Mongolia

Driving permit

You can’t drive a vehicle or ride a motorbike with an Australian driver’s licence or International Driving Permit (IDP) in Mongolia.

For short visits, use taxis or hire a car with a driver.

If you plan to stay more than 12 months, apply for a Mongolian licence.

More information:

Travel by car

To travel to Mongolia by car, you must get approval from the Mongolian Customs Office before you enter.

For this, you’ll need to provide:

• copy of bio data page of passport;
• copy of driver’s licence
• car registration papers;
• ownership certificate;
• travel route and Mongolian contact numbers.

Mongolian Customs Office will make a record on the foreign citizen’s visa stamp that the citizen has entered with a car, which will be checked when the citizen leaves the country.

Mongolian Border Protection checks the visa in addition to asking for car related documents and requires advance notice if a large number of foreign citizens enter the country by car at the same time.

Road travel

Driving in Mongolia can be dangerous, especially at night, due to poor:

• visibility
• road conditions
• vehicle maintenance
• local driving practices

There are few sealed roads outside of Ulaanbaatar.

You’re 4 times more likely to die in a traffic accident in Mongolia than in Australia.

Many accidents happen during winter due to black ice, especially in urban areas. Right-hand drive vehicles cause for many accidents on rural roads. Pedestrians are often injured.

Take care as a pedestrian. Drivers don’t always give way, even at marked pedestrian crossings.

To protect yourself when driving beyond city limits, take:

• maps
• a GPS or compass
• communications equipment, such as a satellite phone
• emergency medical supplies

Communication and medical facilities are often poor outside cities.

More information:

Snowfall and dust storms

For most of the year, heavy snowfall can:

• restrict access to many regional areas
• greatly increase risks of car travel between towns

To drive safely while travelling during snowy periods:

• allow for additional travel time
• make sure your insurance policy covers delays and cancellations

Severe weather and snowfall can also restrict medical evacuations from remote places.

Take care as a pedestrian during severe weather. Heavy snow can cause black ice on footpaths and road crossings.

Dust storms during May and June can affect visibility when driving.

If you ride a motorcycle, always wear a helmet.

More information:

Taxis

Taxis can be dangerous. Book a reliable, licensed taxi company through your accommodation, restaurant, or venue.

Public transport

Local transport providers may not carry accident liability insurance. This includes bus and private car operators.

Always use seatbelts, even if others don’t.

If appropriate safety equipment isn’t available, use another provider.

More information:

Air travel

DFAT doesn’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check Mongolia’s air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

Regional travel

Access to some regional districts is occasionally restricted for quarantine, including:

Restrictions can change.

Speak to the Mongolian authorities or the nearest Embassy of Mongolia if you plan to travel to regional areas.

Read the original advice at SmartTraveller.gov.au by Australian Government