The best eSIM for Mongolia is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions Mongolia eSIM does that. It is 4G/LTE and data only, activates automatically when you arrive in Mongolia and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 20 GB for 15 days. It has no Mongolian phone number, so you call and message through apps. Going on to China or Russia? Our Asia plan doesn't list Mongolia, so pair a Mongolia eSIM with one for the next country.
Which is the best eSIM for Mongolia?
Short on time? These Mongolia plans are 4G/LTE and data only. Pick the size from the days you stay.
Mongolia 5GB (7 days) · 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · data only · 4G/LTE · See all eSIMs for Mongolia · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Mongolia
- Coverage: check that Mongolia is on the country list. When we checked, our Asia plan did not list Mongolia, so a Mongolia plan is the one to get for your days in the country.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a few days in Ulaanbaatar. For two weeks with maps, taxi apps and photos from the city to the steppe, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say whether you get 4G/LTE or 5G. Our Mongolia plans are 4G/LTE.
- Calls: most travel eSIMs are data only. You call and message through apps over data.
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
Our eSIMs for Mongolia: the details
Here is what the plan details on our Mongolia eSIM page say:
- Sizes: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, and 20 GB for 15 days.
- Speed: 4G/LTE.
- Phone number: no. The plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in Mongolia. Your days start then.
- Top-ups: available, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract.
How much data do you need in Mongolia?
It depends on how long you stay and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- 1 to 3 days: Mongolia 1GB or 3GB, both for 3 days. Enough for maps, messages and a ride from the airport.
- Up to a week: Mongolia 5GB or 10GB, both for 7 days. Maps, taxi apps, social media and photos.
- Two weeks: Mongolia 20GB, for 15 days. Room for some video and sharing your connection.
- Longer than 15 days: our longest Mongolia plan lasts 15 days. Top-ups are available, so you can add data when you need it.
Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you stretch it.
Is there an eSIM for a short trip to Mongolia?
Yes. If you only stop in Ulaanbaatar for a few days, for example on a long train journey or a stopover, the smallest plans last 3 days. You get data for maps, messages and tickets without paying for a week.
Will your eSIM work in the Gobi and on the steppe?
Not everywhere. The UK Foreign Office says most UK phone networks operate in the cities and wifi is widely available in hotels, restaurants and bars, especially in Ulaanbaatar. In rural Mongolia there are large areas that do not have network coverage (FCDO: Mongolia safety and security).
The same page says only about 10% of the roads outside the capital are tarmacked and signposting is minimal. If you drive in rural Mongolia, the FCDO suggests you research your route, ask local guides or drivers about the road conditions ahead, take back-up communication devices such as a satellite phone, and share your route and expected times. Weather can change without warning, with the most extreme conditions in and around the Gobi Desert and the steppes.
So before you leave Ulaanbaatar, download offline maps and anything you need for the trip. A travel eSIM gives you data where there is signal, not a signal where there is none.
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
You can also get a line from a Mongolian operator once you arrive. The FCDO notes that you can buy local SIM cards in Mongolia. Apple lists Mobicom and Unitel among the carriers in Mongolia that support eSIM on iPhone through a QR code or a carrier app (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone). Packages and the rules for registering a SIM change, so check them with the operator.
A local line gives you a Mongolian number for calls, but you set it up after you land. A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop.
Choose a local SIM if you need a Mongolian number. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to it, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number, see how to set up a dual eSIM. More on calls with a data-only plan: phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Using your phone in Ulaanbaatar
In the capital, the usual data uses are maps, taxi apps, translation and booking apps. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls and streaming use much more.
Data also helps you stay safe. The FCDO advises you to avoid being out alone at night and to ask hotels, restaurants or clubs to order a car for you. If you hail a ride, use only licensed taxis, or the trackable taxi app UBCab. It also warns that pickpockets may operate in markets and crowded places, with a higher risk during Tsagaan Sar and Naadam, so keep your phone in a secured bag (FCDO: Mongolia safety and security).
Two numbers to save before you go: police 102 (or +976 102 from an international mobile phone) and ambulance 103 (FCDO: Mongolia health).
Before you travel: visa and registration
The UK Foreign Office says British citizens can visit Mongolia for tourism for up to 30 days without a visa until 31 December 2026. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Your hotel or landlord registers you using an app; if you travel independently or stay with friends, you must register yourself with the Mongolian Immigration Agency, which you can do without going in person (FCDO: Mongolia entry requirements).
As of November 2026, the FCDO also reports fuel shortages in Mongolia, including aviation fuel, which may affect flights, road travel and access to some remote areas (FCDO: Mongolia warnings and insurance). Entry rules depend on your passport, so check your own government's advice before you book, and again before you fly.
Going to Mongolia and China or Russia?
Is Mongolia one stop on a longer trip, for example by train between China and Russia? When we checked, Mongolia was not on the country list of our Asia plan. So for a trip that also takes in another country, install a Mongolia eSIM and a second eSIM for the other country before you go, and switch between them at the border. Check the country list of any plan before you buy.
See our guides to the best eSIM for China, South Korea, Japan and Uzbekistan, our Russia eSIMs and Kazakhstan eSIMs, or browse all plans on our destinations page.
How do you get an eSIM for Mongolia?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Our install guide walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- When you land, use the travel eSIM for data: Apple notes that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line, so turn off data roaming on it (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating covers the usual causes. New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Mongolia?
It depends on your trip. For data, a Mongolia eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 3 GB for a short trip, 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks. If you need a Mongolian number, a local line fits better.
Can I get an eSIM for Mongolia before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you arrive in Mongolia.
Does a travel eSIM for Mongolia include a phone number?
No. Our Mongolia plans are data only, with no calls or SMS. Use calling and messaging apps over data, or get a line from a local operator for a Mongolian number.
Is there one eSIM for Mongolia and China?
When we checked, our Asia plan did not list Mongolia. Use a Mongolia eSIM for Mongolia and a China eSIM for China. You can install both before you travel.
Does the Mongolia eSIM have 5G?
No. Our Mongolia plans are 4G/LTE.
Will I have signal everywhere in Mongolia?
No. The UK Foreign Office says there are large areas in rural Mongolia without network coverage. Download offline maps before you leave the city.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
