Useful Tips

Myanmar Tourism Related Sites

Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board

Myanmar Travel Information

Directorate of Hotels & Tourism

Myanmar Travels and Tours

Entry Formalities

A valid passport with entry visa is required for all visitors. A Tourist Visa allows to stay (28) day. A Business Visa allows to stay (10) weeks, extendible on a case by case basis. Visa on arrival is granted on prior arrangement for special cases and package tours.

Overland entry is permitted for Thai tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Tachilek, Three Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy and Kawthaung check points along Myanmar-Thai border and for Chinese tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Lweje, Nam Kham, Muse, Kyukoke, Kwanlong, Mong Lar along Myanmar-China border.

Tourist Information

International and Domestic Flights

Entry Procedure (Airport)

1. To show your passport, entry-visa, disembarkation card and other relevant documents to the officers at the immigration counter (foreigners' section)
2. To let customs officers examine your passport and declaration forms at the customs counter;
3. To pick up your luggage taken in by the conveyor-belt;
4. To declare, if any, electrical goods/ camera / jewellary and foreign currencies at the customs counter;
5. To settle custom duties, if required, through the red channel;
6. To let customs preventive officers inspect your luggage;
7. To let immigration officers re-examine your passport.

Departure Procedure (Airport)

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

Exchangeable Currencies

1. US Dollar
2. Euro and other major foreign exchanges.

Free Import:-

(1) 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 0.5 lb of tobacco;
(2) 1 quart of alcoholic liquor;
(3) 1 pint bottle of perfume or Eau de Cologne;

Pets:

Passengers are allowed to bring their personal pets on condition that they are accompanied with health certificates.

Currencies:

Unlimited amount of foreign currencies can be imported on arrival although the local currency (Kyats) is prohibited;

Vaccination

No vaccination certificate is required unless coming from an infected area.

Customs

Foreigner and non-resident can bring into Myanmar any foreign currency not in excess of US $ 2,000, or its equivalent without making a declaration to the Customs on arrival. All foreign currencies, jewellery, electrical goods and cameras must be declared to the Customs at the airport. Exports of antique and archaeologically valuable items are prohibited. Only gems, jewellery and silverware purchased at the authorized shops are allowed to be taken out.

Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs)

1. Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) are issued by the Central Bank of Myanmar for the convenience of tourists visiting Myanmar.
2. Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) are issued in three dominations:
(1) FEC equivalent to US Dollar Ten;
(2) FEC equivalent to US Dollar Five;
(3) FEC equivalent to US Dollar One;
3. The exchange rates of Foreign Exchange Certificates are as follows:
(1) US Dollar (one) Foreign Exchange Certificate (one) unit
(2) Pound Sterling is to be changed at the daily cross rate notified by the banks.
(3) The fractions of the Foreign Exchange Certificates calculated at the daily cross rate will not be exchanged.
4. Foreign Exchange Certificates can be exchanged at the Banks and also at the State owned hotels and Myanmar Travels & Tours Exchange Counters.
5. Please omit this para 5 (It is compulsory for Foreign Independent Traveler (FIT) holding Entry Visa Tourist (EVT) to change on arrival a minimum of US $ 300 or other equivalent acceptable currency with Foreign Exchange Certificates 300 units. This is the minimum amount to be sent by a tourist during his her stay in the country. Any unused Foreign Exchange Certificates out of this amount will not be reconverted. If a tourist has exchanged in excess of US $ 300, any unutilized balance of the Foreign Exchange Certificates will be reconverted at the time of departure on presentation of the "Foreign Exchange Certificates Voucher" at the Exchange Counters.)
6. Payments by Foreign Exchange Certificates shall be deemed to have been made in foreign exchange.
7. These Foreign Exchange Certificates are acceptable by any person in the Union of Myanmar.
8. Foreign Exchange Certificates can only be used within the Union of Myanmar.

Clothing

Thin cotton is the best. A warm sweater or light jacket may be necessary in the cool season.

Dress

Light causal wear for all year round, a light sweater for the cool season especially when visiting Upper Myanmar, like Mandalay or Bagan is required. An umbrella will be useful during the rainy season. Sandals or slippers are convenient as all foot wears must be taken off when entering the precincts of pagodas and monasteries. Visitors must not wear shorts or briefs when visiting pagodas and monasteries.

Myanmar Food

The basic Myanmar food is mainly rice and curry. Some Myanmar curries are spicy and there is always fish paste in many forms with salad. Soup mostly made of vegetables is taken together with rice and other dishes.
"Mohinga", rice noodles with fish gravy is favourite for breakfast and "Ohn-No Khaukswe" (noodles with coconut chicken curry) is the most popular among Myanmar foods.

Favourite desserts are sanwin-ma-kin (Myanmar sweet cakes made with semolina, sugar, egg, butter and coconut), Myanmar style banana cakes, Kyaukchaw (sea weed Jelly) and jiggery.

Other Foods

Chinese foods both Cantonese and Fukienese are popular among Myanmars and there are Chinese Restaurants in almost every town. Indian food like Kebabs, birani are also popular with Myanmar palate. European food is available only at restaurant Hotels.

Business Hour

Government Offices 09:30 - 16:30 hrs
Bank 10:00 - 14:00 hrs