Myanmar Musings : Entry Formalities

Myanmar Visa
A valid passport with a Myanmar Entry Visa is required for all visitors. We advise all foreign visitors to have passports with a validity of at least six months. The entry visa to Myanmar can be obtained from any Myanmar Embassy and Consulate General Offices worldiwde. The Government of the Union of Myanmar has two types of visas for foreign visitors:

1) EVT VISA (Tourist Visa) - Single-entry visa for tourist travelers for a maximum of 28 days stay within the country (non-extendable). The cost of this visa is approximately US$ 20 per person.

2) BUSINESS VISA - Single or multiple-entry visa for travelers who are currently working under contract in Myanmar (extendable).

Visa-On-Arrival : Visa-on-arrival at Yangon International Airport is ONLY possible with pre-arrangements with a travel agency or directly to the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism. This visa is granted to packaged cruise liner and chartered flight tourists and to foreign independent travelers (FITs) from places where there are no Myanmar representation; applicable through any licensed tour agency or direct to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MHT).

For more information on Myanmar visas, please contact the nearest Myanmar Embassy or any of our agents .

Customs
Besides personal effects, visitors are allowed 400 cigarettes (100 cigars or 250g of unrolled tobacco), two quarts of liquor and 500ml of cologne or perfume. Jewelry and electrical goods such as camera, radio, cassette/CD player, calculators, etc. must be declared at Customs on arrival and taken out on departure. Additionally, foreign currency in excess of US$ 2,000 must also be declared.

Airport Tax
Airport tax is US$ 10 per person to be paid on departure.

Vaccination
No vaccination is required for traveling to Myanmar.

Airport Transfers
Taxis from the Yangon International Airport to downtown will cost between US$ 6 - US$ 8 depending on the destination. Taxi travel within Yangon will cost about Ks 2,000-3,000 (Kyats)depending on distance traveled. Please note some taxis in Myanmar have charged meters, thus, one must negotiate before boarding a taxi.

Currency
The local currency in Myanmar is the Kyat (pronounced 'chaat') and is divided into Pyas 100. At present the following Kyat bank notes are in general use : Ks 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. Although the local currency is used, the US Dollar is also widely accepted at the market rate. Foreign visitors are strongly advised to bring sufficient funds of US dollars in cash. Traveler's checks and other foreign currencies are not advisable as they can be difficult and time-consuming to cash.Credit cards are generally not accepted in some hotels.Visitors are advised to check with their travel agents or with their hotels directly before arriving in the country.