GoMyanmar Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa Overview

Myanmar visas are divided into 14 categories: hospitality, tourism, business, social, religious, transit, official, work, study, journalist, flight attendant, academic, entry (diplomatic), entry (non diplomatic), etc. Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports and official ordinary passports need to apply for visas to travel to Myanmar, while those holding diplomatic and official passports are exempt from visa requirements for a single entry stay of 30 days.

Please refer to the Myanmar Ministry of Immigration and Population website for real-time updates on visa categories, stay periods, fees, and required documents. The website can be accessed at: http://www.mip.gov.mm/on-arrival-visa/ .

The duration of stay, fees, required documents, and whether extensions can be processed for various types of visas in Myanmar are summarized as follows (November 2023):

Serial Number	category	Period of stay	Cost (USD)	Can it be postponed
one	courteous reception	Depending on the situation	free	correct
two	Travel	28 days	Single time: 40	deny
three	commercial affairs	70 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 200 (3 months), 400 (6 months), 600 (12 months)	correct
four	socialize	70 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 150 (3 months), 300 (6 months), 450 (12 months)	correct
five	religion	70 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 150 (3 months), 300 (6 months), 450 (12 months)	correct
six	transit	24 Hours	twenty	deny
seven	official business	70 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 200 (3 months), 400 (6 months), 600 (12 months)	correct
eight	work	70 days	fifty	correct
nine	study	90 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 160 (12 months)	correct
ten	reporter	28 days	forty	deny
eleven	Crew	90 days	Single time: 50 Multiple times: 160 (24 months)	correct
twelve	meeting affairs	28 days	forty	correct
thirteen	Entry (diplomatic)	28 days	Single time: 20 Multiple times: 100 (3 months), 200 (6 months), 400 (12 months)	correct
fourteen	Entry (non diplomatic personnel and their immediate family members)	28 days	Single time: 20 Multiple times: 60 (3 months), 120 (6 months), 240 (12 months)	correct

Customs epidemic prevention and control

When entering the country, a declaration form must be submitted to the customs. If carrying valuable items such as gold, jewelry, or cash of over $2000, truthful declaration is required. According to Myanmar law, visitors are allowed to bring 400 cigarettes and 2 liters of alcohol duty-free upon entry. Customs usually inspect the luggage of visitors.

It is prohibited to carry antiques, jadeite raw stones, wood fossils and other items when leaving the country. When purchasing jade, jewelry, and other items, the store owner should be required to issue a legal invoice for customs inspection, otherwise they may be treated as illegal items. Carrying foreign exchange out of customs also requires a customs declaration form.

Residency and Naturalization

Except for tourist, transit, and journalist visas, individuals holding other types of visas such as business and work visas can apply for a residence extension from the Myanmar immigration department before the expiration of their residency period. If you need to leave during the extended residence period, you can apply to the immigration department for one or more "Re entry Visa" to re-enter. If you have stayed for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a "Foreigner Registration Certificate (" FRC ", also known as FORM-A)", and the FRC needs to conduct annual inspection and registration with the immigration department every year.

According to the Regulations on the Implementation of Foreigners' Permanent Residence Rights in Myanmar issued by the Myanmar Immigration Department on November 18, 2014, foreign spouses and children of Myanmar citizens can apply for permanent residence in Myanmar. The applicant must meet the requirements of being a non international refugee, non political refugee, having no criminal record at home or abroad, and being in good health. The first residency period for those who have obtained permanent residency is 5 years, and they can apply for an extension of 5 years after the expiration.

According to the Myanmar Citizenship Law, Myanmar citizens are divided into three categories: "Official Citizens", "Associate Citizens", and "Naturalized Citizens". Official citizens hold pink ID cards, guest citizens hold blue ID cards, and naturalized citizens hold green ID cards. 'Resident citizens' and' naturalized citizens' are not eligible to run for national or provincial parliament, and are also restricted from serving as heads of government departments or judicial institutions. To obtain Myanmar citizenship, one must apply to the Myanmar Ministry of Immigration and Population, which has a strict approval process and receives fewer approvals each year. The Myanmar government does not recognize dual citizenship.

Myanmar currently has 3 red (extremely high-risk) areas, 2 orange (high-risk) areas, and all other areas are yellow (medium risk). Specifically, as follows:

1、 Red areas: Sagaing Province, Magwe Province, Chin State. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens not to travel to the above-mentioned areas in Myanmar in the near future. Personnel and institutions in the area should evacuate or transfer to safe areas as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

2、 Orange regions: Rakhine State, Kachin State. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens to travel cautiously to the above-mentioned areas in Myanmar in the near future. Local personnel and institutions have closely monitored the development of the situation, maintained high vigilance, strengthened security precautions and emergency preparations, and ensured personal and property safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

3、 Yellow region: Other regions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds personnel in other areas of Myanmar to strengthen prevention and pay attention to safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

The current situation in Myanmar is quite complex, with armed conflicts erupting in some areas, including northern Myanmar. Chinese citizens should closely monitor the development of the situation and avoid traveling to conflict areas.

Myanmar has a relatively simple and honest people, and there are relatively few major criminal cases. But in recent years, the number of theft, robbery, kidnapping, and personal injury cases has increased in some areas, and there have been cases of Chinese citizens being kidnapped. Need to enhance safety awareness and strengthen prevention measures.

China and Myanmar have different national conditions and significant legal differences. Chinese citizens should try to understand the local laws as much as possible before coming to Myanmar, in order to avoid being prosecuted or even sentenced for violating the law.

natural disaster

The northern, eastern, and western parts of Myanmar are mountainous areas, while the southern part is a plain. The country has a horseshoe shape that opens southward. It belongs to a tropical monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius. A year is divided into three seasons: March to May is the hot season, with strong sunshine, dry and high temperatures, and a maximum temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius; The rainy season is from June to October, with abundant rainfall and humid air; November to February of the following year is the cool season, which is relatively cool and comfortable, suitable for tourism.

In recent years, natural disasters have occurred frequently in Myanmar, causing significant casualties, including the Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, which resulted in approximately 140000 deaths or missing persons and affected over 2 million people; On March 24, 2011, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Daqili, Shan State, resulting in 75 deaths, over 110 injuries, and over 200 collapsed houses.

FDA

Myanmar is located in the tropics, with a humid rainy season and a hot dry season, making it a high-risk area for tropical diseases. Due to poor dietary hygiene conditions, hepatitis and intestinal diseases are more common, and infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera, and dengue fever are also more common. Especially around October, when the rainy and dry seasons alternate, mosquitoes and insects breed, making it a season with a high incidence of epidemics.

It is suggested that Chinese citizens should be vaccinated against hepatitis, yellow fever and COVID-19 vaccine before they go to Myanmar, and they should carry drugs to prevent mosquitoes, malaria and intestinal diseases. During your stay in Myanmar, you should pay special attention to food hygiene and try to choose restaurants with better hygiene conditions for dining. The water filtration system in Myanmar is not perfect, so it is best to purchase bottled water for drinking water.

Urgent Help

Areas prohibited or restricted for foreigners

Chinese citizens visiting Myanmar should check the list of areas where foreigners are prohibited or restricted from entering in advance on the official website of the Ministry of Immigration and Population of Myanmar to avoid entering such areas without permission from the relevant Burmese authorities. The website access address of the Myanmar Ministry of Immigration and Population is as follows: http://www.mip.gov.mm/restricted-areas-for-foreigners-tourist-travelling-in-the-country/

Urgent Help

Alarm phone number:+ 95-199/12323199

Emergency phone number:+ 95-192

Fire alarm hotline:+95-191

air traffic

International routes: Currently, Myanmar has three main international airports: Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. Currently, Myanmar has direct flights to Chinese cities such as Beijing, Kunming, Guangzhou, and Mangshi, as well as Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Flights to other countries and cities are gradually resuming, and details are subject to notification from each airline.

Domestic routes: There are over 70 domestic airports in Myanmar, and flights have been opened to major cities and tourist attractions such as Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bagan, and Dongzhi. The routes are mainly operated by companies such as Myanmar Airlines and KBZ Airlines, with a relatively high proportion of propeller driven aircraft. Due to factors such as weather and passenger sources, domestic flights may experience route adjustments or even cancellations from time to time. It is recommended to check and confirm with the airline before boarding.

land transport

Major cities in Myanmar are connected by highways and intercity buses, with a total length of about 35000 kilometers. However, the overall road conditions are poor, with insufficient supporting facilities such as streetlights and isolation belts, making it unsuitable for long-distance self driving. If necessary, it is recommended to hire a local driver. The traffic regulations in Myanmar are basically the same as those in China, with motor vehicles passing on the right side. Due to the large number of used cars imported from Japan and Thailand in the early years, right-hand drive cars still account for a significant proportion.

Driving in Myanmar requires holding a local driver's license. According to the regulations of Myanmar's transportation management department, foreign citizens can obtain a Myanmar driver's license with their own driver's license, but they need to take a driving qualification exam at the Myanmar transportation management department, which includes written tests, computer tests, and practical operation tests. After passing the exam, they need to pay handling fees, personal accident insurance premiums, and other fees.

The Myanmar Railway was built in 1887, with a total length of about 6000 kilometers. It is composed of the Yangon Mandalay Myitkyina trunk line running through the north and south, the Yangon Pymeu, Mandalay Lashio and other east-west branch lines. The railway tracks adopt a 1-meter wide gauge system, which is different from the internationally recognized 1.435 meter system. They are not yet connected to the railway networks of neighboring countries, and most of the locomotives and tracks are relatively old, in poor condition, and have slower speeds.

water communication

The inland waterway in Myanmar is about 15000 kilometers long, mainly relying on rivers such as the Irrawaddy River, Salween River, Jaladan River, and Qindun River. The Irrawaddy River has the highest utilization rate, with a total waterway length of about 2170 kilometers and a drainage area covering 60% of Myanmar's territory.

The main ports include Yangon Port, Port Klang, and Port Mawlamyine, with Yangon Port being the largest in scale, and 90% of Myanmar's goods enter and exit through it.

Urban transportation

The transportation in Yangon, Myanmar mainly relies on buses, ring railways, and taxis. Buses are uniformly equipped with the "YBS" logo, and in recent years, new types of buses with air conditioning are gradually being added; The Ring Railway connects Yangon city and surrounding satellite towns, with a total length of about 46 kilometers and 39 stations. It takes about 3 hours to complete a circle, and the speed is slow but the price is cheap; Taxis are uniformly equipped with the "TAXI" logo overhead light and red background white license plate, and generally do not have a meter installed. Before taking the taxi, the price needs to be negotiated with the driver, and a taxi can also be called through the Grab software. There are few bus routes in Mandalay city, and the main types of vehicles are modified pickup trucks and light trucks.

The vehicle routes and bus signs of urban public transportation in Myanmar are mostly marked in Burmese, and drivers are generally unable to communicate in English. If you need to take the bus, it is recommended to prepare the destination Burmese address in advance.

major city

The main cities in Myanmar include Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. In addition to the above three cities, popular tourist destinations include Bagan, Inle Lake, Ebri Beach, and Visang Beach.

Yangon was the capital of Myanmar before 2005, with a permanent population of 7 million. Yangon City was founded in 1755 and literally means "end of war" in Burmese, earning the nickname "City of Peace". Yangon is located in the richest Irrawaddy River Delta in Myanmar and is a beautiful coastal city with tropical scenery. The folk architecture in the city has a traditional Burmese style, as well as many Western style buildings. There are Inya Lake and Gandaoji Lake in the city. The main tourist attractions include Ruida Guangda Jinta, World Peace Tower, Qiaotai Sleeping Buddha, National Museum, Jewelry Museum, Sulei Pagoda, and the city center. Yangon International Airport is the main gateway for entering and exiting Myanmar from abroad, with regular flights from cities such as Kunming, Beijing, Guangzhou, Bangkok, and Singapore to Yangon. Major cities or tourist attractions in Myanmar, such as Mandalay, Bagan, and Tanjung, are also connected to Yangon by air.

Mandalay is the capital of Mandalay Province, known as "Wa City" by Burmese Chinese and overseas Chinese, and is the economic and cultural center of the northern region. Located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, it is connected with Yangon, Naypyidaw, Myitkyina, Lashio and other important cities in the north and south by water, road and railway, and has an international airport. It is an important material distribution center and the largest inland transportation center in Myanmar. It is the last capital of the Burmese dynasty, one of the famous ancient capitals and Buddhist holy sites, with numerous famous scenic spots and historical sites. The main attractions include the Mahamani Buddha statue, the Gudu Taoshi Monastery, the Mandalay Grand Palace, the Ruijinming Pagoda, the Adumashi Pagoda, and the Renando Pagoda. Located on the outskirts of the city, Mount Mandalay has an altitude of 260 meters, with exquisite temple buildings on the mountaintop and numerous white pagodas at the foot of the mountain. The streets in the city are well-organized and arranged in a "well" shape, with many streets named after numbers. The suburbs near Mandalay include Sagaing, Inwa, Amadubura, Minggong, Binwulun, Monywa, and Rabaul.

Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar, located in the geographical center of Myanmar, about 400 kilometers south of Yangon and 350 kilometers north of Mandalay. The Myanmar government relocated its capital from Yangon to this place on November 6, 2005, and named it "Naypyidaw", which means "Kyoto, capital city" in Burmese. At present, the federal government, parliament, and military headquarters are all located in the area, with a permanent population of approximately 900000. In recent years, the Myanmar government has carefully planned for Naypyidaw, and urban construction has begun to take shape, but supporting facilities such as healthcare and education are still incomplete. At present, there are flights between Naypyidaw and major domestic cities such as Yangon and Mandalay, and direct international routes to Kunming and Bangkok have been opened.

Bagan is an important tourist city in Myanmar and the first capital of the Burmese Empire. The ancient Buddhist pagodas in Bagan have a history of over a thousand years. Covering an area of 42 square kilometers, it includes over 2000 well preserved pagodas and Buddha statues from the 11th to the 13th century. Famous tourist attractions include Ananda Buddha Pagoda, Rishikong Buddha Pagoda, Dabennu Buddha Pagoda, Guoduobulin Buddha Pagoda, Gujianji Buddha Pagoda, Risanda Buddha Pagoda, Suramani Buddha Pagoda, Damayanji Buddha Pagoda, and Logananda Buddha Pagoda. Bagan has a domestic airport that provides direct flights to Yangon and other destinations.

Inle Lake is located in the Liangrui Basin of the Shan State Plateau in northern Myanmar. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar and a famous summer resort for tourists. The lake is over 970 meters above sea level, 22 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide, surrounded by mountains on three sides. Streams from the east, north, and west flow into the lake and merge into the Salween River to the south. The lake water is clear and the sunlight shines directly on the bottom of the lake. Yinlai Lake is famous for its beautiful scenery and famous single footed boating. Yinlai Lake has attractions such as Pangduowu Pagoda, Napeiqiao Temple, Aludobao Pagoda, Ruiyindeng Pagoda, Yuma Village, etc.

Ebri Beach faces the Indian Ocean and is about an hour's flight from Yangon. It is one of the many beautiful beaches in Myanmar. Visang Beach is located in the Irrawaddy Province, about 48 kilometers away from the town of Klang. It is close to the Bay of Bengal, with clear blue waters and pleasant scenery.

Commodity prices

Myanmar has superior natural conditions and abundant resources. Agriculture is the foundation of the national economy. The main crops include rice, wheat, corn, peanuts, sesame, cotton, beans, sugarcane, oil palm, tobacco, etc. The main forest products include various hardwoods such as teak and pear, as well as rattan. The main agricultural products exported by Myanmar are beans and rice. Animal husbandry and fishery are mainly privately operated. The Myanmar government allows foreign companies to fish in designated waters and charges fees to foreign fishing vessels. Aquatic products are exported to multiple countries and regions.

The currency of Myanmar is the Kyat, with denominations of 10000, 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, etc. Coins are no longer in circulation. The US dollar and the euro are widely used and can be exchanged for Burmese kyat banks and foreign currency exchange points. In recent years, the exchange rate has fluctuated greatly, with the official exchange rate of 1 US dollar to 2100 kyat and the market exchange rate approved by the central bank of about 3858 kyat (January 2025). Myanmar has strict requirements for foreign currency exchange. If there are any damages, creases or marks, the exchange rate will be lower or even rejected.

Insurance Medical

There are about 900 hospitals and 1500 rural health stations in Myanmar, with approximately 30000 registered doctors. The medical level and facilities are limited. There are two types of hospitals: public and private. Public hospitals have dedicated doctors to provide consultations, separate medicine from medication, and offer free medical treatment. However, patients need to purchase medication at pharmacies themselves, and the environment is poor, often overcrowded; Private hospitals have a better environment, but outpatient and medication costs are generally higher, and most doctors are part-time doctors from public hospitals.

If the patient wishes to urgently return to their home country during treatment in Myanmar, they must contact the airline to confirm if they can board the plane. If a hospital or airline issues a professional opinion that long-distance travel by transportation should not be taken, it is recommended to carefully consider and not blindly insist on returning to China for treatment. In case of emergency, you can also contact a medical charter flight, and the related expenses will be borne by yourself.

The hospitals with better conditions in Yangon include: Yangon General Hospital (public), Asia Royal Hospital (private), Victoria Hospital (private), Pun Hlaing Hospital (private), and Grand Hanthar International Hospital (private). The hospitals with better conditions in Mandalay include People's Hospital (public) and Children's Hospital (public).

Customs taboos

1、 Religious traditions

More than 80% of the population in Myanmar practice Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism has been introduced to Myanmar for thousands of years and has had a significant impact on Myanmar society. When entering temples or pagodas, one must wear knee length pants, long skirts, and take off shoes and socks. They cannot sit on an equal footing or share meals with monks; If giving alms or delivering items to monks, they should be handed over with both hands as a sign of respect; Smoking and loud noises are strictly prohibited in temples and near Buddhist pagodas. Ladies are not allowed to touch the robes and body parts of monks casually.

2、 Name and Title

Burmese people have no surnames, but it is customary to add an article before their names to indicate gender, age, and hierarchy. When referring to adult or influential men, their names should be prefixed with "Wu", while for younger men, they should be referred to as "Mei". For adult or influential women, it is called "Du", and for younger or equal women, it is called "Ma". Soldiers are given the prefix "Bo" or military rank.

3、 Physical taboos

Burmese people avoid touching children's heads. Do not use your feet to point at things, kick things, or touch people. Crossing a child's hands across their chest is a sign of respect for adults.

Communications Power

There are four mobile communication operators, MPT, Ooredoo, ATOM, Mytel, etc. The network standard is mainly GSM, and 4G services have been launched. Mobile cards need to be authenticated before use. Tourists can purchase and recharge mobile cards at airports and city mobile stores.

The power plugs in Myanmar are mainly British style, and hotels usually provide power converters. It is recommended to confirm with the hotel before check-in. The standard voltage is 230 volts, and domestic appliances can be used directly.

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