Mongolia Visa

Hi,

We are travelling to Mongolia in march with my family. We are from Argentina and we don't have an embassy here to apply for the mongolian visa. We will be going by train from Beijing. We have been reading some posts and it is very confusing for us if it is possible or not to apply for the visa in the border between China and Mongolia. Could anyone help us?

Thank you,

Mercedes

I strongly suggest that while you are in Beijing, you get your visas at the Mongolian Embassy there. The Consulate at Erlian next to the border is possible but has more irregular hours, and in the event you have to wait around in Erlian, in March it's still seriously FREEZING up there, and there's not much to do. At least in Beijing, Embassy visa office hours are more regular and while your passports are at the Embassy, you can be out sightseeing and having fun.

Not sure why you would want to be in Mongolia in march , It is crazy cold !

As a american i can go in and out of Mongolia with out a visa as much as i want. I have a buddy from the UK who has to get a visa beforehand its about 60-75 USD If i remember correctly.

For you i would find out in Beijing at the Mongolian embassy before you go . Also i would think twice about taking your family up there in the winter .

Thanks for your answer! It is sad, but we can't go in another time of the year (in march we can still take some time off of our works). We know it will be very cold!
Do you know how long does it take to have the visa in Beijing? Can we do it in one day or does it take longer?

Last I heard, Mongolian Embassy in Beijing is issuing one-day visas if you are willing to pay more, RMB 495 I think. Normal processing is 5 days and closer to RMB 300.

Hours to make application: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 08:30-11:30 and Tuesday, Thursday 14:00-16:00
Hours to pick up visa: Monday thru Friday 16:00-17:00.

(Note that sometimes the Mongolian Embassy changes it's visa application days/hours around a bit, so it is best to check again just before heading for Beijing.) In the summer there are often long queues to make visa application, but in March, probably not too many people. I'd still plan to show up at opening time on whatever day you choose.

You do realize that in March, there is so little tourism in Mongolia that many things like tourist ger camps, etc. will not be open? I'm not sure about National Parks. You may want to check your itinerary in Mongolia with a local agent, to see if you might be making a long trip for nothing. That would be a shame.

Also if you are coming through China, you will also need to get Chinese visas. If you are returning home via China overland OR by a plane flight with > 24 hour stopover, you will need a double-entry visa. Another alternative that avoids China is to fly to Ulan Bator directly via Seoul, South Korea. I'm not sure what the visa application hours/fees are at the Mongolian Embassy in Seoul.

Hi, I am also from Argentina, we are going from Russia to China by train through Mongolia on May, does anyone if we can get the visa in Moscow, and if we can do that in one day?

Thanks
Rgds
Sergio

Not sure that you can do it in a day in Moscow. Visas can also be obtained in Irkutsk and in Ulan Ude but again while 24 hours might be possible, I think it usually takes a little longer. You might try searching the TT for posts about Moscow and Mongolian visas as I don't recall any recent (last 6 months) reports.

Ruth

Thanks ruth, I will try that!
sergio