Myanmar operates a visa system that changed substantially in 2018 with the introduction of an electronic visa platform, though the political situation since February 2021 has created operational unpredictability across all entry procedures. Citizens of most countries require a visa before arrival. The Ministry of Immigration and Population maintains the official evisa.moip.gov.mm platform, which processes Tourist eVisa and Business eVisa applications. This system replaced an earlier paper-based process that required in-person visits to Myanmar embassies. The eVisa allows entry through Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport by air, and through Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Kawthaung land border crossings from Thailand. The standard tourist eVisa permits a stay of 28 days from the date of entry and cannot be extended inside Myanmar. Processing typically occurs within three business days, though the Ministry states up to five business days may be required. The application requires a passport valid for at least six months from the intended entry date, a recent passport-style photograph in digital format, and a credit or debit card for payment.
A small group of passport holders receive visa exemptions. As of the information available before the 2021 political changes, citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam could enter visa-free for stays ranging from 14 to 30 days depending on bilateral agreements. Singapore passport holders received 30-day visa-free entry. These arrangements were part of ASEAN mutual visa exemption frameworks established in the 2010s. The current operational status of these exemptions has been inconsistent since February 2021, and travelers from these countries have reported being required to obtain visas at certain periods. Japan passport holders historically received visa-free entry for tourism stays up to 30 days under an arrangement that began in 2013, but this has also faced interruptions. The Ministry of Immigration website should be consulted directly for current exemption validity rather than relying on pre-2021 information.
Visa on arrival existed at Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw international airports for certain nationalities before September 2018, when the government officially discontinued this option and channeled all applications through the eVisa system or embassy applications. This change aimed to reduce processing delays at immigration counters and create a digital record system. Some travelers arriving without proper documentation have reported being turned away at airports, as immigration officers no longer have authority to issue entry permits at the airport itself. The only exception involves emergency or humanitarian cases where embassy coordination occurs in advance.
Myanmar maintains diplomatic missions that process visa applications in person for travelers unable or unwilling to use the electronic system. These embassies and consulates issue the same categories—tourist, business, transit, social visit—but processing takes longer, typically seven to ten business days, and requires leaving the passport with the mission during processing. The cost structure varies by location. At the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, a standard tourist visa cost 1,620 Thai Baht as of 2019 for three-month single entry validity. At the Myanmar Embassy in Beijing, the fee was 210 Chinese Yuan for the same visa type in 2020. United States citizens applying at the Myanmar Embassy in Washington, D.C., paid $50 for a single-entry tourist visa with three-month validity before pandemic-related closures. These embassy-issued visas permit entry through any official port of entry, including land borders not accessible with an eVisa, such as Muse on the China border and Tamu on the India border.
The eVisa fee is $50 for tourist visa applications and $70 for business visa applications, paid through the online portal. An additional $3 processing fee applies regardless of nationality. These fees are non-refundable even if the application is denied. The system accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Applicants receive an approval letter via email, which must be printed and presented to immigration officers upon arrival along with the passport. The immigration officer then stamps the visa directly into the passport at the port of entry. The eVisa approval letter alone does not permit entry without this stamp. Some travelers have reported confusion when the printed letter lacks the official government seal, but Myanmar immigration accepts the electronically generated letter as long as the application reference number matches their system records.
Business visas require an invitation letter from a Myanmar-registered company or organization. The letter must include the company's registration number, the applicant's intended activities, proposed duration of stay, and contact information for a company representative in Myanmar. For eVisa applications, this letter must be uploaded as a PDF or JPEG file. The business eVisa initially grants 70 days of stay, longer than the tourist eVisa's 28 days, but extensions follow the same uncertain process through immigration offices inside Myanmar. Social visit visas, intended for those visiting Myanmar citizens or residents, require an invitation letter from the Myanmar sponsor that has been approved in advance by Myanmar immigration authorities—a process the sponsor initiates inside Myanmar before the applicant begins the visa application.
Multiple-entry visas do not exist within the eVisa framework. Travelers who need to exit and re-enter Myanmar during a trip must apply for a new visa for each entry. Embassy-issued visas can be multiple-entry, but these require additional documentation justifying the need for multiple entries, typically business contracts demonstrating ongoing projects or long-term commitments. A multiple-entry business visa issued by an embassy might cost $200 to $300 depending on the issuing location and allows entries over a six-month or twelve-month period, with each stay limited to 70 days.
Certain land borders permit entry only for day trips without requiring a standard visa. At Tachileik, across from Mae Sai in Thailand, travelers historically obtained a border pass for $10 or 500 Thai Baht allowing movement within Tachileik town and nearby areas for one day, returning to Thailand by evening. This arrangement existed primarily for shopping and brief tourism. At Myawaddy, across from Mae Sot in Thailand, a similar border pass allowed day access. These passes do not grant permission to travel further into Myanmar and do not count as official visa entries. Travelers wishing to continue beyond the border zone must hold a proper eVisa or embassy-issued visa. The Kawthaung border, accessible by boat from Ranong in Thailand, operated under a comparable day-pass system. Since 2021, the operational status of these border pass systems has been intermittent.
Restricted areas throughout Myanmar require special permits beyond the standard visa. These Travel Authorization Letters, commonly called permits, come from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism or the Ministry of Border Affairs depending on the location. Regions requiring permits have included northern Kachin State beyond Myitkyina, areas of Chin State including the Indian border zones, parts of Shan State particularly near Chinese and Thai borders, portions of Kayah State, and sections of Tanintharyi Region near the Thai border. The permit system aims to control movement in areas with active ethnic armed organizations or regions the government considers politically sensitive. Tour operators inside Myanmar typically arrange these permits as part of organized tours, since individual travelers rarely receive approval to visit restricted zones independently. Applications require copies of the passport, the Myanmar visa, a detailed itinerary, and often a registered guide or tour company as sponsor. Processing takes from several days to several weeks. Some areas that previously required permits, such as Bagan and Inle Lake, had permit requirements lifted in the 2010s to encourage tourism.
Journalists, film crews, and media workers face additional scrutiny. Myanmar requires media visas obtained through embassies, not through the eVisa system. The application process involves submitting a letter from the employing media organization, a detailed description of the assignment, proposed shooting locations, and interview subjects if applicable. The Ministry of Information reviews these applications, and approval is inconsistent. Journalists who enter on tourist visas and conduct reporting activities risk detention and deportation. In December 2013, the government detained five international journalists working for the Democratic Voice of Burma who had entered on tourist visas. The military government that took power in February 2021 revoked the licenses of numerous media organizations and increased restrictions on foreign journalists. Several foreign journalists have been arrested and deported since that date.
Overstaying a Myanmar visa results in fines and potential detention. The penalty is $3 per day of overstay, calculated from the date the authorized stay expired until the date of departure. Immigration officers at airports collect these fines before allowing departure. Overstays exceeding 90 days may result in detention and prosecution. Myanmar immigration maintains records of overstays, and individuals with previous overstay violations may face denial of future visa applications. The fine must be paid in U.S. dollars, and the airport immigration office may not have change for large bills.