Maldivians travelling to Mongolia are now exempt from visa requirements.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a publication on Monday.

As such, the foreign ministry revealed that Maldivian nationals traveling to Mongolia are exempted from visa requirements, from 12 January 2024 onwards.

The ministry revealed that the visa exemption will allow Maldivians holding valid diplomatic, official and ordinary passports to enter and stay in Mongolia for a maximum of 30 days from the day of entry.

This was done as per the visa exemption agreement signed between the two countries on 17 August 2023.

In accordance with the agreement, Maldivians who intend to stay for a longer period, to work, to attend an educational institution or to conduct business in Mongolia, will be required to obtain an appropriate visa prior to travel.

Discussions were held on the signing of a visa exemption agreement between Maldives and Mongolia during February 2023, between Ambassador of Mongolia to the Maldives Ganbold Dambajav and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.

The signing of the visa exemption agreement comes under efforts to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the government of Maldives by High Commissioner of Maldives to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb and Ambassador of Mongolia to Maldives.

HC Shaheeb expressed gratitude to the Mongolian government for its commitment towards enhancing the existing bilateral ties between the Maldives and Mongolia and expressed hope that the signing of the agreement would facilitate avenues for engagement and increased people-to-people contact between the two countries.

The Mongolian ambassador had expressed keen interest in solidifying the bilateral ties and affirmed his commitment to continue working closely in the multilateral arena.