burma travel requirements

Update April 12, 2024

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Burma (Myanmar) Travel Advisory

Travel advisory january 22, 2024, burma (myanmar) - level 4: do not travel.

Updated to include information on Civil Unrest, Armed Conflict, Wrongful Detention, Arbitrary Enforcement of Local Laws, Land Mines and Unexploded Ordnance, and the “If You Decide to Travel to Burma” section.

Do not travel to Burma due to  civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws . Reconsider travel to Burma due to  limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances . Exercise increased caution due to  wrongful detentions .

COUNTRY SUMMARY : The Burma military regime detained and deposed elected government officials in a February 2021 coup d'état. Protests and demonstrations against military rule continue, often on significant dates. The military has responded to these protests by arbitrarily arresting individuals and with the indiscriminate use of deadly force against protesters and bystanders.

The Department of State has determined that the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the military regime exists.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services in Burma as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Rangoon. Dependents under the age of 21 cannot accompany U.S. government employees who work in Burma.

Civil unrest and armed conflict  occur throughout Burma. The level of civil unrest and armed conflict varies significantly between and within states and regions and may change at any time.

Civil unrest and armed violence due to fighting between the military regime and various ethnic groups and militia occur in parts of Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine, and Shan States, as well as in Sagaing, and Magway regions.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used in the ongoing armed conflicts, including in the Yangon urban area. From January to July 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon confirmed an average of fourteen IEDs per month detonated against regime targets in the Yangon urban area, while an average of nine unexploded IEDs were discovered and safely disposed of per month. IEDs used in Yangon urban area tend to be designed for smaller impacts against specific targets. Outside of Yangon, IED attacks against checkpoints and other critical infrastructure have been designed for larger impact.

While land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) exist throughout Burma, the greatest concerns are in the areas of Shan, Chin, and Kachin. The locations of landmines and UXO are often not marked or otherwise unidentifiable.

The military regime arbitrarily enforces local laws , including carrying out  random and wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens without due process . U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Burma may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime.

U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals are not exempt from prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law. Local law enforcement officials may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for speaking out or protesting against the military regime, including on their personal social media accounts, and for sending private electronic messages critical of the military regime. Facebook and Twitter are banned in Myanmar; police have sought bribes from individuals using a VPN to access social media sites even though VPNs are not officially illegal.

Burma has  limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources due to critical staffing shortages in the public sector health workforce. Importation of medical supplies, including medicine, into Burma is not consistent and medical prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine may not be available.

Read the Safety and Security section on the  country information page .

If you decide to travel to Burma:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Follow the Embassy on Facebook and Twitter .
• Follow the Embassy’s Consular Section on Facebook .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Burma.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Purchase travel medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
• Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths due to risk of unexploded ordnance.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Make contingency plans to leave the country.
• Review local laws and conditions before traveling.
• Visit our website for  High-Risk Area Travelers .
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.  Find a suggested list of such documents here .
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization.
• Erase any sensitive photos, comments, or other materials that could be considered controversial or provocative by local groups from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices prior to travel.

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Myanmar (Burma) Entry Requirements

Ever notice how in the movies you can just pack a bag and head for some exotic locale? Well, this is travel in real life , and that takes some preparation — especially when you're going to Myanmar (also known as Burma). This country boasts immense beauty, but you'll only see it if you have the proper credentials to gain entry!

In Myanmar, you'll need more than a passport to gain entry into the country. Although, even your passport is subject to certain stipulations. First, you'll want to be sure that your passport isn't due to expire for 6 months from your date of travel. Then, you'll need to ensure that you have at least one clean page for your entry stamp.

With your passport propery up to date, it's time to turn your attention to your visa. All visitors must have a visa regardless of their origin of citizenship or reason for travel. Thankfully, getting a Burmese visa is fairly easy in the age of technology. Just visit the official e-visa website . You'll likely find this more convenient than visiting a Burmese consultate, but that's always an option too!

Once your visa is granted, you have 90 days (3 months) to make your trip happen. As for the span of your vacation, your visa allows you to stay in the country for 28 days as a guest/tourist.

Note: If using the e-visa method, you will receive an official letter that you must bring with you; upon arrival, please present this letter to an immigration official who will then provide you with your actual visa sticker or stamp.

The most seamless way to plan

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Burma (Myanmar) Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for Burma (Myanmar).

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

There is no longer active cholera transmission and vaccine is not recommended.

Cholera - CDC Yellow Book

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Burma.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to Burma.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers who

• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis

Consider vaccination for travelers

• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there

Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season. 

Japanese encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Children

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Burma take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find  country-specific information  about malaria.

Malaria - CDC Yellow Book

Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Book)

Malaria information for Burma.

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Rabid dogs are commonly found in Burma. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Burma, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available. 

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas

Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Burma. 

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Yellow Fever

Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

• Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Schistosomiasis

• Wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or untreated pools.

Avoid bug bites

Chikungunya

• Mosquito bite
• Avoid Bug Bites
• Mosquito bite
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

Avian/bird flu.

• Being around, touching, or working with infected poultry, such as visiting poultry farms or live-animal markets
• Avoid domestic and wild poultry
• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Burma, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Burma. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Burma include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Burma. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Burma’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in Burma. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Burma may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Burma, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Burma (Myanmar) for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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Myanmar (Burma)

Entry requirements.

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Myanmar set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Myanmar Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Myanmar.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Myanmar, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you arrive.

Visa requirements

British nationals must apply for a visa to enter Myanmar. If you have any queries about visas or entry requirements, you should check with your nearest Myanmar embassy.

If you overstay your visa, you will be liable to pay a fine and could face detention.

Applying for a visa

You can apply for a tourist visa online .

To apply for a business e-visa you need to be sponsored by a registered Myanmar company or a registered Chamber of Commerce association. Submit the proof of the invitation with your visa application in the form of a letter personally addressed to you, along with a copy of the company’s registration certificate . The letter must state the purpose and timeframe of your visit.

Non-governmental organisations and international non-governmental organisations are not eligible to sponsor visas.

Vaccination requirements

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Myanmar guide .

If you are arriving directly from certain countries in Africa and Latin America, you must show a yellow fever certificate to enter Myanmar.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Myanmar. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Importing unmanned aerial systems (drones) without prior permission from the authorities is potentially illegal.

Taking money into Myanmar

There is significant disruption to banking services. You may find that some ATMs are out of operation. Some bank branches may be closed, and some banks have limits to daily withdrawals. Electronic payments and transfers are mostly working, but many commercial outlets will only accept cash.

Expect to rely on cash for most of your stay. If you plan to bring more than 10,000 US dollars-worth of any foreign currency, you must declare this to customs on arrival or risk imprisonment. 

If you have to pay a visa fine or for excess baggage on departure, you will need to pay in US dollars.

Once you’re in Myanmar it can be difficult to change US dollars into kyats. Many moneychangers are closing due to pressure from the authorities. Notes are typically inspected very carefully.

Due to concerns over counterfeit money, exchange counters may refuse dollars with the letters AB and CB at the start of the serial number (top left-hand corner of the note).

Check your US dollars are in good condition, with no pen marks, folds or tears. Exchange counters prefer high-denomination bills.

If you want to pay for hotels or restaurants with a credit or debit card, phone ahead to check this will be possible.

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Business Customs 

There are a few specific etiquette rules for business contacts.  It is appropriate to wear business attire for official meetings and contract signing ceremonies. Businesspeople also expect to exchange business cards at initial meetings.  Because Burma has a conservative culture, businesswomen should avoid wearing exposing attire.

Mutual relationships play a critical role in Burmese business culture. 

Travel Advisory 

The U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory for Burma remains at Level 4 Do Not Travel at this writing. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should monitor the U.S. Department of State’ Bureau of Consular Affairs website , where current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, including the Worldwide Caution Travel Alert, can be found.  Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or callers outside the United States and Canada, 1-202-501-4444, a regular toll- line.  These lines are available from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for U.S. federal holidays).  The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.  Further details can be found on the U.S. State Department’s Burma webpage ( https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html ).

Visa Requirements 

A passport and visa are required for all travelers entering the country.  The application process for business visas varies and can be lengthy.   Online visa applications can be submitted via the Ministry of Immigration, and Population’s eVisa webpage.

Contact Information 

Embassy of the Union of Burma

2300 S Street NW  

Washington, DC 20008  

Phone: 202-332-3344 | 202-332-4350  

Permanent Mission of Burma to the UN  

10 East 77th Street  

New York, NY 10075  

Phone: 212-744-1271 

Currency 

The kyat (MMK) is the local currency. Currency exchange counters and ATMs are available at Yangon International Airport and around the city. It is advisable to bring only new U.S. dollar notes with no marks or creases.  Otherwise, the bills may be refused, or the exchange rate will be lower than the market rate.  

Phone Service/ Internet 

CDMA and GSM cell phone service is available in Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and surrounding areas.  Mobile phones and SIM cards have become much more affordable in Burma and are readily available.  Business hotels provide access to the internet with reasonable download speeds. 

Transportation 

Burma is easily accessible by air, primarily via regional hubs like Singapore, Seoul, and Bangkok.  Domestic air travel is preferred over driving long distances in Burma under poor road conditions.  Domestic flights connect all major cities. 

In Burma, travel by road can be dangerous as roads outside urban areas are often narrow and in poor condition, particularly during the May-October rainy season.  Traveling after dark is not recommended.   Government permission is required for foreigners to travel by road in border areas.  Rail travel, though available, is not recommended due to slow service. 

Language 

Burmese is the official language throughout Burma, though languages of various ethnic groups are widely spoken in their home regions. While businesspeople in Yangon and Mandalay speak some degree of English, it is not widely spoken outside main urban areas.  Chinese is spoken in Mandalay, Yangon, and significant trade hubs near the China-Burmese border.  Thai is spoken in important trade hubs on the Thai-Burmese border. 

Visitors should consult their physician or local health authorities for a list of recommended immunizations before arrival.  Dengue fever is a prominent, year-round health concern. Avoiding mosquito bites through mosquito repellent and protective clothing is the only way to prevent this illness. Although malaria is not a problem in urban Yangon, malaria prophylaxis should be taken if traveling to other parts of the country.

Medical facilities in Burma are often inadequate, and travelers should bring a sufficient supply of personal prescriptions and over-the-counter medications with them. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s  hotline for international travelers at 1-877- FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via fax at  1-888-CDC-FAXX  (1-888-232-3299). 

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Burma is 6.5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Business hours are not uniform. Most private and government offices close on weekends. Local holidays are posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy Rangoon at mm.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/.  

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings 

Burmese law does not limit the amount of foreign currency brought into the country, but any amount over $10,000 must be declared on customs and currency declaration forms. Departing tourists who claim over $10,000 on arrival must have receipts for all items purchased in Burma. Their purchases must match the amount of foreign currency exchanged for kyat. Travelers may not bring kyat in large quantities into Burma or take it out of the country. Credit cards cannot be easily used in Burma outside urban areas as few businesses can process credit card transactions.   

Resources 

U.S. Department of State – Burma Country Information   

U.S. Embassy in Burma – U.S. Citizen Services  

Articles Travel Requirements - Myanmar

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04/03/2024 • FAQs

Information.

• Effective 01 July 2023, travellers are permitted to enter Myanmar regardless of their vaccination status.
• Effective 01 July 2023, travellers are permitted to enter Myanmar regardless of their vaccination status.
• Travellers are no longer need to fill out and submit the Health Declaration card upon arrival.
• Travellers are not required to purchase health insurance.

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Temporary Protected Status Extension and Redesignation for Burma (Myanmar)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services invites you to participate in a stakeholder engagement on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar) on Thursday, May 9, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern.

On March 22, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas  announced the extension and redesignation of Burma for TPS for 18 months. The extension of TPS for Burma allows current beneficiaries to retain TPS through Nov. 25, 2025, if they meet eligibility requirements. Existing beneficiaries of TPS for Burma seeking to avoid gaps in their employment authorization may re-register during the 60-day re-registration period which runs from March 25, 2024, through May 24, 2024. The redesignation allows Burmese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Burma) who have continuously resided in the United States since March 21, 2024, and have been continuously physically present in the United States since May 26, 2024, to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible.

During this engagement, USCIS will provide an overview of the extension and redesignation of Burma for TPS. We will then hold a question-and-answer session. We will not address case-specific questions, questions outside the scope of the engagement, or issues under active litigation.

To Register:

• Visit our registration page .
• Provide your email address where indicated and select “Submit.”
• The next screen will notify you that you successfully subscribed to this event.

After we process your registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional details.

If you have not received a confirmation email within three business days, please email us at  [email protected] .

If you have questions on Burma’s TPS designation, we invite you to submit one or two questions by 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, by emailing   [email protected] . Please place “TPS Burma” in the subject line of your email.

To request a disability accommodation to participate in this engagement, email us at  [email protected] by 4 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

We look forward to your participation!