Myanmar information

The following information was obtained from various sources including a tourist visit throughout Myanmar

Visas

To visit Myanmar a visa is required. They can only be issued by the Myanmar government.

Tourist Visa

	can be applied for through a travel agent in Thailand or directly at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok
	cost is 1300 Baht each visa

Booking through a travel agent in Chiang Mai was quick and easy. You do have to complete the application for the visa and an arrival form and then they are submitted along with your passport and two photos to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok by the travel agent. From Chiang Mai the process took three days.

The visa is valid for 30 days and allows for one visit with a stay of up to 4 weeks. The visa can be extended for a further 30 days while you are in Myanmar by going to the Immigration Department in Yangon with a letter explaining why you want the extension and additional passport photos. They will want to see proof (receipt) that you have exchanged U.S. dollars for Foreign Exchange Credits (FEC’s) and will require a fee for the extension.

Technically your passport must be valid for a further six months but this has not been a problem in cases seen so far, depending upon the issuing county. What is critical is that you have the ability to enter the country that your flight out of Myanmar is to. For instance, if your flight is back to Thailand a re-entry permit in your passport could avoid any potential problems or delays in processing.

Business Visa

Currency The currency of Myanmar is the kyat (pronounced ‘chaht’) and has a current unofficial exchange value of anywhere from 650 to 700 kyats to the U.S. dollar.

On entering Myanmar you are required to exchange $200 U.S. into Foreign Exchange Credits (FEC’s) that can then be used as currency while in Myanmar. They can be used to pay for hotels, transportation, etc. and any other places where you would use U.S. dollars. The requirement is that you purchase $200 per person but couples and families have been known to negotiate to get around this and purchase only $200 in total but this may require a ‘present’ to the official. This outdated policy was copied from the Chinese who wisely dropped it years ago in the interest of promoting tourism. This requirement to exchange for FEC’s is waived if you are part of an official tour group. FEC’s are not redeemable on leaving the country.

Most local restaurants and purchases are made in kyats. Hotels will usually quote their price in U.S. $ and that is the currency that you will use.

There is almost no way to exchange currency other than U.S. dollars. It appears that the only ATM’s are a few in Yangon that only accept credit cards issued in Myanmar. Therefore, you MUST take all of the money that you need with you, preferably in cash in U.S. currency, preferably in $20 bills or smaller.Credit cards appear to be accepted ONLY at the larger tourist hotels and a few high-end tourist gift shops.

Airports

On arrival at the airport go to the counter of the airline of your next flight and confirm your flight. They will manually check your name of the manifest for that flight. (Note: In Heho they actually took the flight coupon for the flight at that time)

On a recent trip to Myanmar on a combination of Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways involving six separate flights, all were exactly on time departing and arriving with one exception, which had everyone aboard and actually left 5 minutes early.

At some airports there are not security x-ray machines so you can expect to have your luggage checked manually. At Heho, there are no metal detecting wands and you will enter a small private room where you will be manually patted down.

Times From Airport

	Yangon……………….30 minutes
	Bagan…………………20 minutes
	Mandalay……………..1 hour
	Heho (Inle Lake)……..20 minutes to Heho, 1 hour to Nyaungshwe or Taunggy