Myanmar visa is required if you want to travel to the country for a short-term visit, business, or tourism. For specific countries, there are options to get a visa on arrival, depending on the diplomatic relationship of Myanmar with those nations. You can apply for a Myanmar visa in any of the following ways:

• At a consulate or embassy
• Online for Myanmar eVisa
• Visa on arrival applicable for the nationals of specific countries

Myanmar Visa Exemption

Citizens of the following countries traveling for a  short term  or tourism purpose are exempted from applying for a visa for up to 30 days:

• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Japan
• South Korea
• Macao

There are some other countries whose nationals enjoy Myanmar visa-exemption for 14 days, provided the purpose of their visit is tourism or business.  These countries are as follows:

• Indonesia
• Cambodia
• Brunei
• Philippines
• Laos
• Vietnam
• Thailand

Requirements for obtaining eVisa for Myanmar

Depending on the type of eVisa you want to apply for, the documents and fee required will vary. Here is a checklist of the requirements to be fulfilled for obtaining each visa type:.

Processing eVisa for Myanmar

This is the simplest and quickest way to get a visa for Myanmar. However, you have to pay a higher amount compared to the regular Myanmar visa application process. The procedures for processing eVisa are as follows:

Fill in the eVisa form

The form for the eVisa application is available on the official website.

Confirmation and payment

After applying, you have to pay the fee. We have already discussed the fee structure for each type of eVisa above. Make the payment as instructed, and receive an acknowledgment e-mail with the application reference code.

Approval Letter

Typically, the time taken to process an eVisa application is 3 working days. Once the application is approved, the applicant will receive an e-mail approval letter. Make sure that you print the approval letter and carry it with your passport. The approval letter should be presented along with your passport upon arrival.

eVisa Stamping

After reaching the Myanmar Immigration checkpoint, you will present the eVisa approval letter and passport to the immigration officer for stamping.

For visa guides to other countries click here

Process of Myanmar Regular Visa Application

The process of filling a Myanmar visa application involves these steps:

• Filling and  submitting the application form
• Payment of the application processing fee
• Submission of documents
• Visa Processing

Regular Visa Fees

Here are the visa fee charges to be paid by the applicant if he is not applying through the eVisa option:

• Tourist Visa – $20
• Business – $36
• Employment – $36
• Journalist – $36
• Education – $36
• Transit Visa – $18

For multiple journeys, special re-entry visa, the fee to be paid is $180.

Submission of Documents  

You need to submit the required documents on the date of your appointment with the consulate. You can also submit the documents via mail. However, it is within the discretionary power of the embassy to decide on the best mode of submission.

Processing of the Visa

Typically, the time taken to process the Myanmar regular visa by the consulate is about two weeks. However, the processing time might also differ depending on the country you are applying for. The processing time also depends on the mode of application, through mail or in person. The processing time may be extended if there are some technical errors found in the documents.

Procedures for Processing Visa on Arrival

Apart from being a national of one of the visa-on-arrival countries mentioned above, there are other requirements you need to fulfill for a Visa on arrival to be granted to you:

• Valid passport (6-months after the date of your trip)
• Two passport-sized pictures (not older than three months)
• Proof of accommodation (reservation receipt of the hotel/guest house)
• Invitation from the company or the concerned ministry, in the event of diplomatic or business visit
• Document specifying the name of the sponsor, and location together with the position of the applicant
• The applicant should not take up any work apart from what is mentioned on the Myanmar visa application form
• Proof of onward travel for Myanmar transit visa

After completing the visa-on-arrival application form, you must go to the visa-issuing counters at Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, or Yangon. Present your application with other required documents and pay the visa fee. Once done, the immigration officers would approve your application.

Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQ)

Will my visa be sent through the post, or do I need to collect it at the Myanmar checkpoint?

Once your visa is approved, it will be issued and stamped inside the applicant’s passport at the Myanmar immigration arrival counter. Furthermore, if the eVisa application is approved, you will receive your approval letter on your registered e-mail.

How many copies of my approval letter do I need?

You would need to print just one copy of the approval letter to show on the counter and get your passport stamped.

Are there any refunds made if my Myanmar visa application is rejected?

Adhering strictly to the terms and conditions as they apply to the Myanmar Visa application, there are no refunds for the rejected visa application.

Myanmar COVID-19 Travel Restriction

The Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sport (MOHS) has made a public declaration to restrict foreigners from entering the country.  In this vein,  the Myanmar Government has spelled out some of the traveling guidelines as preventive measures to contain the spread of the global pandemic as found here.

Conclusion

Myanmar has been a popular tourist destination. It is increasingly becoming the point of interest for business and educational institutions. For you to ensure an error-free application process, proper steps must be taken. We hope our all-inclusive step by step guide to Myanmar Visa Application will help you in completing your application process and get the approval at the earliest possible time.