About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights

Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.

Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.

Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach

Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.

Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.

Partnerships
Partnerships

This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.

Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.

Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants

This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.

Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.

Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises

This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.

Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.

Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration

This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.

Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.

Key findings
INTRODUCTION

This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Republic of Mongolia’s governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Key findings
MIGRANTS’ RIGHTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Regular migrants in Mongolia have access to Government-funded health services, including compulsory insurance for employed individuals, and voluntary options for the unemployed, as per the Law on Health Insurance (2015, last amended in 2022).
  • The Law on the Rights of Children (2016, last amended in 2022) provides all migrants, regardless of their migration status, have equal access as citizens to Government-funded education. 
  • Mongolia maintains records of its nationals living abroad, through the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Immigration Agency of Mongolia,
  • Non-resident Mongolian citizens have the right to vote in a foreign country where a diplomatic mission of Mongolia is located, as per the Election Law (2016).

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Foreign residents do not have equal access to employment as Mongolian nationals. Moreover, the ability of foreign residents to take up self-employed activity depends on the specific visa categories stated in the Law on Labour Force Migration (2021, last amended 2023).
  • There is no specific strategy for addressing hate crimes, violence, xenophobia, and discrimination against migrants. 
Key findings
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Consular Department are responsible for enacting Mongolia’s emigration policy and providing services to protect the rights and legal interests of Mongolian citizens living abroad.
  • The Laws on Civil State Registration (2018), on the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals (2010, last amended in 2023), on Citizenship (1995, last amended 2022), and on Labour Force Migration (2021, last amended in 2023) serve as Mongolia’s primary legislation regulating immigration.
  • Information on migration regulations and criteria are available to the public and published on the Unified Legal Information System website, in both Mongolian and English languages.
  • The Government holds regular consultations with decentralized levels of governance to enhance the vertical coherence of its migration-related policies, focusing on urban-to-rural migration under the New Revival Policy (2021).
  • The National Statistics Office (NSO) collects disaggregated data on foreign workers and internal migration, published quarterly and annually respectively, while the 2020 Census and upcoming 2025 census will include migration-related questions.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Mongolia does not have a national migration strategy.
  • There is no coordination mechanism to compile and harmonize migration data collected by various government agencies. 
Key findings
PARTNERSHIPS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • The government participates in two regional consultative processes on migration, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime (2002) and the Inter-governmental Asia–Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants (1996).
  • Mongolia has migration-related agreements with Czechia (2019), Hungary (2011), Poland (2018), the Republic of Korea (2006), the Russian Federation (1981) and Türkiye (2018), focusing on social security, pensions, insurance, and employment.
  • The government engages CSOs in national and regional migration policy consultations and the implementation of policies and programmes at the national and local levels, as mandated by the Law on Development Policy, Planning, and Administration (2020, last amended in 2022).

Areas with potential for further development

  • Mongolia is not yet part of a regional agreement that promotes labour mobility.
  • There is no formal government framework for private sector and diaspora engagement in migration policy. Ad hoc consultations occur, but limited direct engagement exists. 
Key findings
WELL-BEING OF MIGRANTS

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • An annual national assessment to monitor labor market demand for immigrants in Mongolia determines annual quotas based on labor supply, demand, and government recommendations by October 1st each year.
  • International students in Mongolia have equal access to university education under Ministerial Order No. A/540 on the procedure for student recruitment (2022). Furthermore, international students in Mongolia are allowed to work, as outlined in the procedure for the employment of students (2020).
  • The Law on Labour Force Migration (2021, last amended in 2023) includes essential provisions to promote the ethical recruitment of migrant workers.
  • The Revised Rules of the Assistance Fund for Mongolian Citizens Living Abroad (2018) ensures the provision of necessary assistance to Mongolian citizens living abroad, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • The establishment of formalized criteria for recognizing foreign qualifications in Mongolia is an area for further development.
  • The government is not actively involved in promoting the creation of formal remittance schemes.
Key findings
MOBILITY DIMENSION OF CRISES

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Mongolia actively participates in regional frameworks like the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC) established by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in 2000, addressing climate-induced movements and disaster management, contributing to cooperative efforts and strategies for disaster reduction.
  • A communications system is in place to facilitate the flow of information during crises and enable the public to communicate their needs to the Government in Mongolia.

Areas with potential for further development 

  • Mongolia lacks a harmonized disaster risk management legislation and institutional frameworks that address the needs of migrants before, during and after emergencies and disasters.
  • Mongolia's Regulation on Displacement in Disasters (2011) aims to safeguard vulnerable groups during disasters through evacuation and relocation overseen by local governors but lacks specific provisions for migrants. Furthermore, neither the Law on Emergency (1995), the Law on Disaster Protection (2017) nor the National Programme for Community-based Disaster Reduction 2015–2025 contains specific provisions for preventing and addressing the impacts of displacement caused by disasters.
  • There is no policy or strategy to promote sustainable reintegration of migrants who fled the country during a crisis.
Key findings
SAFE, ORDERLY AND DIGNIFIED MIGRATION

Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas

  • Mongolia's General Authority for Border Protection, under the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, oversees integrated border control and security per the Law on the Borders of Mongolia (2016, last amended in 2023).
  • The Government’s Concept of Mongolia’s Foreign Policy (2011) and the Mongolians of the World Programme II (2021) include measures to assist in the return and reintegration of Mongolian nationals who have emigrated.
  • There are measures to identify migrants in vulnerable situations and provide them with adequate referral and protection services, as specified in the Law on Combating Human Trafficking.
  • Mongolia has legal provisions implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to protect unaccompanied and separated children, children in need of international protection, and children without parental care. These provisions are applicable to all children, including children of foreigners and stateless persons residing in Mongolia.
  • The Law on Labour Force Migration (2021, last amended in 2023) contains provisions to protect migrant workers from labour exploitation. 

Areas with potential for further development 

  • There is no policy or strategy in place that includes measures for promoting and prioritizing non‑custodial alternatives to detention. 

2023 October

Migration Governance Indicators Profile: Republic of Mongolia