°C in summer to -40°C in winter and during the nights. Weather conditions often change without warning.
\n\nThere are frequent weather warnings all year round for flooding, dust storms, heavy snow and blizzards, strong winds and heatwaves.
\n\nThe most extreme weather conditions occur in and around the Gobi Desert and the Steppes. Check the World Meteorological Organization weather forecasts for Mongolia.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 103 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Mongolia.
\n\nAltitude sickness is a risk in parts of Mongolia. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nThe high levels of air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, especially in winter, may aggravate bronchial, sinus or asthma conditions. Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be especially affected. You can check the levels for Ulaanbaatar on the Real-time Air Quality Index.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nIt is best to bring prescription medication and a first aid kit with you. Medical products in pharmacies are mainly from China and Russia, so you may not easily recognise what you need.
\n\nThere are no reciprocal healthcare agreements between the UK and Mongolia, so you cannot get free healthcare in Mongolia.
\n\nIf you are injured or become ill in a remote part of the country, it may be a long journey to the nearest medical facility. Outside Ulaanbaatar, the standard of healthcare is limited, and doctors may not speak English.
\n\nAt hospitals, you will have to pay 80% of the treatment cost in advance. Make sure you have access to funds and that your insurance covers:
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Mongolia where some staff will speak English.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nAmbulance: 103
\n\nFire: 101
\n\nPolice: 102 (includes traffic police)
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Mongolia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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