Complete guide to applying for a visa on arrival at Myanmar airports.
If you are planning on going to Myanmar, you will likely need a visa, unless you are from one of the countries exempt from visa requirements. However, the Myanmar government allows citizens of several countries to get a visa either online or on arrival, which makes the visa application process easier.
This means that if you are eligible for a Myanmar Visa On Arrival, you will be able to get it at the airport right before you enter the country, rather than apply beforehand.
Where Can I Get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival?
You can only get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival if you are entering through one of the following points of entry:
- Yangon International Airport
- Mandalay International Airport
- Nay Pyi Taw International Airport
For What Purposes is the Myanmar Visa On Arrival issued?
You can only get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival for Tourism and Business purposes, including attending a seminar or conference, as well as for Transit.
However, only citizens of certain countries can apply for a Myanmar Visa On Arrival.
Who can get a Myanmar Tourist Visa On Arrival?
You can only receive a Myanmar Visa On Arrival for tourism purposes if you have an ordinary passport issued by one of the following countries:
- Australia
- China
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Russia
- Spain
- Switzerland
What are the conditions of the Myanmar Visa On Arrival (Tourism)?
To receive a Myanmar Visa On Arrival for tourism purposes, you have to abide by the following conditions:
- Your passport must be valid for at least another six months
- You must have two passport-size pictures with you (4cm x 6cm), which are not older than three months
- You can stay for up to 30 days, and you will not be able to extend your stay
Who can get a Myanmar Business Visa On Arrival?
The list for who can get a Visa On Arrival for business or transit purposes is longer, but those eligible must be able to prove their purpose of entering the country is genuine. You can get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival for business if you have an ordinary passport issued by one of the following countries:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Korea
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- UK
- Ukraine
- USA
- Vietnam
What are the conditions of the Myanmar Visa On Arrival (Business, Crew, and Transit)?
In order to get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival for business or transit purposes or as part of an air crew, you have to fulfill the following conditions:
- Your passport must be valid for at least another six months
- You must have two passport-size pictures with you (4cm x 6cm), which are not older than three months
- You must provide proof of accommodation in Myanmar, by showing the hotel/motel/guest house reservation and the full address
- You must show you have been invited by a company or the relevant ministry in Myanmar
- You must have documents showing your sponsor’s name, the company’s name and location, as well as your position
- You must not do any other sort of work, other than the ones mentioned on your Visa Application Form
- You must show proof of onward travel if you want to get a Myanmar Transit Visa.
What Documents Do I Need When Getting a Myanmar Visa On Arrival?
When you submit an application for a Myanmar Visa On Arrival, you need the following documents:
- Your passport, which must be valid for at least another six months
- Two passport-size pictures of yourself, with the following specifications for Myanmar visa requirements:
- Dimensions: 4cm x 6cm
- Taken within the last three months
- Plain, white background
- You must have a neutral facial expression and are facing forward
- Your entire face must be visible
- You must not be wearing any headgear or eyeglasses
- Proof of accommodation in Myanmar, along with the address of where you will stay
- If you are traveling for business:
- Letter of Invitation from the company sponsoring you in Myanmar or the relevant inviting Ministry
- Copies of any documents regarding the inviting company, such as their company registration or business license
- Documents detailing the information of the inviting company (location, name), the name of the sponsor, and your position in the company
- If you are transiting: Proof of onward travel
- Any additional documents which support your purpose of stay, such as proof of purchased travel insurance (although not mandatory)
How to get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival?
In order to get a Myanmar Visa On Arrival, you must first complete a Visa On Arrival Application Form*. Then, approach the visa-issuing counters at the Yangon, Mandalay, or Nay Pyi Taw International Airport and present the application form along with the required documents.
You also have to pay the visa fee and wait to see if the Immigration officers will approve your application.
The decision regarding is fully up to the Immigration officers. If they decide you do not meet the standards to receive a visa, you will have to turn back.
*You can download the Myanmar Visa On Arrival Application Form here.
How much is the Myanmar Visa On Arrival fee?
The fee for a Myanmar Visa On Arrival changes depending on the purpose of your travel:
- Myanmar Tourist Visa On Arrival: 50 USD
- Myanmar Business Visa On Arrival: 50 USD
- Myanmar Transit Visa On Arrival: 20 USD
- Myanmar Crew Visa On Arrival: 40 USD
- Myanmar Visa On Arrival to attend a workshop, seminar, meeting: 40 USD
You have to pay the visa fee at the time you submit the application.
What is the duration of a Myanmar Visa On Arrival?
The duration for which the Myanmar Visa On Arrival is issued depends on the purpose of your travel:
- Myanmar Tourist Visa On Arrival: 30 Days
- Myanmar Business Visa On Arrival: 70 Days
- Myanmar Visa On Arrival to attend a workshop, seminar, meeting: 28 Days
- Myanmar Crew Visa On Arrival: 28 Days
- Myanmar Transit Visa On Arrival: 24 Hours
Can I extend a Myanmar Visa On Arrival?
If you have received your Myanmar Visa On Arrival on the grounds of tourism, transit, or to attend a seminar/workshop, you cannot apply for an extension of your visa.
However, if you received a Myanmar Visa On Arrival to conduct business, you may be able to extend it if you have a letter of recommendation from the relevant ministries in Myanmar. You can submit the request for a visa extension at the offices of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population in Myanmar.
Other methods of applying for a Myanmar Visa
If you are not eligible for a VOA, or would like the certainty of already having a visa before you travel, then you can apply for a Myanmar visa in one of the following ways:
- Applying for a Myanmar Visa in person or by mail at an Embassy or Consulate of Myanmar abroad. In this case you have to contact the Embassy or Consulate of Myanmar responsible for your jurisdiction to make an appointment, gather the documents, and submit them either in-person or through the mail.
- Applying for a Myanmar Visa Online (Myanmar eVisa). Citizens of several countries are eligible to get a visa for Myanmar entirely online. In this case, if the application is approved, you have to print the visa (which you receive via email) and enter the country.
Who is exempt from Myanmar Visas?
Citizens of certain countries in the world are exempt from Myanmar visas completely:
- If you have an ordinary passport issued by one of the following countries and you are traveling for tourism purposes, you are exempt from a Myanmar visa for stays of up to 30 days:
- Singapore (exempt from Myanmar visas for tourism and business purposes)
- Hong Konga
- Japan
- Macao
- South Korea
- If you are a citizen of the following countries and you are traveling for tourism and business purposes, you are exempt from a Myanmar visa for stays of up to 14 days:
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Philippines
- Thailand (only if arriving by air)
- Vietnam