Flying is the main form of transport into Mongolia; the only other way into the country is by train or an inconvenient land crossing by local minibus. Currently, all direct international flights to Mongolia go to the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Most people fly in from Beijing, Berlin or Moscow; for organized tours there are also additional direct flights from Osaka and Seoul. Current airline schedules also allow you to fly from Ulaanbaatar to places in wider Mongolia: Irkutsk, on Lake Baikal, and Hohhot (Khokh Khot), the capital of the 'autonomous region' of Chinese Inner Mongolia.
By AirThe majority of visitors arrive in Mongolia by air in Ulaanbaatar at the International Airport. The international air transport is operated by MIAT, Aeroflot, Korean Airlines and Air China. Japanese Airlines and All Nippon Airways have recently started operating new charter flights between Japan and Mongolia during summer tourist season.
From Europe by air:- from Europe to Moscow and to Ulaanbaatar with AEROFLOT (Russian Airline)
- from Europe to Beijing with the major foreign companies and then to Ulaanbaatar with MIAT (Mongolian Airlines) or AIR CHINA (Chinese Airline)
- from Berlin to Ulaanbaatar direct with MIAT (OM)
- from Frankfurt to Ulaanbaatar direct with MIAT (OM)
Travellers from the USA are recommended to go through the Asian gateways.
Gateways to enter Mongolia from Asian countries:
- Beijing, China
- Osaka, Japan
- Seoul, Korea
Trans Mongolian Railway operates some 1,110 kilometres of "Trans-Mongolian Main Line" (inside Mongolia). The Trans Mongolian runs from Russian border via Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border. Total distance by rail from Beijing to St Petersburg is 7,925 km. Travellers can join in Moscow (or St Petersburg) or in Beijing (or Hong Kong and Hanoi).
MONGOLIAN VISASFor all information related to consular matters (e.g.: visas, citizenship, etc.), please contact in person by telephone or e-mail the nearest diplomatic or consular mission of Mongolia.
The following materials are required to obtain Mongolian visa:- Valid passport
- One passport sized photo
- Application form (External link: Visa Application Form / Tourist Visa 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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 month for all type of passports
- Philippines - 21 days for all type of passports
- Singapore - 14 days for all type of passports
- India - All type of passports need a visa, no visa applications, photos and fees required
- USA - no visa for all type of passport holders, including A, H, J visas within 90 days. Visit more than 90 days need visa, service charge - $45, no visa fee required