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[Boycie]

Many thanks sabaijai.

Just waiting now for someone to post up to date information on obtaining a tourist visa.

Does a Thai national with a Thai passport still need a visa?

Boycie.

[Pseacraft]

Dang, i wish I knew before that they were doing VOA for everyone on a test basis.  I just missed the chance to go see Bagan with my Burmese girl.  Dang!  I'll have to watch for it to resume, which I hope it does!!!!  So difficult to get a Tourist visa when the closest embassy is in KSA.

[Boycie]

For anyone making the trip to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to obtain a tourist visa, these are the forms we had to fill out, as of the middle of September 2010.

Might save yourself a bit of time to print and fill them out before you go.

 A4 Application for Entry Tourist Visa (Large).jpg   71.04K   88 downloads  A4 Work History (Large).jpg   52.31K   91 downloads  A5 Report of Arrival (Large).jpg   53.53K   55 downloads

The 'Report of Arrival' is A5 size the other two forms are A4.

Address 132 Sathorn Nua Rd, Silom. Nearest BTS Station "Surasak" Exit 3. Bottom of stairs turn right, walk along pavement under Skytrain station. Pass the escalator entance, if not your going the wrong way. Walk up Sathorn Road 300 metres until Thanon Pan. Few metres down side road on the right is the entrance.

Hope you enjoy Myanmar like i did.

Boycie.

[rak sa_ngop]

Boycie, on 2010-10-13 14:50:04, said:

For anyone making the trip to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to obtain a tourist visa, these are the forms we had to fill out, as of the middle of September 2010.

Might save yourself a bit of time to print and fill them out before you go.

A4 Application for Entry Tourist Visa (Large).jpg A4 Work History (Large).jpg A5 Report of Arrival (Large).jpg

The 'Report of Arrival' is A5 size the other two forms are A4.

Address 132 Sathorn Nua Rd, Silom. Nearest BTS Station "Surasak" Exit 3. Bottom of stairs turn right, walk along pavement under Skytrain station. Pass the escalator entance, if not your going the wrong way. Walk up Sathorn Road 300 metres until Thanon Pan. Few metres down side road on the right is the entrance.

Hope you enjoy Myanmar like i did.

Boycie.

If you approach the embassy on Pan Road coming from Silom Road, there is a travel agent on the left hand side run by a Burmese couple (closer to Silom Road than Surawong Road). Here you can buy your air tickets and make hotel reservations paying for your room in Baht or USD, thus saving the need to carry extra cash into Myanmar. E.g Thamada hotel was 25 USD per night last year (incl great breakfast), the same rate as you would pay directly in Yangon. Most of these budget hotels will not take credit cards.

[javel]

Update, correction and comments to earlier posts for tourist visa .......and more.

Visa from Embassy in Bangkok:
- From Oct.1 3 pictures are needed, not 2 as earlier.
- White background on pictures, I was turned away with pictures with grey background!
- Express service (next day visa) is possible for 225 baht extra (810 baht 2 days, 1035 baht 1 day)
- Visa valid for entry 1 month from issue.
- Valid for 28 days stay in Myanmar.
- Express visa service is up to the embassy officer. The guy ahead of me in line got 2 fingers out of the service window explaining 2 days wait. I got express service by asking polite with a smile.

Taxi from airpost 6 US$ ( to airport 5 US$)
Going exchange rate at the front page of www.irrawaddy.org
New 100$ bills, not with "broken head" (folded) as they call them, get this rate at the jewellers at the market.
(bills with "broken head" will be exchanged at 3000 kyat less than the going rate.)
market closed on mondays, then good place to change is at the tea/coffee shop on the right hand side of Central hotel (talk to a waiter, or better the cashier), expect 2000-3000 kyat less than from the market.
For more "fun" change at "good rates" on the street, and see if (how) you get cheated.
With the currently lousy exchange rate of 870 kyat to 1$, you can in many situations be better off by paying in US$. Since the exchange rate mostly has been at more than 1000 kyat for 1$ the last years, the not so professional market is kind of "set at" 1000 kyat = 1$ (currently you win on this).

Book hotels from a tourist agent in Myanmar (internet). Because of the monetary situation you won't have to pay ahead, so if something happens with your trip in the last minute you won't lose any money.
Your phone dont work in Myanmar, no ATM's or credit cards, internet generally dont work. For email use google mail, others, hotmail etc. are blocked in Myanmar.

(Got the "runs" twice, and that was from eating at that crappy "farang" cafe next to the maket/FMI building, where you will see all the white people. Eating at local south indian foodstalls at 1/5 of the price with food looking dicey, but tasting good, worked out well.)  

J!!!

[WarpSpeed]

Can someone enlighten please/ As an American is there any illegalities with going there under the current sanctions? And second is driving there possible??

[diggers]

went to Yangon and Bagan on VOA just b4 sept - really loved the country, especially the people... stayed near Sule pagoda in Yangon for $6 per night.. in Bagan $4..  want to go back soon, but need VOA to start up again... "elections" now over - any word when VOA will be resurected anyone??

[gotlost]

WarpSpeed, on 2010-11-01 12:06:30, said:

Can someone enlighten please/ As an American is there any illegalities with going there under the current sanctions? And second is driving there possible??

No illegalities for USA Citizens. As for driving Myanmar does not allow foreigner to drive into or around Myanmar. You will need an escort.

[WarpSpeed]

gotlost, on 2010-11-14 04:54:58, said:

WarpSpeed, on 2010-11-01 12:06:30, said:

Can someone enlighten please/ As an American is there any illegalities with going there under the current sanctions? And second is driving there possible??

No illegalities for USA Citizens. As for driving Myanmar does not allow foreigner to drive into or around Myanmar. You will need an escort.

Thank you.....

[TBWG]

diggers, on 2010-11-14 00:35:51, said:

went to Yangon and Bagan on VOA just b4 sept - really loved the country, especially the people... stayed near Sule pagoda in Yangon for $6 per night.. in Bagan $4..  want to go back soon, but need VOA to start up again... "elections" now over - any word when VOA will be resurected anyone??

Any news anyone? Tried googling it but not much info at present.  Need local input!


TBWG

[sabaijai]

How about regular tourist visas obtained from the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok? Are they currently being issued as usual?

[jaideeguy]

Has the VOA situation into Burma returned to normal and is the political situation any better since the elections??

[gotlost]

jaideeguy, on 2011-01-30 09:20:44, said:

Has the VOA situation into Burma returned to normal and is the political situation any better since the elections??

Pretty sure the answer is yes. Check out this site.                                  http://www.air-bagan.org/. They are flying two days a week from CNX to Yangon and have information on the VOA. I thank their Office i on Chang Klan Road. across from the Shangri La.

[anothertorres]

this is the info i see regarding a US citizen residing in Thailand to get into Burma:

Apply for a visa to Myanmar in person at the nearest consulate of Myanmar in Thailand. Please note that the application procedures and fees may vary depending on where you apply. If there is no Myanmar consulate in Thailand there might be a consulate of Myanmar in one of the neighboring countries that covers the jurisdiction of Thailand.

any one been there lately can confirm the VoA is still DoA?

also, any one been to Bagan lately?  do you have experience of how you got from Yangon to Bagan?

[andy]

Does anyone have any recent news on the visa-on-arrival situation?  I've got a flight to Yangon in June and I'll need to sort out visas soon if there is still no visa-on-arrival.

Last time I visited the embassy on Sathorn road (2007), I was in and out in 20 minutes.  Is it still fairly hassle free there?

[andy]

I couldn't find any info on VoA, so I assume it is still suspended.

The procedure at the embassy on Sathorn has changed somewhat, for the better.  You now only have to fill in one double-sided form (last time I was there it was 3 separate forms of various sizes).  Then you take the form to the window with 2 photos, a copy of your passport (can do at the embassy) and your money.  That's it.  There was no queuing system in place as there was no queue - seems like very few people are going to Myanmar at the moment.  Picked it up 2 days later.

The photos need to have a light background because the embassy now scans it directly into your visa.

[seanocasey]

Link I posted was "Hacked" will try and obtain updated.

[CarlHaywood]

Are the forms the same as the ones that had been posted earlier on this thread? Thanks

andy, on 2011-06-08 18:17:47, said:

I couldn't find any info on VoA, so I assume it is still suspended.

The procedure at the embassy on Sathorn has changed somewhat, for the better.  You now only have to fill in one double-sided form (last time I was there it was 3 separate forms of various sizes).  Then you take the form to the window with 2 photos, a copy of your passport (can do at the embassy) and your money.  That's it.  There was no queuing system in place as there was no queue - seems like very few people are going to Myanmar at the moment.  Picked it up 2 days later.

The photos need to have a light background because the embassy now scans it directly into your visa.

[anothertorres]

can anyone give me an update on the status of Visa on Arrival?  any one flown into Yangon lately?

[tombkk]

anothertorres, on 2011-09-23 13:56:30, said:

can anyone give me an update on the status of Visa on Arrival?  any one flown into Yangon lately?

I already have a visa for my flight tomorrow, but I will look out upon arrival. Actually, I don't think so, because it would have been in the news if VOA had been restarted.

[tombkk]

There is s booth marked "Visa on arrival" at Yangon airport, staffed with two officials. One was free, so I asked whether I could get a VOA next time, and he sais YES. However, this has to be pre-arranged, he has a list of names.

How to get on that list for the day? He said the travel agencies arrange that with his ministry.

That's all he knew, maybe a travel agent reading this can shed more light.

Oh, and the other official was busy with two Westeners who were getting their Voa, so it does work.

[djayz]

tombkk, on 2011-11-28 00:24:05, said:

There is s booth marked "Visa on arrival" at Yangon airport, staffed with two officials. One was free, so I asked whether I could get a VOA next time, and he sais YES. However, this has to be pre-arranged, he has a list of names.

How to get on that list for the day? He said the travel agencies arrange that with his ministry.

That's all he knew, maybe a travel agent reading this can shed more light.

Oh, and the other official was busy with two Westeners who were getting their Voa, so it does work.

I haven't been to Myanmar yet, but I 'm thinking of going in early January (and if not to Myanmar, then to the Philippines).
This list you mentioned, the one with the names for VOA. It appears travel agents arrange this with the ministry in question. Does this mean everyone going to Myanmar has to book through a travel agent?
I've been looking for info on the net about Myanmar's VOA but turned up with lots of overly-priced "experts". Is it possible to apply for the VOA at the embassy in BKK?

[tombkk]

djayz, on 2011-12-01 15:18:44, said:

tombkk, on 2011-11-28 00:24:05, said:

There is s booth marked "Visa on arrival" at Yangon airport, staffed with two officials. One was free, so I asked whether I could get a VOA next time, and he sais YES. However, this has to be pre-arranged, he has a list of names.

How to get on that list for the day? He said the travel agencies arrange that with his ministry.

That's all he knew, maybe a travel agent reading this can shed more light.

Oh, and the other official was busy with two Westeners who were getting their Voa, so it does work.

I haven't been to Myanmar yet, but I 'm thinking of going in early January (and if not to Myanmar, then to the Philippines).
This list you mentioned, the one with the names for VOA. It appears travel agents arrange this with the ministry in question. Does this mean everyone going to Myanmar has to book through a travel agent?
I've been looking for info on the net about Myanmar's VOA but turned up with lots of overly-priced "experts". Is it possible to apply for the VOA at the embassy in BKK?

If you want a visa on arrival, you go to a travel agent.

If you are willing to go to the embassy, get a (real) visa. It took me about 15 minutes to apply, and two days later I had the messenger pick up my passport. Then you have it in your passport and don't need to worry about anything at arrival.

[Ratsima]

^So, you're saying that you don't have to pick up the visa in person? I live in Korat and do not want to stay in Bangkok for three nights just to pick up the visa. If permitted, I'm sure my wife's law office can find someone to pick it up for me.

I figure I'll go down one late afternoon and hope for an "Express" visa the next morning. If that doesn't pan out I'd like to avoid staying in Bangkok the extra two days.

[Ratsima]

I got a same-day visa yesterday. There are a few changes:

• The visa section is now open for applications only from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Afternoons are only for pickup.
  
• Same-day visas cost 1260 baht. Next-day visas cost about 1000 baht. Two day visas cost about 800 baht.
  
• You need a good reason to get a same-day visa. They were ready to decline my request because I'm not traveling until May. When I explained that I live in Korat and was returning that day they changed their mind.
  
• The "Report of Arrival" form is no longer required.
  
• Only two photos are required; one glued to the application form and one loose or paper-clipped to the form.
  
• Visa pickup time is from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
  
• The normal tourist visa is single entry, valid for three months and good for a 28 day stay.
  
• The Work History portion of the form (on back of the application) now only asks for current employment and one previous period of employment.
  
• A queue system is in effect. I arrived at 8:00 AM. About 40 people were in line. When the door opens you line up at one window where you show your completed form and are given a queue number. You then sit down and wait for you number. When called you pay and turn in your form and passport. (If you don't have a form, grab one from the front counter and fill out while you're waiting.)
  
• When you return for pickup, stand in line at the appropriate window (regular, express or business), show your receipt (you saved it, right?) and pick up your passport. Don't forget to review the visa before you leave.