Mongolia Tax Refund Guide 2026: Get Cash Back at UBN Airport

Before we dive into my full Mongolia travelogue, I'm thrilled to share a fresh, hot-off-the-press experience: my tax refund success story!

I purchased items worth 920,000 MNT at the Gobi Factory Outlet and ultimately received $18 in cash back at the airport!

(For context, that's like spending ~$263 and getting ~$18 back.)

And no, I'm not a shopaholic; I swear I only did this for the sake of this post! 😉

Initially, I thought the process would be complicated, but it turned out to be much simpler than expected. The key is knowing it's a two-part process: one step before security screening and another after immigration.

Knowing exactly where and when to do each part makes it a breeze!

At a Glance

Preparing for Your Tax Refund

Step 0: Before the Airport!

I did my shopping at the Gobi Factory Outlet, with a total purchase amount of approximately 920,000 MNT!

When I made my purchase, spending over 500,000 MNT at a single store qualified for a tax refund, and the VAT was 10%.

The crucial point here is that you don't just apply at the airport; you need to handle the initial tax refund process at the store when you make your purchase!!!

When checking out, I simply told the cashier I wanted a tax refund and provided my passport number for registration in their system.

I also made sure to keep my receipt. Doing this meant that at the airport machine, my name and purchase details automatically popped up just by entering my passport number. It's convenient, but also a reminder of how important personal information security is!

Applying at the Airport

Step 1: Before Security!

Once you arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN), before heading into the main departure area, look for the machine marked TAX REFUND (Claim).

The airport isn't huge, so it was quite easy to spot. The machine even supports English!

1) Select English, then 2) enter your passport number. My name and purchased items automatically appeared.

On my screen, the GOBI cashmere items I bought were listed as Muffler, Scarf, and Gloves.

The refundable tax amount displayed was 83,122 MNT.

The exchange rate was 1 USD = 3,614 MNT....

The pre-fee refund amount was $23, with a service fee of $5.

So, my final refund was $18 USD.

While the exchange rate wasn't ideal, I was hoping for a non-cash refund option like a card cancellation to avoid the fee. However, my $18 refund was only available in cash. This might vary depending on the amount or circumstances, so please use my experience as a general reference!

After completing the application, your Tax ID, OTP, and refund amount will appear!

Make sure to take a photo of this screen! The screen itself stated that the OTP is valid for only 4 hours and is required for collecting your refund.

After snapping a pic, Step 1 was complete! The machine operation itself was surprisingly quick.

Collecting Cash After Immigration

Step 2: After Security & Immigration!

Next, proceed through security and immigration as usual.

Once you're in the duty-free area, look for the STATE BANK / TAX REFUND counter near Gate 4.

There's an ATM specifically for foreigners next to it. I proceeded by pressing the left button with red text on the screen.

Then, referring to the photo I took earlier, I entered the Tax ID → Confirm → OTP → Confirm → Refund Amount → Confirm in sequence. In no time, dollar bills emerged! When I visited, a staff member was also there to assist, making the ATM process incredibly fast.

So, the entire tax refund process didn't feel like it ate up a lot of my time at all.

Conclusion!

After going through it...

What seemed like a potentially complicated Mongolian tax refund process turned out to have a simple core:

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Register passport number when purchasing

→ Use the Claim machine before airport security

→ Take a photo of the completion screen

→ Visit the STATE BANK ATM near Gate 4 after immigration

Just remember this sequence, and you'll be golden! And what did I do with my $18 refund, you ask? I spent it right back at the airport, of course! 😂

A quick tip: Duty-free prices are generally displayed in USD. If you pay in MNT, they'll convert it using an unfavorable rate. So, unless you're specifically trying to get rid of leftover MNT, I recommend paying in USD.

With my fresh $18 in hand from the tax refund, I naturally indulged in a little more shopping. Ah, the cycle continues!

If you've shopped at tax-refundable stores like Gobi Cashmere in Mongolia, don't hesitate to claim your refund at the airport. It's an easy way to get some cash back!