The mission is to constitute a favorable external environment for Mongolia’s security and national development.

According to the Law of Mongolia on Government, MFA Minister for Foreign Affairs is in charge of the following spheres of activities of administration, state regulation and state control as a member of the Government:

• To develop relations and cooperation with foreign stats and international organzations in all spheres;
• To implement foreign trade policy;
• To protect interests of Mongolian citizens and business entities abroad;
• To manage processes of concluding international treaties and negotiations with foreign states and internatonal organizations and oversee their implementation;
• To conduct consular and visa (diplomatic and official) affairs and so on.

MFA consists of 13 departments and 5 units:

• Department of Policy and Planning
• Department of Neighboring Countries
• Department of Europe
• Department of Asia and Pacific Countries
• Department of Americas and African Countries
• Department of Multilateral Cooperation
• Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation
• Department of Public Administration
  • Law Division
  • Finance and Economic Division
  • Central Archives of Foreign Relations
• Department of International Law and Treaty
  • Human Rights Division
  • Border Division
• Department of Consular Affairs
• Department of Foreign Advertisign and Cultural Relations Гадаад сурталчилгаа, соёлын харилцааны газар
• Protocol Department
• Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Internal Audit

Moreover, MFA runs an Investment Research Center and Minister for Foreign Affairs chairs the UNESCO National Commission.

There are 31 Embassies, 2 Permanent Missions, 9 General Consulates, 3 Consulates, and 1 Trade and Economic Representative Office abroad. MFA is posting staff to the diplomatic missions according to the Government Resolutuon No.442 of 18 December 2019 in which the number of staff in foreign diplomatic missions has been fixed to 336.

According to the Minister’s order, an Ethical Committee consisiting of 8 members and led by Director of the Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Internal Audit was established and “Working Rules of the MFA Ethical Committee” approved.

Diplomats who violated the ethical norms fixed in “The Special Rules of Diplomatic Staff Discipline” are subject to one of the two types of ethical punishments (either  “apologizing” or “reminding”) and the punishment type is decided by the Ethical Committee meeting.

As per specific feature of diplomatic service, fluency in 1-2 foreign languages, specialization in fields of international relations, international law, international trade, economics and politics, and country-specific knowledges are required for MFA posts.

In the case of a vacant position being opened, as stated in the Civil Service Law of Mongolia, MFA sends its request for organizing an open competitive selection and related information to the central civil service authority.

As stated in the Law of Mongolia on Diplomatic Service, individuals who pass the diplomatic service examination shall fill the vacancies and be registered in the roster of reserved candidates. However, in 2019, MFA had submitted the draft Rules for the Diplomatic Service Examination, revised as per the Civil Service Law of Mongolia, to the Civil Service Council. Upon approval of the Rules, the Diplomatic Service Examination shall be organized openly. The Rules and examination related information shall be shared with the general public through media and MFA social networks.

Mongolia ‘s foreign policy shall be based on its national interests, as defined in its Constitution and National Security Concept and the country’s specific external and internal situation constitutes the basis for determining its foreign policy objectives, principles and priorities.

The first Foreign Policy Concept of Mongolia was adopted in 1994 and revised in 2011. The concept states that Mongolia shall pursue a peace-loving, open, independent and multi-pillar foreign policy and its structure is as followed:

• Mongolia’s foreign policy in the political field;
• Economic Foreign Policy;
• Foreign policy in science and technology;
• Culture and humanitarian foreign policy;
• Protection of Mongolian citizens abroad;
• Foreign advocacy and public relations.

According to this policy document, Mongolia will be guided in her foreign political activities by the following directions:

Mongolia is currently maintaining diplomatic relations with 192 countries, of which 191 are the UN members and 2 (the Holy See and Palestine) are permanent observers to the UN.  We have established diplomatic relations with the European Union as well. Mongolia is now continuously working to establish diplomatic relations with only one country left (Botswana).  

In Mongolia, there are 25 foreign Embassies, 3 General Consulates and 11 resident offices of intergovernmental and international organizations.

In international relations, “soft power policy” is defined as a state policy to achieve its foreign policy objective while creating a favorable environment for the other side based upon its own advantages. “Soft power” is based on national culture and value and in today’s world, soft power policy is becoming an inseparable part of foreign policy and international relations.

Public diplomacy, also called people’s diplomacy, is used to develop socio-cultural relations and promote Mongolian heritage and traditions to the world countries.  This is considered as an important way of assuring the country’s independence, territorial integrity and national security, developing fruitful economic cooperation, and attracting investment as well.

We believe that Mongolia’s position at international arena will be strengthened through the strong and accurate soft power policies.

Mongolian Cultural Messenger is a Mongolian citizen who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Mongolia abroad through his/her achievements and reputation, as well as a dignified foreigner who has made a valuable contribution to the promotion of Mongolian heritage and traditions internationally.

In accordance with the “Regulation on Honorary Cultural Messengers of Mongolia” approved by the Government Resolution No. 267 of 2005, foreign citizens have been appointed as “Honorary Cultural Messengers”. In 2015, the regulation was amended to include “Honorary Cultural Messenger” as “Cultural Messenger” to include not only foreigners, but also Mongolians, and the procedure was revised in 2018 to improve the role of cultural envoys. MFA accepts applications for the appointment of cultural messengers and makes decision. Anyone interested in the rules can visit MFA website.

Today, there are 57 appointed Cultural Messengers, who are promoting Mongolia’s reputation successfully abroad, including Yokozuna Hakuho M.Davaajargal, the 69^th Japanese sumo wrestling grand champion, Olympic Champion N. Tuvshinbayar, ballet dancer D. Altankhuyag, baritone G. Ariunbaatar, baritone E. Amartuvshin, painter S. Zayasaikhan, comics painter and writer N. Erdenebayar, pianist S. Sayantsetseg, and ethno rock band The Hu.

In 2016-2019, Mongolia concluded visa exemption agreements with 16 more countries and currently, Mongolian nationals holding regular passports can visit 23 countries visa free, diplomatic passport holders – 33 countries, and official passport holders – 27 countries.

Citizens of 24 countries can visit Mongolia visa free.

You can apply for visa at relevant Embassy in Beijing. In case of official visit and some particular reasons, Consular Department may assist in transmitting your visa application materials through Embassy of Mongolia in Beijing.

Visa is needed for traveling to Shengen countries for up to 90 days. You can apply for Shengen visa with single, double and multiple entries and stay on Shengen territory for up to 90 days in a half year. Depending on purpose of your travel, you need to submit visa application to a Diplomatic Mission covering the country where you will spend most of your time.

If you want to travel to Shengen area countries – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece,  Iceland,  Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain – for up to 90  days, you can obtain visa at German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. While doing so, you should submit your visa application to VFS Global Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar in person. VFS Global Mongolia transmits the application materials to the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar and will notify you about the result as well.

All kinds of Mongolian passport holders can travel to Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Uruguay, and Chile visa free. Official and diplomatic passport holders can visit Colombia, Mexico and Peru visa free for 30-90 days. Mongolia concluded mutual visa free agreements with Paraguya and Ecuador and curently, the agreements are undergoing reinforcement processes.

MFA is putting further efforts on negotiating and concluding agreements to facilitate visa-free travel for Mongolian citizens to Latin American countries.

Mongolia has concluded a mutual visa free agreement for 30 days with only Israel. There is a mutual visa free agreement with Kuwait for official and diplomatic passport holders for 90 days.

When traveling to African countries, Mongolian citizens must have valid visas issued by the competent authority of the country in advance, travel and return within the validity period of the visa, and abide by the domestic laws and regulations of that country.

As there is a high risk of tropical diseases’ infection in some African countries, a vaccination and prevention should be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization or the relevant authorities of the country. At the border checkpoint of the destination country, the Immigration inspector may request additional information on entry and length of stay, so, please keep documents proving purpose of the trip, stay, host organization, personal invitation, and hotel reservation with you.

It is advisable not to carry prohibited items, such as meat, fruits, vegetables, plant seeds, firearms, explosives, or power banks, in your body or luggage. Also, if you are carrying more than 10 000 USD in cash or other equivalent securities (personal or cashier’s check, traveler’s checks, money orders, stocks, bonds) across the border, you must declare it in the customs declaration (if not declared in the customs declaration, it is considered as violation of the customs law and confiscated).

Citizens traveling abroad should be careful and avoid becoming victims of organized crime and not to carry other people’s luggage or belongings at someone’s request or persuasion. If you need to protect your interests and obtain civil or consular services while traveling in African countries, please contact the Embassy of Mongolia in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

As of 31 December 2019, 197 060 Mongolians are residing in 76  foreign countries.

There are 11 foreign visa application centers operating in Mongolia. These centers inspect and receive a complete set of visa application materials from Mongolian citizens, obtain additional materials if necessary, register non-overlapping physical data, submit the completed documents to the relevant authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Embassy, General Consulate and Consular Section of the Embassy of the country in other countries) and are obliged to inform the citizens whether the visas have been issued or not and hand over the passports to the holders.

As of 31 December 2019, Mongolian visas were issued to 244 291 foreigners.

As of 31 December 2019, there are 47 650 Mongolian students registered at the Embassies abroad.

As of 2019, 2.4 million Mongolians traveled abroad in duplicate, and 636 960 foreigners crossed the Mongolian border.

The Central Authority for Social Insurance has launched an electronic voluntary social insurance service to ensure the social security of Mongolian citizens living abroad. We are implementing this e-service in cooperation with the State Bank, and you will be able to provide your future social security through the voluntary social insurance. First of all, you can register as a user on the website of the Central Authority for Social Insurance https://app.ndaatgal.mn/sdforeign and then you will be able to  pay  the voluntary social insurance online.

A Mongolian citizen is entitled to receive assistance from the Assistance Fund for Mongolian Citizens in the following cases:

1. If the family of a citizen who has died abroad is unable to bring his/her remain back to the homeland, or if his/her family or relatives have not been identified, his/her body shall be kept, cremated, and his/her body or ashes returned to his homeland or buried there;
2. Repatriation of a citizen who has become insolvent as a result of a crime or loss of property;
3. To issue a return permit to a citizen with the above-mentioned reasons and provide other repatriation-related services;
4. To provide medical care and repatriate citizens who have been affected by extremely dangerous natural disasters, acts of terrorism and armed conflict abroad, or who have been seriously injured as a result of accidents or crimes, who have become mentally ill or whose lives are in danger;
5. Repatriation of a financially incapacitated citizen who has been released from imprisonment or detention abroad;
6. To hire a lawyer and an interpreter for protecting interests of the victim of a crime abroad and taking services of the relevant law enforcement agencies of the country;
7. Visit of a citizen serving a sentence of imprisonment abroad by an employee of the Embassy or Consulate;
8. In order to provide assistance and services to Mongolian citizens whose interests have been damaged and become insolvent abroad, “Rules of the Assistance Fund for Mongolian Citizens living Abroad” was revised by the Government Resolution No. 179 of 20 June 2018.

If Mongolian documents are used in foreign countries, they must be certified with an apostille certificate. This would allow the document to enter into force in 117 member states of the Apostille Convention without requiring any re-certification. In December 2008, the State Great Hural ratified Mongolia’s accession to the Hague Convention  Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. With the accession to the Convention in February 2009, the provisions of the Convention came into force, and by August 2020, the 117 member states of the Convention no longer require consular guarantees for our Apostille documents, reducing the burden on citizens. In the Convention, countries have agreed to use the French word apostille without translation.

Currently, there are 67 Honorary Consuls of Mongolia in 48 foreign countries.

Currently, there are 37 Honorary Consuls in Mongolia.