Your first 90 days in Mongolia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Ulaanbaatar's winter air quality is the health issue that dominates everything else — PM2.5 routinely reaches levels that are hazardous by any standard, driven by ger-district coal burning. Factor in air filtration, and think carefully about it if you have children or respiratory conditions.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register with the Immigration Agency of Mongolia within 7 days of arrival and apply for the residence permit card
Registration within 7 days of arrival for stays over 30 days — this is separate from the visa and is enforced with fines
The residence file requires an HIV test and a medical certificate obtained in Mongolia, plus notarised translations of foreign documents. Work permits are quota-controlled by sector and are handled by the employer through the labour ministry.
Get your Registration number (регистрийн дугаар) issued to foreign residents
Banking, employment, property and filings with the General Department of Taxation key off it.
Assigned by the Immigration Agency with the residence card; tax registration for business activity is done separately with the General Department of Taxation.
Open a bank account
Khan Bank, Golomt and TDB open accounts for residence-card holders, and Mongolian retail banking is surprisingly modern with good mobile apps. The tögrög is volatile and Mongolia's economy is closely tied to commodity cycles, so keep savings in hard currency rather than local.
Enrol in healthcare
Public hospitals are free to insured residents through the compulsory health insurance scheme, which foreign residents can join. Quality outside Ulaanbaatar is limited; the SOS and Intermed private clinics in the capital serve most expatriates, and serious cases go to Seoul or Beijing. Winter air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is a genuine health factor and one of the worst in the world.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for short stays; residents convert through the traffic police, with a test for most applicants. Driving is on the right, and winter road conditions outside the capital are a serious skill requirement.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Mongolia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Mongolia?
Register with the Immigration Agency of Mongolia within 7 days of arrival and apply for the residence permit card — Registration within 7 days of arrival for stays over 30 days — this is separate from the visa and is enforced with fines. The residence file requires an HIV test and a medical certificate obtained in Mongolia, plus notarised translations of foreign documents. Work permits are quota-controlled by sector and are handled by the employer through the labour ministry. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Registration number and do I need one?
Registration number (регистрийн дугаар) issued to foreign residents is Mongolia's personal tax/ID number. Banking, employment, property and filings with the General Department of Taxation key off it. Assigned by the Immigration Agency with the residence card; tax registration for business activity is done separately with the General Department of Taxation.
Can I drive in Mongolia on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for short stays; residents convert through the traffic police, with a test for most applicants. Driving is on the right, and winter road conditions outside the capital are a serious skill requirement. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Mongolia?
Public hospitals are free to insured residents through the compulsory health insurance scheme, which foreign residents can join. Quality outside Ulaanbaatar is limited; the SOS and Intermed private clinics in the capital serve most expatriates, and serious cases go to Seoul or Beijing. Winter air pollution in Ulaanbaatar is a genuine health factor and one of the worst in the world. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Mongolia's system treats foreign residents.