Mongolian passport holders now have access to 67 destinations either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. While this marks significant progress, there remains room for improvement, particularly in expanding visa-free access to major Western nations.

• 🤓 Visa-on-Arrival: This policy allows travelers to obtain a visa upon arrival, typically at the airport or border checkpoint. Although not entirely “visa-free,” it simplifies travel compared to securing a visa in advance.

💪 Power of the Mongolian Passport

The Mongolian passport ranks 76th on the Guide Passport Index, with access to 67 destinations. Additionally, Mongolian citizens can use an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Kenya. An eTA is required for visa-exempt travelers transiting through certain countries.

✈️ Expanding Horizons in Aviation

Mongolia’s aviation sector is rapidly growing, offering direct flights to 18 countries. However, only 2 of these routes, Istanbul and Frankfurt, connect Mongolia to Europe. As part of a new aviation agreement, this is set to change with planned direct flights from Mongolia to Italian cities like Milan, Rome, and Venice. Additionally, discussions are ongoing to establish a route to Rwanda, which, if finalized, would provide Mongolia with its first direct flight access to an African country.

📍 Long-Haul Flights

The longest current direct route from Mongolia reaches Frankfurt, spanning 6,000 kilometers. However, with direct flights to the U.S. scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024, this distance will increase to over 10,000 kilometers. These long-haul flights were agreed upon during the Prime Minister’s visit to the U.S. last year.

• 🫡 In Any Case, the Plane is Ready: Though direct flights to the U.S. have yet to launch, MIAT acquires 2 “Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner” aircraft to service this route.
• 🆕 New Routes: Recently, United Airlines (UAL) announces its plans to fly to 8 new destinations, including Mongolia. As a result, the company becomes the first American airline to operate flights to Mongolia, starting the Tokyo-Ulaanbaatar route in May next year.

🤔 Looking Ahead

Over the next 4 years, the Government of Mongolia is actively pursuing its vision to position the country as a transit hub connecting Asia and Europe. This vision foresees a significant expansion in travel routes, enhancing Mongolia’s connectivity by both land and air.