TRAVEL TIPS

PASSPORT & VISA

VISITORS to Myanmar must have a valid passport and obtain a 28-day Tourist Visa from a Myanmar Embassy or diplomatic mission abroad. Two copies of application forms and three passport-size photos (two attached to the forms and one clipped inside the passport) will be needed. Visa fee is approx. US$20 – in local currency.

THREE TYPES OF VISA

Tourist visa which is valid for 28-day. You can enter anytime within 3 months of obtaining your visa.
Business visa which is valid for 10 weeks. It requires a letter of introduction from a business in Myanmar, stating purpose of your visit.
Meditation visa which has no time restriction, but pre-arranged with a Monastery or Meditation Centre with sponsor letter is required with your visa application.

CUSTOMS & FORMALITIES

REGULATIONS are now generally relaxed for travelers arriving by air in Yangon. Visitors should have completed immigration and customs declaration forms during the flight and must submit these on arrival. Large amounts of foreign currency (though there is no restriction on the amount), traveler cheques and jewelry, cameras etc. have to be declared on the customs form and may be checked on departure. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported.

The former necessity of having to change US$200 into Foreign Exchange Certificates (funny money) on arrival at Yangon airport puts a stop. Just walk straight through from passport control counter to customs.

Duty free: 200 cigarettes and one liter of wine or spirit.

Our representative or guide will meet travelers on arrival, after airport immigration and customs control points have been passed. In the arrival hall our guide or rep will display names of guests or their group for ease of recognition.

At present the local GSM network does not support global network. Therefore bringing your mobile (cell) phone into Myanmar merely means to leave at the custom department upon your arrival and reclaim only on departure.

Any gems brought out must have a receipt of purchase from a recognized shop when leaving. Antique items like old coins, clay pipes, manuscripts, stone, pottery etc. are banned. For normal Buddha statues – if you pack them with due respect, say, wrap in a nice and clean cloth and place at top of your bag, it should be OK. Baggage may be X-rayed or inspected before departure.

ENTRY PROCEDURE (Airport)

To show your passport, entry-visa, disembarkation card and other relevant documents to the officers at the immigration counter (foreigners’ section)
To let customs officers examine your passport and declaration forms at the customs counter
To pick up your luggage taken in by the conveyor-belt
To declare, if any, electrical goods/ camera /jewellery and large amounts of foreign currencies at the customs counter
To settle custom duties, if required, through the red channel
To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage
To let immigration officers re-examine your passport

DEPARTURE PROCEDURE (Airport)

To get your ticket confirmed at the airlines concerned
To pay the airport tax (US$10 in cash)
To show your passport and airport tax receipt at the counter of the airline concerned so as to receive your boarding-pass
To let the immigration officers examine your passport and embarkation card
To submit your passport and declaration form at the customs counter
To let the customs preventive officers inspect your luggage
To go through a body-search

CURRENCY & EXCHANGE

MYANMAR currency is Kyat (pronounced ‘Chat’). The official exchange rate is around 6 kyat to 1 dollar (but nobody does it with that rate!). Also ignore the money changing counters at the airport as their offer rates are quite low – about 450 kyat for 1 dollar! The unofficial rate (at the time of writing) is as high as 1100 kyat to 1 dollar. We strongly recommend bringing along sufficient US$ in cash. Many hotels, travel agents and restaurants require payment in US$ or FEC, and FECs are also usually accepted in shops. International credit cards and traveler cheques are not widely used and transaction may not occur smoothly.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & DOMESTIC TRAVEL

DOMESTIC air services have improved over recent years, but public train, ferryboat and bus services are still generally unreliable and uncomfortable. Our guests will usually travel by reliable Air Mandalay (6T), Yangon Airways (HK) and Air Bagan (W9) flights using Air ATR – 72 and by air-conditioned car or bus. In remote areas like Kachin, Chin, Rakhine States, however, air-conditioned vehicles may not always be available and travelers should be advised that the quality of roads varies throughout Myanmar, from reasonable to bad. Due to road conditions long distance overland travel generally takes longer than the travelers might expect – averaging only 40-50km per hour. Baggage allowance on domestic flights is limited to 20kg. Excess baggage can be left in Yangon hotels for collection on return from upcountry.

GENERAL ADVICE ON TRAVELING IN MYANMAR

Never drink TAP WATER. Purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially in UPCOUNTRY and FORESTED AREAS.

A HAT and HIGH-FACTOR BLOCK CREAM is ADVISABLE as protection against the hot tropical sun when sightseeing.

CASUAL and LIGHT CLOTHING is required, preferably natural fibers year round, but a SWEATER or JACKET may be useful in hilly regions, particularly during WINTER months (from November to February), when evening can be quite cool. A WINDPROOF jacket is essential when touring around the LAKE INLE November to February.

AN UMBRELLA or RAIN COAT is essential if visiting during the MONSOON months (from June to mid-October).

Take adequate supplies of any PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES travelers may need, as supplies may not be available locally.

A spare pair of EYE GLASSES, if worn, is also advisable.

A FLASH LIGHT may be useful for exploring caves or details of temple interiors which are often not properly illuminated.

EXTRA PERSONAL INSURANCE is recommended in case of illness, or situations where medical evacuation by air is required.

Photography in AIRPORTS, RAILWAY STATIONS and near any MILITARY installation is forbidden. Even though Myanmar people are generally happy to be the subject of your photography it certainly helps to ask their permission first when photographing people, especially with TRIBAL PEOPLE, who may have superstitions against this.

Visitors are required to dress DECENTLY or MODESTLY within the precincts of RELIGIOUS buildings. Ladies should NOT WEAR SHORTS or BRA-LESS T-SHIRTS in such places. SHOES and SOCKS/STOCKINGS must always be REMOVED at Pagodas and monasteries. SHOULDERS and KNEES should be covered. Disregard of these rules may cause cultural and religious OFFENCE to the devout Myanmar people.

Political protest will get you arrested, sentenced, and then probably deported.

MYANMAR EMBASSIES ABROAD