Myanmar Visa On Arrival

Myanmar Hotel & Tourism Ministry in coalition with Immigration Department is issuing visa-on-arrival (VOA) for tourists. But, it's pre-arranged through a registered travel agent or tour operator under condition that you must have* a package from a registered tour operatorMay I take this opportunity to explain? Here goes the actual processsssssss.....Zzzzzzz...

Step I
The tour operator (in other word, the guarantor) fills in the paper (in fact 3 same applications) with complete info (mention under) plus passport photo on it. Application is attached with the detailed itinerary (it's the one you have bought from the tour operator), official cover-letter attentioned to the Minister, the guide CV & the bank proof for the package income, etc. They are all sent to Napyidaw (the new capital) 320 km to the north of Yangon. Under information is needed for application
- 2 passport size photo
- full name- gender
- father name- nationality
- race
- religion
- passport no
- issue date
- date of birth
- place of birth
- occupation
- full mailing address
- entry date
- arrival flight and time

Step II
(it takes a week or more after the applications arrive the Tourism Ministry)An authorized person (Minister/Deputy Minister/or the like...) signs at the bottom & send only 2 original applications back the travel agent in Yangon. In fact, the Ministry never send those applications to Yangon. A representative from the travel company has to go and fetch it. Otherwise, the applications shall be put away in the corner and be neglected.

Step III
The-above-two-original-approved-applications are, again, sent to the Immigration Department in Yangon. Here we also need official cover-letter attentioned to the Director of Immigration Department, detailed itinerary again and the passport details. It's likely to take a week, if not, two days at least. The fact is that they only have meeting bi-weekly (Tuesday, Thursday) to decide it. Then, applications are checked if their names are in the black-list. Immigration may reject those applications found in their system. But, most approved! You are 99.99% sure to have your application approved unless you are directly implicated in Myanmar pocitical movements druing the past few years. Finally, they will have it signed and keep both 2applications while the tour operator has to photocopy them.

Step IV
The photocopid applications continue going to the International Air Line you are to board. Submit a copy of the application authorized by Hotel and Tourism Ministry & Immigration Dept (done in step II and III). Then, the Air Line checks the booking and record the VOA arrangement in their computer system. They might give the local tour operator a print-out. But, sometimes not. Passenger name will appear when they check in at the airport. Tourists apparently have nothing to do. Just check in on the deck and go. For tour operator, the petty things go on by forwarding a copy of application each to

- Air Line Security Task Force
- Immigration in-chargeat Yangon International Airport before 1 or 2 day ahead of the arrival date disseminating one ream of paper in hand.

Generally, the VOA application is processed approximately 2 perhaps 3 weeks before your arrival. It's not suggested to do it 3 or 4 months ahead!!! Here is the reason. Should the application is submitted too early, authorities shall assume you have enough time to do it by yourself either in your country or in the neighboring countries where there is Myanmar Embassy or Consulate.

Well...that's how the VOA works in Myanmar. I even don't go into details as it might confuse and rack your nerve.SO INEXTRICABLE....????

But, "this is Burma" Kipling once said "it will be quite unlike any other land you know about."Good luck, buddies!