Essential Myanmar Visa Guides - Everything You Need to Know

MYANMAR VISA VALIDATION AND COST

Obtaining a visa is a legal entry requirement any foreigner must do to get in Myanmar, except for those who come from entitled visa exempt countries. Visitors whose passports issued by countries in ASEAN care permitted visa - free travel for tourism and business trips for up to 14 days (except for Singaporean that can stay up to 30 days and Thailand that can get visa - free trip by air travel only).

In general, Myanmar tourist visa is valid for a stay up to 28 days and not extendable. It validates for 3 months since the date of issue. It is said that one can overstay after tourist visa expired at a cost of US $3 per day but the consequences and difficulties are hard to determine as not all locals know about this overstay fee.

The same validation applied to Myanmar social visit visa, but extendable for this kind. For business visa, the single - entry authorizes one to stay up to 70 days from arrival date. 

The business multiple - entry which can be requested at the Embassy of Myanmar validates for Myanmar entry within 6 months from the date of issue but is difficult to obtain. 

A single entry Myanmar tourist visa usually cost around US $50 while business visas take US $70.

» NOTICE:

According to the new visa pilot program, passport holders from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau will be exempted from getting tourist visa. They can enter and exit Myanmar through all international checkpoints and stay in the country for up to 30 days. The program is said to end in Sept 30th 2020.

Visitors from Italy, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Russia and China can apply for MYANMAR VISA ON ARRIVAL at Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw international airport at the cost of $50 USD. The validity can  last up to 30 days from the date of entry and can be extended.

MYANMAR E - VISA

Myanmar have launched the e-Visa website on 01 September 2014 with a long list of eligible countries. This E - visa system makes the process easier for visitors especially those countries that do not have a Myanmar embassy. Applying through this website is rather simple and straightforward, you only need to select your visa type and fill out the form.

» Visit the official Myanmar e-Visa website at https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/

♦ Information and Documents Needed for Myanmar e-Visa:

• A passport that must be valid for at least 6 months.
• A passport - type color photo taken in the past 3 months (4.6cmx3.8cm).
• Your travel itinerary.
• Credit card/ Debit card to complete the payment for the application (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB or Alipay).
• A valid commercial address of a hotels/guesthouses/inns/motels/resorts you will be staying during your itinerary. 

For business travelers, other documents might be required such as invitation letters and inviting company registration. 

After submitting your information, Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population will send you an email as application acknowledgement. The process time may take up to 3 working days (be mindful of Burma’s Public holiday). If your application is approved, they will send you visa via email. Remember to print out and bring with yourself in case you need to show to immigration officers, airline staffs or hotel hosts.

Myanmar’s e-Visa processing fee is non-refundable, depends on the type of service you choose, as below:

• Tourist Visa: USD50 (3 - day processing time)
• Tourist Visa Express: USD56 (24 - hour processing time)
• Business Visa: USD70 (3 - day processing time)

E - visa issuances are free of charge for children under age of 7.

On the online application, you have to specify a “Port of Entry” which signifies how and where you will enter Myanmar. E - visa is now valid for entry at Myanmar’s three main international airports and five land border checkpoints:

• Yangon International airport.
• Mandalay international airport.
• Nay Pyi Taw International airport.
• Tachileik Land Border Checkpoint (with Thailand)
• Myawaddy Land Border Checkpoint (with Thailand)
• Kawthaung Land Border Checkpoint (with Thailand)
• Tamu Land Border Checkpoint (with India)
• Rih Khaw Dar Land Border Checkpoint (with India)

As a matter of fact, you can use e-visa to get into Myanmar at any of those above entry ports. Nevertheless, as you have to input a certain port to your e - visa when applying, you ought to arrive at the exact port you’ve chosen, avoiding endless processing time or unexpected hold - up. To exit from Myanmar, in addition to above ports, you can exit at the Htikee Land Border Checkpoint (but currently not possible to enter from this point)

If you are arriving on a cruise or by seaport, you might need to have pre - arranged visa with a travel agent. Visa on Arrival service exists but is no longer available for tourist as it asks for several additional documents, and normally only available for some special cases when one needs business visas to attend certain events. 

APPLY FOR VISA AT EMBASSY OF MYANMAR IN BANGKOK

If you do not prefer online visa, you can always apply for Myanmar’s visa at your local Burmese Embassy or consulates. The procedure and required documents may vary depending on which country you are applying from, but it is not too complicated generally. 

Lots of travelers add Bangkok to their itinerary to have the chance to visit both countries, wandering around the city while waiting for their Myanmar visa. Not to mention, Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations in Asia that attracts thousands of international visitors every year.

The visa department of this embassy opens from 9 AM to 12 AM for applicants at the address of 132 Sathorn Nua Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10500. They require filled application forms, two passport - size photos, your travel itinerary and your passport (with 6 - month validity) with a blank page for visa stamp.

For express process within 24 hours, you have to show good reasons to rush the process, submit your round-trip plane ticket (proof that you will leave the country) plus pay extra charges. Normal tourist visa applied in Bangkok costs around US $30, completed in 2 working days, valid for 28 - day stays, 90 days from the issued date. The visa fee can be paid in Thai Baht or USD.

♦ Tips for applying for visa at Myanmar embassy in Bangkok:

• Have all your forms done beforehand.
• Present at the embassy as early as possible.
• There are street vendors that can help you with passport photos and copies.
• Should never trust third parties at the embassy as unworthy extra fee while not reliable.

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