Stranded in Myanmar?- How to Extend Your Stay in Myanmar in Light of Covid-19

With new travel documentation requirements, flight cancelations, and closed borders, many have found themselves stranded in Myanmar. From tourists forced to extend their holidays, residents with stay permit to business visitors running close to expiry of their 70-day business visas, they all faced the same issue – how does one stay in Myanmar legally and extend the visa?

The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration came to the rescue by issuing instructions relating to “Relaxation of Visa Extension Processes During COVID-19 Crisis.”

The said process applicable to all types of business visas with at least five days left before the expiry date appears to be simplified and requires fewer documents than the regular one.

Additionally, if the person is not able to provide the required evidence of expertise, a birth certificate for a child, or a marriage certificate for a spouse, it can be substituted with a recommendation letter issued by the employer’s company for the time being.

Furthermore, the Department of Immigration and National Registration’s Division of Immigration and Naturalization, located on Pansodan Street in Yangon, is also assisting foreigners who entered Myanmar on a travel visa with its extension, provided that they can support their application with a recommendation letter issued by their relevant embassy.