Where can I get information?
UK Border Agency and the British Embassy work in partnership to provide a visa service in Mongolia. Thus, you can find out whether you need a visa and how to apply by contacting Consular & Visa Section at the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar or by logging on to the UK Border Agency website.

Citizens of Mongolia need a visa to enter, or transit through the UK.

Where do I get a visa application form?
You should download and print the form from the UK Border Agency website.

Do I need an appointment to apply for a visa?
No all applicants who arrive before 11.00 from Monday to Thursday will be dealt with.  Please click How to apply for more.

Do I have to come to the Visa Section myself?
If you are applying for a visa for the UK, you must attend the Visa Section of the British Embassy, Ulaanbaatar in person, in order to have your fingerscans (digital fingerprints) taken.  

When can I submit my application?
The Visa Section is open Monday-Thursday between 0900-1100.

How much does a visa cost?
Please see Visa Fees

How early can I apply?
An application can be accepted up to 3 months before the visa is required.

What documents do I need to provide?
Please see the Guidance Notes (English version).

Why do I have to bring original documents, copies and translations? 
In order to make an informed decision, the Entry Clearance Officer normally needs to see original documents. But as applications are transferred from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing, it could be inconvenient if applicants are without original documents for any period of time.

Our Visa Section in Beijing will be dealing with a wide range of nationalities, and therefore languages. Again, in order to make an informed decision on an application, documents need to be translated into English to aid the process.

Do my copies and translations have to be certified?
No. We do not wish to add additional costs to the visa process. Applicants may translate documents themselves, or ask friends or relatives to do so. But all copies and translations will be verified by the Entry Clearance Assistant locally. Where it is thought a document has been prepared with the intention to mislead, an application may be refused.

I wish to study in the UK. Which sort of visa should I apply for?
You will need to apply for one of the three visas below:

1)  Student Visitors

You should apply for this visa if: 

• You are over 18 years
• You wish to take a short course of study lasting less than 6 months.
• You do not wish to work during your stay
• You will not need to extend your stay in the UK.
• Your course is for less than 15 hours per week or is in the evening or at weekends. However, the training provider must be on the DIUS Register of Education Providers.

You should not choose this if:

• You are taking a sandwich course or any short course with a work placement element.

2)  Student  

You should apply for this visa if:

• You wish to take part time employment during your studies
• You may need to extend your stay in the UK
• You are undertaking a short term English course before going on to long term studies in the UK. Give details of both courses in your application.

3)  Child Visitor

You should apply for this visa if:

• You are a child under the age of 18 travelling to the UK for a short course of study lasting less than 6 months.
• Please note there is a requirement to demonstrate that adequate arrangements have been made for care in the UK. This means that you must give the name and address of the person you will stay with. You must also submit the necessary signed consent forms from both parents, and the name and passport number of who is accompanying you to the UK.

Can I bring a friend or relative with me to the Visa Section?
No. Due to Security and space limitations only applicants are permitted to enter the Visa Section. In the case of a minor, they may be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Can my friend or family member in the UK apply for my visa for me?
No, visas for the UK can be issued only at UK visa offices overseas.

You have kept some of my documents; how do I get them back?
We only return original documents (such as payslips and birth certificates) if you provided a photocopy of each document.  This is because all documents that are relevant to a visa application must be kept on file so that the Entry Clearance Officer’s decision can be properly reviewed.  

Will I be interviewed?
Only applicants for a settlement visas are normally interviewed, and only if the Entry Clearance Officer cannot make a decision based on the application form and supporting documents.  If an interview is necessary, you will be contacted and notified of the time and date.

Does my sponsor need to come to my interview?
No.  The only time we ask for someone other than the applicant to come to the interview is when the applicant is a child.

Can I send my application by post?
No. The Visa Section in Ulaanbaatar does not process applications sent in by post. All applications must be made in person so that the necessary biometric data can be taken.

How long will I have to wait once I have submitted my visa application?
Please ensure you apply for a visa well in advance of your planned travel. All applications are processed at the British Consulate in Beijing and it will take at least 15 working days to process your visa application. Setllement visas, however, can take up to 12 weeks. 

Do I have to pay an additional courier charge for my application to be delivered to Beijing? 
No. The costs incurred by transferring applications to Beijing will be absorbed by UK Border Agency.

I need to get my visa quickly. Can I apply directly in Beijing?  
Yes. If you are resident in Mongolia, you may apply directly to Beijing. But please bear in mind that if you do, you will be required to attend an appointment in Beijing to submit your application and Biometric information.

Do you offer a "premium service" to ensure my application is delivered to Beijing quicker?
No. The current service means that applications sent to Beijing by the fastest possible means. To charge for a premium service would not be cost effective for the applicant. Additionally, we cannot charge a fee to process an application out of turn, or assess it quicker than is permitted under our existing PSA target times. In complicated cases, this could mean up to 15 working days. In Settlement cases, up to 3 months.

How can I make enquiries about visa information?
By e-mail to britemb@mongol.net or by phoning the Embassy (976) (11) 45 81 33 between 0900-1700 Monday-Thursday, between 0900-1300 on Fridays.

How can I make enquiries about my submitted application?
You should contact the Visa Section of the British Embassy in Beijing by e-mail to beijingvisamail@fco.gov.uk or by phoning +86 10 8529 6600/6075/6084.  

I applied for a UK visa before and was refused.  Can I apply again?
Yes, you can make another application at any time.  But if the reasons for the previous refusal (explained in your Notice of Refusal) still apply, you will be refused again.

How will I know when to collect the decision on my application?
When an application has been decided in Beijing, and returned to Ulaanbaatar we will telephone you to let you know that you can come to the Visa Section in Ulaanbaatar to collect your decision.

If my application is not successful, will the fee be refunded to me?
No. The visa fee covers the cost of processing the visa application. It is non-refundable once the application process has begun.

What happens if you refuse my visa?
If your application for a visa is refused, you will get a written notice explaining why.  To ensure that we have made a fair decision, in accordance with the Immigration Rules , an Entry Clearance Manager reviews every refusal without a right of appeal within 24 hours.

For the categories of visa where there is a right of appeal, you will be given:

• the Notice of Refusal (this tells you why the Entry Clearance Officer has refused your visa)
• the Notice of Appeal (you must fill this in and return it to the Visa Section to explain why you think they were wrong to refuse your visa)
• a leaflet explaining the appeal process

I submitted an appeal and have not had any response; who should I contact to find out what has happened?
Appeals are managed by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the UK.  The British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar cannot assist you in checking the progress of your appeal; you must contact the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal directly, by email to Customer.Service@tribunals.gsi.gov.uk or on 0845 6000 877.  You will need to quote your reference number.

How do I extend my visa once I am in the UK?
Certain categories of visa can be extended in the UK.  The UK Border Agency website explains which categories of visa can be extended and under which circumstances.  For further enquiries, you should contact the Home Office Immigration Enquiry Bureau on 0870 606 7766.  The British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar cannot assist you with this matter.

Can I travel to other EU countries with my UK visa?
No.  UK visas permit entry only to the UK.

What is a sponsor?
A sponsor is the person/company you intend to visit in the UK.

Will it help if my sponsor is present at the time I bring in my application?
No. We will, however, need to see a letter of invitation from your sponsor confirming that they have invited you, the length of your stay and whether they will be responsible for your expenses and accommodation. You may also be required to provide proof that your sponsor is in the UK legally and we suggest that you also bring in a copy of your sponsor’s passport showing their status.

What documents should my sponsor send/fax to the Embassy?
The onus is on you to submit an application accompanied by supporting documents (letter of invitation, proof of sponsor’s immigration status in UK, bank statement, etc.) and as such you should bring these documents with you when you come to the Embassy. The sponsor should not send any documents to the Embassy in advance. Any documents received in advance of an application being submitted will be destroyed.

How much money should I prove I have?
You do not have to show that you have a specific amount. However, you must be able to prove that you have enough funds for the visit you intend to make.

Is it necessary to have a letter from my employer indicating my salary if some or all of my expenses are going to be covered by my sponsor?
Evidence of your circumstances in Mongolia is helpful to satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that you are in settled employment. You should therefore include such information with your application whether you are paying for the trip or not.

Do I need to show my old passport when I apply?
It is useful for us to see such direct evidence of previous travels abroad and seeing an old passport can often enable us to process your application much quicker.

Apart from the list of main requirements given on your website, what other documents might I be asked to produce?
A list of required supporting documents is provided on the guidance notes provided with the visa application form.

Is a transit visa required if I am staying in the United Kingdom for less than twenty-four hours and can I leave the airport?
Some Visa nationals, (but not Mongolian citizens) provided they arrive by air and have a confirmed onward ticket for a flight within twenty-four hours to a country where they are assured entry, do not require a transit visa and can leave the airport. However, being able to transit without a visa is only a concession and there is no guarantee that someone will be allowed to pass through the UK in transit by the UK Immigration Authorities. You may still be refused entry when you arrive at a UK airport if a UK Immigration Officer is not satisfied that you qualify. You may wish, therefore, to actually apply for a UK transit visa before you travel.

If I am applying for a settlement visa, should my sponsor be present at the interview?
No. However, you will be required to submit evidence of the sponsor’s residence status in the United Kingdom, freedom to marry and ability to support and accommodate without resource to public funds.

How long will my visit visa be valid for?
The period for which your visa is valid is always shown on the visa placed in your travel document. A standard visit visa is usually valid for six months, but we also issue visit visas that are valid for 1, 2 or 5 years. All visit visas can be used for an unlimited number of entries to the UK. You may stay a maximum of 6 months on each visit, or to the expiry date of the visa, whichever is shorter. If you are coming for another reason, the validity of the visa and how long you can stay can vary.
The visa will show the date from which it is valid. This is usually the date that it is issued. However, if you do not plan to travel immediately, you can ask for it to be post-dated for the start date to be deferred by up to three months. You must tell the entry clearance officer this when you make your application.

Can you help me find a job in the UK and obtain a work permit?
No. Our involvement in the work permit process is limited to dealing only with application for work permit visas after an applicant has obtained his/her work permit.

Do you issue visas for Commonwealth countries?
Yes, we do issue visas for certain Commonwealth countries and UK Overseas Territories such as the Bahamas, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands.

Does the visa guarantee my entry to the UK?
No, but if you have a valid UK visa, we will not normally refuse you entry to the UK unless

• your circumstances have changed;
• you gave false information; or
• you did not tell us important facts when you applied for your visa.

When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration Officer may question you, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.

What is the latest date I can arrive in the UK with my visa?
The expiry date will be shown on the visa, but remember that this is also the last day on which you are permitted to stay in the UK.

How long can I stay?
The last day on which you may enter or be in the UK is the expiry date on the visa. For visitors, this is normally a maximum of 6 months.

Can I use the visa to enter the UK more than one time?
UK visas are usually valid for multiple entries to the UK, until the expiry date shown on the visa.

If my travel plans are delayed, can the validity of my visa be changed?  
No, except where there are compelling compassionate circumstances. At the discretion of an entry clearance officer, the expiry date of a visa can be extended for up to 3 months, provided there has been no change in your circumstances. Otherwise you should apply for another visa.

Do I need to bring any documents with me?  
On arrival, an immigration officer may ask you to show evidence of your reasons for coming to the UK. This may include travel tickets, evidence of funding, letters from your sponsor or businesses you are visiting, or schools you will study at. You should bring copies of the documents that you showed to the entry clearance officer, in your hand luggage.