Visa Requirements for Myanmar Citizens
Visa requirements for Myanmar nationals are the current rules and conditions in force when crossing borders with any selected foreign country. Myanmar citizens wishing to travel abroad must apply for a regular embassy visa, visa on arrival, e-visa or travel with a valid passport (visa-exempt, if possible).
Pre-established requirements determine the type of travel permit Myanmar citizens need to obtain before their visit.
Unfortunately, Myanmar citizens do not have much freedom to travel abroad as most countries require them to present a valid embassy visa upon arrival. Currently, nearly 50 destinations offer visa-on-arrival or completely visa-free options for Myanmar citizens. Additionally, about 30 countries also offer e-visa options.
Despite all these facilities, Myanmar citizens must apply for an embassy visa when visiting more than 130 countries. Four visa systems allow Myanmar citizens to undertake all leisure, work or transit travel activities.
However, permitted activities can vary and often depend on the visa type selected in the particular system you will be using. Typically, eVisa, visa on arrival and visa-free travel allow you to take short-term trips related to leisure, work or transit.
This means you can go on holiday, visit family and friends, explore your chosen destination and learn about its culture and customs. In addition, you can also travel on business to discuss new career opportunities, close a new deal or negotiate a contract. Finally, all three visa systems allow travelers to make stops during transit.
The last visa system we are going to talk about is the embassy visa.
These are a bit harder to get and often come with higher requirements to complete.
Here, the permissible uses can also be a bit different since embassy visas can also be issued for long-term travel, even those related to employment or study abroad.
Electronic visa
Let's start with the most traveler-friendly visa system: the e-visa.
The eVisa is an electronic alternative to regular visas and comes as a PDF delivered to the applicant's email inbox or as a direct link to the traveler's passport.
All that is typically required to apply for an eVisa is a valid passport that will not expire within the next 6 months, an active email address, and access to any online payment methods. You can easily sign up within minutes from home or any other location using your phone, laptop, PC or tablet.
List of countries offering eVisas for Myanmar citizens
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Benin
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guinea
- India
- Ivory Coast
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
More than 30 destinations welcome Myanmar citizens with a valid eVisa.
Remember to submit your eVisa application online a few days before you travel to any of the destinations listed above. Approved documents will be sent directly to your email inbox as a PDF file.
No need to go to the embassy!
Please note!
Electronic visas are only issued for short-term stays. The exact length of stay allowed varies depending on the chosen destination. However, this term is usually 30, 60, 90 or 180 days and there are other less common options as well.
Each country decides the matter and establishes the acceptable length of stay with an eVisa in hand.
As briefly mentioned, eVisa is for all short-term visits related to tourism, business or transit. It is perfect for relaxing, exploring new tourist destinations, going hiking or visiting friends or family. Thanks to eVisas, you can also travel on business or make a stopover while traveling to another destination.
Visa on Arrival
Myanmar nationals can also travel on a visa on arrival.
A VoA is a travel authorization that can be used upon arrival in the country of your choice.
Travelers must obtain a visa-on-arrival application at a border crossing, including land.
List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Myanmar citizens
- Armenia
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Pakistan
- Rwanda
- Somalia
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Zambia
Currently, 25 countries offer visas on arrival to Myanmar nationals. To visit the above destinations, you will need to apply for a visa on arrival.
However, some of these countries offer e-visa options for Myanmar nationals.
Simplify your travel experience and easily apply for the visa you need by checking if the country you’re visiting has an e-visa option. Applying for an e-visa in advance eliminates the stress of getting a visa at the last minute and makes it more secure. Prepare for your trip using an e-visa whenever possible.
However, if you choose a destination that does not offer an e-visa option with a visa-on-arrival program, here’s how to get an approved VoA.
- First, a few weeks before the planned visit, check if the VoA country you’re visiting has any requirements for Myanmar travelers to meet upon arrival. The selected destination’ authorities may need you to present some documents validating the purpose of your stay. Thus, it’s essential to check what can be needed beforehand.
- Prepare the required documents (if any) along with your valid Myanmar passport. Moreover, it’s essential that your travel document stays valid throughout the whole duration of the planned trip to avoid any issues upon arrival. Check if your passport has an appropriate validity period before going.
- Once you’ve arrived prepared, go to the nearest border control checkpoint and ask the customs officials for a Visa on Arrival application form to fill.
- Fill out the form and submit it along with all the required supporting documents (if any) and cover the fees if the authorities ask you to do so. Please note! It may be necessary to cover the fee for Visa on Arrival issuing in cash form and the local currency. Check if that applies to the destination you’ve selected and exchange your currency before arriving if it is.
- Wait for your application to be approved.
Embassy visa
The last type of visa that Myanmar citizens must obtain when visiting more than 100 countries is an embassy visa.
An embassy visa is a regular travel permit, usually issued in the form of a stamp in the traveler's passport, and issued at the embassy of the chosen destination.
List of countries that require Myanmar passport holders to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- The Republic of the Congo
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Mali
- Malta
- The Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nauru
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- The United Kingdom
- The United States and its territories
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Myanmar passport holders will still require a visa to visit the countries listed above.
Visas can be obtained from the embassy.
This type of visa cannot be applied for online and usually requires a more complex and lengthy application process. It is also important to check the embassy’s current visa requirements, as you will need to apply for a visa at the embassy before visiting these destinations.
Call or visit your chosen destination to inquire about current visa requirements.
This way, you can ensure that the documents you have collected meet all documentation requirements, increasing your chances of receiving positive approval from the national authorities. Therefore, collect the necessary documents and submit them to the official authorities of your country along with the completed embassy visa application questionnaire.
Then, pay the fees (if required) and wait up to several weeks for approval.
please note!
In some cases, travelers will be required to undergo a special visa interview with a consular official to properly verify the purpose of their stay.
The whole embassy visa process is a bit complicated, so it’s important to start the preparation and actual application process at least a few weeks before you plan to travel.
This will ensure that you receive your visa on time.
Visa-free countries
Lastly, even though citizens of Myanmar don't have much travel liberty, there are still some countries that make it possible for them to travel without a visa. Visa exemption is currently offered by 13 countries.
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Dominica
- The Gambia
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Micronesia
- The Philippines
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Myanmar citizens can enter only 13 countries without a visa.
Please note that you will need a valid passport to easily enter the above countries. Myanmar is part of ASEAN (Southeast Asian Nations), so it has visa-free access to all countries except Malaysia. Choose one of the destinations above and get a valid passport to travel without applying for a visa.
You can go on vacation to enjoy leisure activities, visit friends and family, go on short business trips, and arrive at different destinations while on the move.
please note!
There are not always additional requirements to waive visa requirements (apart from a valid passport). In some cases, national authorities may request some documents to confirm the purpose of your stay.
This can take the form of hotel reservations or proof of sufficient financial resources for travel. So before you plan your trip, be sure to check to see if you have any documents in place.