I’m not sure why, but the rumor that it is impossible for Americans to travel to Myanmar or get a visa to Myanmar has become very popular among international travelers. In fact, you can get a visa to enter Myanmar right in Bangkok, which is where most Myanmar-bound travelers originate.
All you need to get a Myanmar visa in Bangkok is a few documents, two passport-sized photos, a passport with six months remaining validity and about 900 Thai baht.
Required Documents for Myanmar Visa
Application for Myanmar Visa
The first requirement for getting a Myanmar visa in Bangkok is, not surprisingly, an application. At the moment it isn’t possible to download this form online, so you can simply obtain one once you get to the embassy. The application asks for pretty standard personal and professional information, as well as the reason you want to visit Myanmar and your planned itinerary there.
The application also asks for your occupation, which some travelers believe is intended to trick journalists, human rights activists and other individuals whose personal philosophies or professional inclinations might act counter to Myanmar’s ruling junta. If you aren’t sure whether your actual occupation will subject you to increased scrutiny, just write something harmless like “Accountant” or “IT Specialist.”
Flight Itinerary and Passport Photos
Technically speaking, you also need a copy of your flight itinerary and at least one hotel reservation in Myanmar. I wasn’t personally asked for either of these documents, but it’s a good idea to print them out and bring them with you just in case. You also need two passport-sized photos with a white background, which you can have taken at a photo booth at any mall in Bangkok, such as the MBK center.
Myanmar Visa Fee
The cost for obtaining a Myanmar visa in Bangkok is 830 Thai baht, payable only in Thai baht. The Myanmar embassy in Bangkok is a bit primitive, so I would recommend you bring exact change if possible. Since the price I’m quoting was last valid as of December 2010, you might want to bring 900 or even 1,000 baht just in case.
The Myanmar Embassy on Sathorn Road in Bangkok
Location and Hours of Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok
The Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok is located in the city’s cosmopolitan Sathorn district, right on the main Sathorn Road. Specifically, the address of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok is 132 Sathorn Road. Take a taxi to this specific address or, more preferably, the Bangkok skytrain to Surasak station of the Silom line. Take exit 3 and make an immediate U-turn. You will see the Myanmar embassy on your left after about 600 feet.
The embassy is open from 9 a.m. to noon and then from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Since lines are often long inside, I recommend you getting there are close to 9 as possible if you want to hand in your paperwork before noon. If the line is too long for you to be served before noon, you will be told to wait until after one. If you can’t make it before 11 a.m., do yourself a favor and just wait until 1.
The Myanmar visa itself. Pretty, huh?
Your Myanmar visa should be ready the next day after 1 p.m., although the associate who takes your paperwork can give you a more specific time. The visa takes up a full page of the passport and has the passport-sized picture you gave the embassy printed into it. It’s kind of cool.
Myanmar Travel Tips
Money in Myanmar
Did you know that there are no ATMs everywhere in Myanmar and that the only way to get local currency is to exchange mint-condition U.S. dollars with black market money changers? Now you do. For more information on this subject, read my article “How to Exchange Money in Myanmar.”
Things to Do in Myanmar
I’m going to assume you’ve done at least some research on things to do and places to visit Myanmar if you’re planning a trip there. If you haven’t, I’ve got plenty of inspiration for you. After you arrive and get settled in the capital of Yangon, you can explore the city’s Shwedagon Pagoda, a massive gold monument that dates back to the time of the original Buddha. Headed north to the city of Mandalay? Don’t miss out on the heritage town of Inwa or the rickety Amarapura bridge.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
