Foreign Workers and Stay Permit Extensions

New rules for appointment and resignation of foreign experts

The Investment Monitoring Division of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (“DICA”) has issued an Announcement, which came into effect on 21 October 2017. The Announcement pertains to the appointment of foreign experts as senior management, technical experts or consultants.

In order for the appointment of a foreign expert to be approved, the Investor has to submit an application letter to the Myanmar Investment Commission (‘MIC”) within seven working days subsequent to the foreign national’s arrival. In addition, application for approval prior to the foreign expert’s arrival is also permitted.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned process could be subject to complications should a foreign expert resign before or after the appointed period. In such cases, the Investor will have to notify the MIC and submit a resignation letter, in addition to a copy of the air ticket, in order to obtain approval for the resignation.

Additional requirements for stay permit and visa extension

The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (“DICA”) has issued an Announcement, which came into effect on 21 October 2017. The Announcement pertains to companies applying for stay permits and visa extensions for members of the Board of Directors of foreign companies incorporated in Myanmar, as well as their family members; it also applies to foreign technicians, and their family members, employed by foreign or local companies.

The Announcement lists the information and documents required when applying for stay permit and visa extensions, in addition to a new requirement of submitting evidence of tax payment (Corporate Income Tax) by the company, professional qualification certificates of foreign technicians will be also required.

It should be noted that the application has to be submitted to DICA at least three weeks prior to the expiry date of the relevant visa. If submitted after the deadline, the application will not be accepted.