Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Obtaining a passport in Mongolia is a far cry from the long lines of the past. Between the introduction of the biometric passport, the widespread adoption of online services via E‑Mongolia, and streamlined procedures at embassies, the system has clearly modernized. But this modernization also comes with specific rules, fees to anticipate, and well-defined timelines.
This guide explains the process for obtaining a Mongolian passport, whether you are a citizen residing in Mongolia, a Mongolian living abroad, or a foreigner seeking to understand the requirements related to Mongolian passports and visas.
Who issues the passport and what is it really for?
The Mongolian passport, officially called the “Mongolian State Foreign Passport” (Монгол Улсын Гадаад Паспорт), is first and foremost an identification document for traveling abroad. It certifies Mongolian citizenship in other countries and allows you to pass through border controls.
The issuance of passports and civil documents in Mongolia falls under separate authorities. The General Authority for State Registration is the central body for ordinary passports, civil registries, identity cards, and certificates (birth, marriage, etc.). Official and diplomatic passports fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For citizens residing abroad, applications are handled by Mongolian embassies and consulates.
This division of roles allows a Mongolian to apply for their passport both in their district in Mongolia and at an embassy, for example in London or Canberra. In all cases, the passport is always printed in Mongolia, then shipped to the local administration or the diplomatic mission where the applicant must pick it up.
The different types of Mongolian passports
Even though the average citizen typically uses only one type of document, Mongolia clearly distinguishes three categories of passports, recognizable by the color of their cover.
Ordinary, official, or diplomatic passport: what are the differences?
The ordinary passport is intended for citizens for their private, professional, study, or tourist travel. Its cover is red. This is the document that the vast majority of Mongolians hold. It can be standard or biometric.
The official passport, recognizable by its green cover, is exclusively issued to government officials and state representatives traveling on official missions. Although it may offer easier visa access in some countries, its use is strictly limited to professional activities and cannot be used for personal purposes.
The diplomatic passport, blue in color, is issued to diplomats, high-ranking officials, and certain individuals entrusted with special missions. Holders of this document benefit from visa-free access or visa on arrival in more countries than holders of an ordinary passport.
To clarify these distinctions, we can summarize them in a simple table:
| Type of Passport | Cover Color | Primary Issuing Authority | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary passport | Red | General Authority for State Registration + diplomatic missions | All Mongolian citizens |
| Official passport | Green | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | State officials on official business |
| Diplomatic passport | Blue | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Diplomats and high authorities |
In everyday life, when people talk about a “country passport in Mongolia,” they are practically referring to the red ordinary passport.
The biometric passport: what has changed since 2023
Since 2023, Mongolia has adopted the biometric passport (e‑passport). The first copy of this chip-enabled document was issued on March 15, 2023. This development did not make older passports invalid: as long as they have not expired, non-biometric passports remain usable.
The biometric passport contains more pages than the standard passport (42 pages vs. 32 for a standard model according to the most consistent data, although one source mentions 48 pages for some ordinary passports), and most importantly, an electronic chip that stores the holder’s biometric data, such as digital photo and fingerprints.
Minutes saved, according to Mongolian authorities, thanks to the chip when passing through security at equipped airports.
The document’s design was crafted as a symbol of national identity: the cover displays in gold the Soyombo symbol and the Mongolian national emblem, with the inscriptions “MONGOLIA” in traditional vertical script and in English, as well as the word “PASSPORT” below the emblem. The inner pages are decorated with national patterns, sacred sites, and wildlife elements. The entire document is bilingual in Mongolian and English.
Conditions for applying for a Mongolian passport
Access to a passport is linked, unsurprisingly, to citizenship. You must be a Mongolian citizen to be eligible for a country passport in Mongolia. Foreigners, even long-term residents, cannot obtain such a document without first acquiring Mongolian nationality, which involves renouncing any other citizenship, as Mongolia does not recognize dual nationality.
Age, validity, and right to a passport
The law stipulates that any Mongolian citizen, regardless of age, has the right to obtain a passport. For adults, the national identity card (“Монгол улсын иргэний үнэмлэх”), a beige bank-card-sized document with a chip and QR code, is the key document that serves as the basis for the application. It is issued at ages 16, 25, and 45, and citizens are required to keep their civil registration up to date.
For minors under 16, the reference identification document is the birth certificate. The application must be made by a parent or legal guardian.
The validity period depends on age and document type:
| Holder Category | Type of Passport | Usual Validity Period |
|---|---|---|
| Citizen aged 16 and over (ordinary) | Ordinary (red) | Up to 10 years |
| Child under 16 (ordinary) | Ordinary (red) | 5 years |
| Diplomatic or official passport | Diplomatic / Official | Generally 5 years |
Authorities recommend renewing a passport when its remaining validity falls below six months. This is also often a requirement of destination countries.
How much does a country passport cost in Mongolia?
Passport fees vary depending on whether it is biometric or not, and on how the cost is calculated (application fees, reissuance, etc.). Several amounts appear in official data, reflecting both price changes and differences between standard and biometric passports.
The most consistent and significant data to assess the situation.
The most reliable annual growth rate, adjusted according to standard economic parameters.
The primary measure of stability, consolidated from multiple verified sources.
The most consistent population figures, based on the latest official censuses.
Key performance indicators, harmonized to ensure relevant comparisons.
| Passport Type / Service | Amount (in MNT) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| First ordinary passport (amount quoted) | 40,000 MNT | Frequently mentioned base fee |
| Ordinary “non-biometric” passport | 32,500 MNT | Specific amount indicated by one source |
| Biometric passport | 82,500 MNT | More expensive, but with electronic chip |
| Change of information on passport | 15,000 MNT (standard) | Processing time 5 business days |
| Change of information (urgent) | 30,000 MNT (expedited) | Processing time 3 business days |
| Reissuance of birth certificate | 10,000 MNT | Sometimes needed for a file |
| Residence permit (related to passport change) | Approx. 7 USD | Separate fees |
Abroad, some diplomatic missions require payment in US dollars (e.g., the equivalent of 50 USD for a passport at certain posts). Amounts may vary slightly depending on exchange rates and the embassy’s local policy.
Where and how to apply in Mongolia?
For citizens residing in the country, the standard entry point is the civil registration office of the district or soum (equivalent to a canton or commune). The General Authority for State Registration then centralizes the data, produces the passport, and sends it back to the local office.
Although the E-Mongolia platform allows you to initiate certain administrative procedures online, the final submission of the application often must be done in person. This is necessary for capturing biometric data (such as photos and fingerprints) as well as for verifying original documents, thus requiring the applicant to appear in person.
The announced processing times are structured very clearly:
| Place of Application Submission | Announced Issuance Time |
|---|---|
| Capital (Ulaanbaatar) | 5 business days |
| Soums and rural areas | 15 business days |
| Diplomatic missions abroad | At least 30 business days |
These timelines correspond to the production phase, once the file is deemed complete. In practice, delays can occur, especially if inconsistencies appear in civil registries, or if the postal connection between Mongolia and abroad is infrequent. Ambassadors thus mention an actual delay of 2 to 3 months between submitting the application in London and receiving the printed passport.
Step-by-step process for a citizen in Mongolia
For a citizen living in Ulaanbaatar or a province, the procedure follows a relatively simple logic, provided several technical details that often cause delays are respected.
Step 1: Check the status of the current document
First, determine whether it is a first application, a renewal, or a replacement (loss, theft, damage, or full pages). Authorities recommend applying for a new passport in the following cases:
– lost or stolen passport;
– damaged or unusable document;
– lack of blank pages for visas and stamps;
– validity less than six months;
– passport issued before November 2002 (older generation considered obsolete).
In all these cases, the procedure for issuing a new passport applies, with the need to report the circumstances (especially in case of loss or theft, where a police report is required).
Step 2: Gather documents and prepare the photo
The core of the file rests on identification and document compliance.
For an adult over 16, the following must generally be presented:
– valid national identity card;
– previous passport if available (or its number and a copy), except in case of loss with a police report;
– an application form completed in Mongolian, with full contact details (address, phone, email) and details about the status of the old document;
– a digital passport photo meeting Mongolian standards.
Photo requirements are particularly strict, as the biometric system and automated border controls require a perfectly standardized image. The photo must be recent, in color, against a plain white background, with no shadows, no glasses or headgear (except for religious or medical reasons duly justified), with the face occupying about 70 to 90% of the frame. It must be uploaded via the dedicated portal photo.burtgel.gov.mn in digital format, with precise dimensions (e.g., 413 x 531 pixels for a physical size of 3.4 x 4.5 cm).
Authorities emphasize that the absence of a compliant digital photo simply blocks the printing of the passport. For those who struggle to produce a correct file, private services like photos.mn or visafoto.com offer to transform a phone photo into an image compatible with the Mongolian system.
Step 3: In-person submission and biometric data capture
Once the file is complete, the applicant must go to the service center in their district. Registration generally involves taking fingerprints and physically verifying the documents.
Authorities check the centralized national registry. If the identity card is not up to date (e.g., not renewed at ages 25 or 45), this must be regularized first before the passport application is accepted.
Step 4: Payment of fees and tracking via E‑Mongolia
Fees are paid at the counter (in tugriks), by card or cash depending on local options. Once the application is validated and submitted, production is centralized. The citizen can then track the status of their application using the ordinary passport registry inquiry service on the E‑Mongolia platform, accessible 24/7 from anywhere.
The system allows you to check in real time whether the document has been produced, shipped, or made available. In case of data consistency issues (clan name, registration number, etc.), the application may be blocked. These data entry or civil status errors are actually what explain a large portion of delays exceeding three months.
Obtaining the country passport in Mongolia from abroad
For Mongolian citizens living abroad, diplomatic missions play a key role. The best-documented example is the Mongolian Embassy in London, which covers the United Kingdom and Ireland, but the logic is similar elsewhere.
Role of embassies and consulates
Embassies and consulates receive files, verify identities, transmit applications to central authorities in Mongolia, and then hand over passports once they have been printed and shipped. The main constraint is time: even though production takes only a few days, secure dispatch via diplomatic pouch does not happen continuously. It is not uncommon for the applicant to wait two to three months between submitting their file and receiving the document.
The application requires an in-person appointment at the consulate. People over 16 must present their identity card or old passport. For minors, the birth certificate and the identity documents of the applying parent or guardian must be provided. The passport photo must be digital and submitted via the official portal.
Documents required abroad
Abroad, the list of documents is similar to that required in Mongolia, with a few nuances:
– duly completed application form;
– personal letter addressed to the embassy explaining the reason for the application (loss, expiration, etc.) and providing full contact details;
– copy and original of the identity card or previous passport;
– birth certificate for those under 16;
– police report in case of loss or theft;
– digital photo properly uploaded.
At some posts, the fee is charged in dollars and paid at the counter. If the citizen cannot come again to collect their passport, they must provide a prepaid, trackable envelope to allow the document to be mailed.
What to do in case of loss or emergency? The Emergency Travel Document
When a passport is lost, stolen, or destroyed abroad and the Mongolian citizen needs to return home quickly, embassies can issue an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). This is a temporary, single-use travel document valid only for return to Mongolia (or, in some cases, for a specific route with a layover).
To obtain this ETD, you need to make an urgent appointment at the consulate and provide:
To obtain an emergency Mongolian passport in case of loss or theft abroad, you must provide the following documents:
A letter written explaining in detail the circumstances of the loss or theft of the passport.
A Mongolian identity card or any other official document to verify your identity.
An official document from local authorities attesting to the theft or loss of your passport.
Two recent passport photos compliant with international standards.
The specific ‘Emergency Travel Document’ form, duly completed and signed.
The ETD is particularly used in Europe, for example in the United Kingdom for Mongolians whose passport has been stolen or who need to return for a family emergency, or to allow a newborn Mongolian to return for the first time.
The contribution of the E‑Mongolia platform
One of the major changes in recent years is the rise of E‑Mongolia, a portal and mobile app that brings together dozens of digital public services. This system allows you to view your ordinary passport file, check the status of civil registration applications, obtain official references (birth, marriage, criminal record, etc.), and, for foreigners, manage certain aspects of their registration.
The app allows citizens to access their personal data and that of their children, such as passports, civil registrations, shares in companies, and property. It includes a virtual agent that guides users step by step through their administrative procedures, reducing the need to physically visit offices.
References obtained via E‑Mongolia, such as the “Reference of Birth Certificate” or the “National ID Card reference”, can sometimes substitute for a paper document, or at least confirm information to complete a file. This system is not reserved for citizens: since 2023, a “Foreign” section allows registered foreigners to be assigned a 13-digit registry number (F‑register) and access certain visa or residence-related services.
The Mongolian passport and international mobility
The Mongolian passport offers a moderate degree of travel freedom globally, but it is improving. According to the Henley Passport Index, the document ranks around 75th in terms of travel freedom, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 64 countries and territories (a figure that has varied slightly over time, with some sources citing 62 countries for an earlier period).
Holders of a diplomatic passport benefit from visa-free access to more than 90 countries, thanks to reciprocal agreements with states in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Specific exemptions also apply for certain countries such as Japan or Indonesia, for diplomatic and official passports.
For holders of an ordinary passport, the list of visa-free countries includes, among others, destinations such as Russia, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand, and some South American countries for limited tourist stays. Stay durations typically range from 30 to 90 days.
This context highlights a reality: the quality of a passport, measured by the number of visa-free countries, evolves according to bilateral agreements. The fact that Mongolia is gradually strengthening its diplomatic partnerships has concrete repercussions for its citizens, even if the advantage remains modest compared to the “most powerful” passports in the world.
What foreigners need to know about passports in Mongolia
Even though the core of this guide is focused on “how to obtain the country passport in Mongolia” for a Mongolian citizen, it is impossible to ignore the obligations imposed on foreigners, as they directly concern the validity of their passport and their residency rights.
Every foreigner must present a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival, with blank pages. For tourist or business stays of less than 90 days, many nationalities (EU, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, etc.) are visa-exempt. For a longer stay, or to work, study, or engage in religious activities, an appropriate visa must be obtained before departure from a Mongolian embassy.
Another often overlooked obligation: every foreigner must register with the Mongolia Immigration Agency within 48 hours of arrival, either directly or through their host (hotel, landlord). Failure to comply can result in fines that must be paid before leaving the country. In case of overstaying the authorized period, penalties are calculated per day of overstay, and authorities may prevent departure until all amounts due are paid.
These rules illustrate why Mongolia places great importance on the consistency and reliability of all identity and travel documents, whether domestic or foreign. They do not directly concern obtaining a Mongolian passport.
Nationality and passport: an inseparable link
For a foreigner drawn to Mongolia and wishing to eventually obtain the country’s passport, the path is longer. Simply residing for a few years is not enough: applying for naturalization involves several conditions, such as continuous residence for at least five years, a regular income equivalent to at least ten times the minimum wage, sufficient knowledge of the language, Constitution, and traditions, no recent intentional crimes, and proof of renunciation of original citizenship, since dual nationality is not recognized.
The application fee for Mongolian citizenship is 60,000 MNT.
Document reliability and anti-fraud efforts
One last aspect deserves mention: document quality. Mongolia has worked for over fifteen years to make its registries reliable, digitize data, and introduce biometric identity cards. Programs such as “One Citizen – One Registration” and the massive digitalization of civil status files have significantly reduced risks of duplicates and errors, even though issues of corruption are still reported at various levels of the administration.
In this context, the strictness required for photos, the consistency of registration numbers, or the impossibility of printing a passport as long as an anomaly remains in the registry are not bureaucratic details: they are the safeguards of a documentation system that seeks to be recognized as reliable by other states.
State Documentation System
Conclusion: a more modern system, but demanding
Obtaining the country passport in Mongolia is both simpler and stricter than before. Simpler because online services like E‑Mongolia allow you to track files, produce official references, and reduce unnecessary travel. More modern because the Mongolian biometric passport aligns with international standards, with its security features and compatibility with automated border controls.
The system requires an up-to-date identity card, compliant photos, error-free forms, and adherence to specific deadlines, whether in Mongolia or at an embassy abroad. It offers the citizen greater document credibility and travel convenience, but at the cost of increased administrative discipline.
For those preparing to apply, whether for a first passport or a renewal, the key is to carefully prepare your documents, become familiar with the digital tools on offer, and anticipate delays, especially abroad. This is the price for the country passport in Mongolia to continue gradually establishing itself in the landscape of modern travel documents recognized worldwide.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
