Visa Policy for Myanmar
If you wish to visit Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), this article will lay down all the ins and outs of the Myanmar Visa Policy. As per the Myanmar Visa Policy, all visitors to Myanmar whether they require a visa or not must have a passport with 6 months validity from the expected date of arrival.
Any foreign national who seeks to travel to Myanmar must obtain a visa if they are not a citizen of one of the eligible visa-exempt countries.
Tourist Visa for Myanmar
The Myanmar Visa Policy lists down that the Myanmar tourist eVisa is an online visa introduced by the Govt of Burma in 2014. The tourist eVisa for Myanmar is only valid for a single entry. Re-entry will require a new visa. It allows a stay of up to twenty-eight days and is valid for three months from the date of issue.
The eVisa holders can enter Myanmar at select ports of entry only, which include major airports and land border crossings.
Currently, as per the Myanmar Visa Policy,the passenger with eVisa are only permitted to enter via the following ports:
- Yangon International Port
- Mandalay International Port
- Nay pyi Taw International Port
- Tachileik Land Border Checkpoint
- Myawaddy Land Border Checkpoint
- Kawthaung Land Border Checkpoint
- Tamu Land Border Checkpoint
- Rih Khaw Dar Land Border Checkpoint
eVisa doesn't allow entry at seaports in Myanmar. Therefore, travelers arriving by cruise will not be permitted to enter Myanmar with an eVisa.
Myanmar Business eVisa
According to the Myanmar Visa Policy,The Myanmar Business eVisa is available to eligible citizens traveling to Myanmar for business purposes. Unlike the tourist eVisa, the Myanmar Business eVisa allows a single entry visa valid for 70 days stay in Myanmar for business purposes. However, it is also valid up to 3 months from the date of approval. Myanmar Business eVisa Requirements and application process are similar to those for the tourist eVisa.
But, there is one additional Myanmar Business eVisa requirement: applicants are first required to obtain an invitation from a registered company in Myanmar. Applicants are required to provide both— a letter of invitation and a registration letter from the company, before submitting the Myanmar business visa online form. Upon arrival, it is necessary to present the same supporting documentation as that required with the tourist eVisa to gain entry to the country.
Citizens from the following 54 countries are eligible to apply for a business eVisa:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea, DPR
- Korea, Republic
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Norway
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia Federation
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Slovenia
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Vietnam
Currently, passengers with eVisa are only permitted to enter via the following ports:
- Yangon International Port
- Mandalay International Port
- Nay pyi Taw International Port
- Tachileik Land Border Checkpoint
- Myawaddy Land Border Checkpoint
- Kawthaung Land Border Checkpoint
- Tamu Land Border Checkpoint
- Rih Khaw Dar Land Border Checkpoint
A business eVisa too doesn't allow entry at seaports.
Embassy or Consular Visa Required
The Myanmar Visa Policy states that travelers not eligible to apply for an eVisa should obtain an embassy visa before departure from the nearest diplomatic office of Myanmar. To obtain an embassy visa, applicants must first make an appointment at a diplomatic mission of Myanmar. This should be done well in advance as the processing of an embassy visa may take up to 2 weeks or more. The Individual Consular Office will confirm the exact processing time.
After confirmation is received by applicants, they have to fill an embassy visa form to bring to the appointment along with properly executed documents required as per the visa type. To specify the correct embassy visa type required, they need to specify the purpose of their visit, such as:
- tourism,
- business,
- to work,
- to study, or
- to transit to an onward destination.
Myanmar eVisa
As per the Myanmar Visa Policy, It is an eVisa system for travelers to apply for their Myanmar visas online. Below is discussed in detail the types, permitted period of stay, and validity of eVisa.
To apply for the Myanmar tourist eVisa, an applicant must have a:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival
- A recent photograph of the applicant, passport-style as per the Myanmar eVisa photo requirements
- Email address for receiving the approved Myanmar tourist eVisa
- Credit/debit/Visa/etc card to pay the Myanmar tourist visa fee
- Applicants are also required to provide details about their accommodation in Myanmar.
If the applicant has one child or more, under 7 years on the same passport, he has to put the name of that child and date of birth in the minor section of the application form.
Upon arrival at border entry, it is also necessary to present the following assisting documents:
- A printed copy of the Myanmar eVisa Approval Letter
- Confirmation of hotel reservations
- Proof of enough funds for the duration of stay in Myanmar
- Proof of tickets for the journey- outwards and return both
Countries Eligible for Myanmar Visa
The Myanmar Visa Policy states that citizens from the 100 countries listed below are eligible to apply online to enter Myanmar:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cōte d'ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Korea, DPR
- Korea, Republic
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
Who is Exempt From Myanmar Visas Completely?
As of 10th June 2021, Visa exemptions do not apply and visa on arrival facilities are suspended.
However, when visa exemptions are resumed by the authorities, you can refer to the details given below.
If you are an ordinary passport holder issued by one of the following countries plus you are traveling for tourism purposes, you are exempt from a Myanmar visa for stays of up to 30 days:
- Singapore (exempt from Myanmar visas for tourism and business purposes both)
- Hong Konga
- Japan
- Macao
- South Korea
If you are a citizen of the following countries plus you are traveling for tourism and business purposes, you are exempt from a Myanmar visa for stays of up to 14 days:
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Thailand (only if arriving by air)
But, if you do not belong to the above-mentioned category, you will have to apply for a visa.
For this, the Myanmar government has designed an online visa application process.
Travelers from eligible countries can now apply for a Myanmar Visa online i.e. for a Myanmar eVisa, without having to visit an Embassy or Consulate.
This eVisa is of two types- tourism and business. Therefore, travelers planning to visit Myanmar
- For other purposes, such as to study or work, and
- are citizens of a non-exempt country,
should apply for a Myanmar embassy visa.