Berlin’s 26 July 2026 update for Mongolia informs travellers that China has expanded its 15-day visa-free transit policy to include rail passengers on the Trans-Mongolian route to Beijing. German nationals travelling on business can now make short stops in northern China without a visa, provided onward tickets are confirmed. The change opens new itinerary options for German mining and logistics firms shuttling between Ulaanbaatar and corporate headquarters in Shanghai or Shenzhen, potentially cutting travel costs by 20 %. However, the Foreign Office cautions that passengers must remain within the listed transit zones and that airlines may still request proof of hotel bookings. The advisory also flags an uptick in pick-pocketing on Ulaanbaatar’s new electric-bus network and warns that winter smog levels can delay medical evacuations by helicopter. Companies seconding staff to Oyu Tolgoi or Tavan Tolgoi mines are encouraged to integrate the China transit option into travel policies but to retain multiple-entry Mongolian visas in case of unexpected border closures caused by livestock disease outbreaks. German HR teams should ensure employees download Mongolia’s e-residence permit app, which now supports German-language interface and can speed up police-registration on arrival.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
