Burma

Quick Facts

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

One page required for entry stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

VACCINATIONS:

Yellow fever may be required if arriving from certain countries with yellow fever

CURRENCY Confinements FOR ENTRY:

Amounts in excess of USD Ten,000 must be proclaimed upon entry.

CURRENCY Confinements FOR EXIT:

Amounts in excess of USD Ten,000 must be announced upon exit.

U.S. Embassy Rangoon

110 University Ave

Telephone: +(95) (1) 536-509, ext. 4240

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +95 9-512-4330, or +(95) (1) 500-547

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Burma for information on U.S. – Burma relations.

The Government of Burma controls travel to, from, and within Burma. To come in Burma, you must have a valid passport with at least six months remaining validity and a valid visa. You should apply for your visa at a Burmese embassy or consulate abroad before you arrive in Burma. In Burma, you will be required to demonstrate your passport with a valid visa at all airports, train stations, and hotels. Security checkpoints are common outside of tourist areas.

Visa Information: The Government of Burma’s eVisa program permits tourists and business travelers to apply for a visa online rather than physically applying at an embassy or consulate:

• You are generally notified within a few days whether you have been pre-approved for a visa.
• You must present the approval letter at Immigration when you come in Burma.
• Once you are approved for the visa, the visa needs to be used within three months.
• Apply at: Myanmar eVisa (Official Government Website). Be aware that non-official websites may be scam websites.

The Government of Burma has a visas-on-arrival program for certain business travelers. The program is available only to those with a formal letter of invitation from a business registered with the Burmese Ministry of Commerce, NOT to tourists.

You can get information about entry requirements as well as other information from the Embassy of Burma’s website. The Embassy is located at two thousand three hundred S Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. Telephone: 202-332-4350. The Permanent Mission of Burma to the UN is located at ten East 77th St., Fresh York, NY 10021. Telephone: 212-535-1311 or 212-744-1271. Fax: 212-744-1290.

Messages regarding weather-related events are posted on the Embassy’s website.

Fighting inbetween the Burmese military and various ethnic armed groups and militia compels resumes in several border regions including Kachin, northern Shan and parts of Rakhine and Chin States. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to these areas.

Latest violence in Rakhine State has displaced thousands, and has resulted in civilian casualties. The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon presently advises against travel to Maungdaw and Buthitaung townships.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance: Conflict affected areas are of greatest concern, particularly areas of Shan, Chin, and Kachin States. The location of landmines is often not marked or otherwise identifiable. In April 2016, two German tourists were injured by shrapnel when they triggered a mine near rural Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State.

In November 2016, there were a puny number of explosions at retail commercial centers and government offices in Rangoon. Citizens should maintain good situational awareness and report suspicious packages to local authorities.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism retains information on restricted areas. Due to travel limitations placed on U.S. diplomats by the Government of Burma, our capability to assist U.S. citizens affected by incidents in remote and/or conflict-affected areas of Burma may be limited. At times, the U.S. Embassy restricts its employees from traveling to certain areas.

Crime: Crime rates in Burma, especially involving foreigners, are lower than those of many other countries in the region. Nevertheless, the crime rate has been enhancing, particularly home burglaries and petty crime. Violent crime against foreigners is uncommon, but there have been incidents involving attacks by taxi drivers and muggings. Citizens are advised to take particular care when taking taxis late at night.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:

Report crimes to the local police at one hundred ninety nine or in person at the police station in the district where the crime took place, and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(95) (1) 536-509, ext. 4240, Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +95 9-512-4330, or +(95) one 500-547. Reminisce that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

• help you find adequate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• substitute a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

• Cyclones and Tropical Storms: Travel conditions deteriorate significantly and cyclones may occur during the rainy season (approximately June to October annually). Travelers are encouraged to prepare for cyclone emergencies and monitor local news stations when cyclones are forecast. The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has a color-coded system for storm systems: crimson for storms approaching landfall in Burma, orange for storms moving towards Burma, yellow for developing storms, and brown for current storms. Check our Hurricane Season – Know Before You Go webpage for information on storm preparedness.
• Earthquakes: Earthquakes can occur across Burma. Check here for information about earthquake preparedness.
• See the Department of Homeland Security’s webpage for numerous resources on emergency kits, preparing for disasters and developing emergency plans.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Wise Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it lighter to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department’s travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
• Go after us on Twitter and Facebook.
• See traveling securely abroad for useful travel tips.

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you crack local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our webpage on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Burmese law forbids Burmese citizens from possessing dual nationality. On occasion, Burmese authorities have detained and pursued criminal proceedings against Burmese-Americans who have returned to Burma on U.S. passports and who have had in their possession evidence of Burmese citizenship, such as a National Registration Card.

Under the Burmese Motor Vehicle Act of 1964, driving while intoxicated is punishable by either six months in jail, or a five hundred kyat (equivalent to USD fifty cents) fine, or both.

Sentences for immigration violations include deportation, fines, and prison terms.

Under Burmese law, insulting religion is a prosecutable offense. ‘Insult’ is a very broad term that could include tattoos or other religious representations in a non-religious context. Photos of the Buddha can be particularly sensitive. In 2016, a tourist was deported for allegedly having a tattoo of the Buddha on his gam. As in any country, visitors are encouraged to be respectful of local customs when visiting religious sites.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy instantaneously. See our webpage for further information.

Should you be detained, especially outside of Rangoon, we may not be able to assist quickly. Law enforcement officials do not routinely notify us of the arrest of U.S. citizens, and prison officials have been known to obstruct regular access by consular officers to U.S. citizen detainees.

LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal under section three hundred seventy seven of the Burmese penal code, which has provisions against “sexually abnormal” behavior and entails penalties up to life imprisonment. Laws against “unnatural offenses” apply identically to studs and women. These laws are infrequently enforced. However, LGBTI persons have reported that police used the threat of prosecution to extort bribes. LGBTI activists have also reported allegations of rape by security compels in some cases, arbitrary arrest (for example for loitering), detention, and broad societal and familial discrimination.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section six of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Individuals with disabilities should be ready to face difficulties via Burma. Roads and sidewalks are often difficult to cross. Ramps or handicapped-accessible facilities are uncommon.

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Most medical facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical care. Few medical personnel in Burma are trained to U.S. standards. In an emergency, you would likely need to be medically evacuated to a hospital outside Burma. Medical evacuation from Burma is expensive and is most often transacted in cash.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Medication: Most pharmaceuticals on sale in Burma have been smuggled into the country, and many are counterfeit or adulterated. Travelers should consider Burmese pharmaceuticals generally unsafe to use and should bring their own medications for the duration of their stay in Burma.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Burma to ensure that the medication is legal in Burma. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria
• Dengue fever
• Other insect-borne infections including chikungunya, scrub typhus, and Japanese encephalitis
• Hepatitis
• Zika

Zika Virus: Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness, typically transmitted by the day biting Aedes aegypti mosquito, that can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby as well as through sexual contact and blood transfusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other neurological conditions. For general information and the latest updates about Zika and steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure to the virus, please visit the CDC website.

Further health information:

Road Conditions and Safety: Rangoon’s roads are generally in poor condition and have traffic congestion across the day. Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles, animals, and intense pedestrian traffic create numerous hazards for drivers on Rangoon’s streets. If you drive in Burma, remain alert to avoid hitting pedestrians.

Most roads outside of Rangoon have one to two lanes and are potholed, often unpaved, and unlit at night. Many of the truck drivers traveling inbetween China and Rangoon reportedly travel under the influence of methamphetamines and other stimulants. Drunken and/or drugged drivers are common during the four-day Buddhist water festival in mid-April.

Driving at night is particularly dangerous. Most Burmese drivers do not turn on their headlights until the sky is entirely dark. Many do not use headlights at all. Many bicyclists use no lights or reflectors.

Traffic Laws: Vehicles drive on the right side as in the United States. However, a majority of vehicles have the steering wheel placed on the right. The “right of way” concept is generally respected, but military convoys and motorcades always have precedence. Vehicles generally lack seat belts. Child car seats are unavailable.

Most accidents are lodged inbetween the parties on site, with the party at fault paying the damages. In the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the driver is always considered to be at fault and subject to fines or arrest, regardless of the circumstances. Roadside assistance and ambulances are unavailable.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

Burma (Myanmar)

Burma

Quick Facts

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

One page required for entry stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

VACCINATIONS:

Yellow fever may be required if arriving from certain countries with yellow fever

CURRENCY Limitations FOR ENTRY:

Amounts in excess of USD Ten,000 must be announced upon entry.

CURRENCY Confinements FOR EXIT:

Amounts in excess of USD Ten,000 must be announced upon exit.

U.S. Embassy Rangoon

110 University Ave

Telephone: +(95) (1) 536-509, ext. 4240

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +95 9-512-4330, or +(95) (1) 500-547

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Burma for information on U.S. – Burma relations.

The Government of Burma controls travel to, from, and within Burma. To inject Burma, you must have a valid passport with at least six months remaining validity and a valid visa. You should apply for your visa at a Burmese embassy or consulate abroad before you arrive in Burma. In Burma, you will be required to demonstrate your passport with a valid visa at all airports, train stations, and hotels. Security checkpoints are common outside of tourist areas.

Visa Information: The Government of Burma’s eVisa program permits tourists and business travelers to apply for a visa online rather than physically applying at an embassy or consulate:

• You are generally notified within a few days whether you have been pre-approved for a visa.
• You must present the approval letter at Immigration when you come in Burma.
• Once you are approved for the visa, the visa needs to be used within three months.
• Apply at: Myanmar eVisa (Official Government Website). Be aware that non-official websites may be scam websites.

The Government of Burma has a visas-on-arrival program for certain business travelers. The program is available only to those with a formal letter of invitation from a business registered with the Burmese Ministry of Commerce, NOT to tourists.

You can get information about entry requirements as well as other information from the Embassy of Burma’s website. The Embassy is located at two thousand three hundred S Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. Telephone: 202-332-4350. The Permanent Mission of Burma to the UN is located at ten East 77th St., Fresh York, NY 10021. Telephone: 212-535-1311 or 212-744-1271. Fax: 212-744-1290.

Messages regarding weather-related events are posted on the Embassy’s website.

Fighting inbetween the Burmese military and various ethnic armed groups and militia coerces resumes in several border regions including Kachin, northern Shan and parts of Rakhine and Chin States. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to these areas.

Latest violence in Rakhine State has displaced thousands, and has resulted in civilian casualties. The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon presently advises against travel to Maungdaw and Buthitaung townships.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance: Conflict affected areas are of greatest concern, particularly areas of Shan, Chin, and Kachin States. The location of landmines is often not marked or otherwise identifiable. In April 2016, two German tourists were injured by shrapnel when they triggered a mine near rural Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State.

In November 2016, there were a petite number of explosions at retail commercial centers and government offices in Rangoon. Citizens should maintain good situational awareness and report suspicious packages to local authorities.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism retains information on restricted areas. Due to travel limitations placed on U.S. diplomats by the Government of Burma, our capability to assist U.S. citizens affected by incidents in remote and/or conflict-affected areas of Burma may be limited. At times, the U.S. Embassy restricts its employees from traveling to certain areas.

Crime: Crime rates in Burma, especially involving foreigners, are lower than those of many other countries in the region. Nevertheless, the crime rate has been enlargening, particularly home burglaries and petty crime. Violent crime against foreigners is infrequent, but there have been incidents involving attacks by taxi drivers and muggings. Citizens are advised to take particular care when taking taxis late at night.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:

Report crimes to the local police at one hundred ninety nine or in person at the police station in the district where the crime took place, and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(95) (1) 536-509, ext. 4240, Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +95 9-512-4330, or +(95) one 500-547. Reminisce that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

• help you find adequate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• substitute a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

• Cyclones and Tropical Storms: Travel conditions deteriorate significantly and cyclones may occur during the rainy season (approximately June to October annually). Travelers are encouraged to prepare for cyclone emergencies and monitor local news stations when cyclones are forecast. The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has a color-coded system for storm systems: crimson for storms approaching landfall in Burma, orange for storms moving towards Burma, yellow for developing storms, and brown for current storms. Check our Hurricane Season – Know Before You Go webpage for information on storm preparedness.
• Earthquakes: Earthquakes can occur across Burma. Check here for information about earthquake preparedness.
• See the Department of Homeland Security’s webpage for numerous resources on emergency kits, preparing for disasters and developing emergency plans.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Clever Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it lighter to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department’s travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
• Go after us on Twitter and Facebook.
• See traveling securely abroad for useful travel tips.

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you crack local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our webpage on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Burmese law forbids Burmese citizens from possessing dual nationality. On occasion, Burmese authorities have detained and pursued criminal proceedings against Burmese-Americans who have returned to Burma on U.S. passports and who have had in their possession evidence of Burmese citizenship, such as a National Registration Card.

Under the Burmese Motor Vehicle Act of 1964, driving while intoxicated is punishable by either six months in jail, or a five hundred kyat (equivalent to USD fifty cents) fine, or both.

Sentences for immigration violations include deportation, fines, and prison terms.

Under Burmese law, insulting religion is a prosecutable offense. ‘Insult’ is a very broad term that could include tattoos or other religious representations in a non-religious context. Pictures of the Buddha can be particularly sensitive. In 2016, a tourist was deported for allegedly having a tattoo of the Buddha on his gam. As in any country, visitors are encouraged to be respectful of local customs when visiting religious sites.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy instantaneously. See our webpage for further information.

Should you be detained, especially outside of Rangoon, we may not be able to assist quickly. Law enforcement officials do not routinely notify us of the arrest of U.S. citizens, and prison officials have been known to obstruct regular access by consular officers to U.S. citizen detainees.

LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal under section three hundred seventy seven of the Burmese penal code, which has provisions against “sexually abnormal” behavior and entails penalties up to life imprisonment. Laws against “unnatural offenses” apply identically to fellows and women. These laws are uncommonly enforced. However, LGBTI persons have reported that police used the threat of prosecution to extort bribes. LGBTI activists have also reported allegations of rape by security compels in some cases, arbitrary arrest (for example for loitering), detention, and broad societal and familial discrimination.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section six of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Individuals with disabilities should be ready to face difficulties across Burma. Roads and sidewalks are often difficult to cross. Ramps or handicapped-accessible facilities are infrequent.

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Most medical facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical care. Few medical personnel in Burma are trained to U.S. standards. In an emergency, you would likely need to be medically evacuated to a hospital outside Burma. Medical evacuation from Burma is expensive and is most often transacted in cash.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Medication: Most pharmaceuticals on sale in Burma have been smuggled into the country, and many are counterfeit or adulterated. Travelers should consider Burmese pharmaceuticals generally unsafe to use and should bring their own medications for the duration of their stay in Burma.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Burma to ensure that the medication is legal in Burma. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria
• Dengue fever
• Other insect-borne infections including chikungunya, scrub typhus, and Japanese encephalitis
• Hepatitis
• Zika

Zika Virus: Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness, typically transmitted by the day biting Aedes aegypti mosquito, that can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby as well as through sexual contact and blood transfusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other neurological conditions. For general information and the latest updates about Zika and steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure to the virus, please visit the CDC website.

Further health information:

Road Conditions and Safety: Rangoon’s roads are generally in poor condition and have traffic congestion across the day. Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles, animals, and strong pedestrian traffic create numerous hazards for drivers on Rangoon’s streets. If you drive in Burma, remain alert to avoid hitting pedestrians.

Most roads outside of Rangoon have one to two lanes and are potholed, often unpaved, and unlit at night. Many of the truck drivers traveling inbetween China and Rangoon reportedly travel under the influence of methamphetamines and other stimulants. Drunken and/or drugged drivers are common during the four-day Buddhist water festival in mid-April.

Driving at night is particularly dangerous. Most Burmese drivers do not turn on their headlights until the sky is fully dark. Many do not use headlights at all. Many bicyclists use no lights or reflectors.

Traffic Laws: Vehicles drive on the right side as in the United States. However, a majority of vehicles have the steering wheel placed on the right. The “right of way” concept is generally respected, but military convoys and motorcades always have precedence. Vehicles generally lack seat belts. Child car seats are unavailable.

Most accidents are lodged inbetween the parties on site, with the party at fault paying the damages. In the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the driver is always considered to be at fault and subject to fines or arrest, regardless of the circumstances. Roadside assistance and ambulances are unavailable.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

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