Guide on how to apply for a Myanmar Residence Permit

Do you work or live in Myanmar? If yes, you must start planning to apply for a Myanmar residence permit. However, you must first be sure you qualify and have all the required documents for a Myanmar residence permit.

Getting a residence permit in Myanmar qualifies you for some benefits, including an extended stay in Myanmar, multiple exits and entries from the country without needing a fresh visa, etc. In addition, the country’s capital, Naypyidaw, has a quiet and laidback vibe for people who want to get away from the busy, fast-paced life in a metropolitan city. It is one of Asia’s genuinely untapped gems.

Applying for a Myanmar residence permit can be a hassle without the proper guidance. However, this article will guide you with the relevant information and requirements.

About Myanmar

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is an East Asia Summit, a Non-Aligned Movement, an ASEAN, and a BISMTEC member country. However, despite gaining its independence from the British empire in 1948, Myanmar is not a member of the Commonwealth of nations. 

Myanmar shares its borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, Thailand, the Andaman Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon (Rangoon), and it is the largest mainland country in Southeast Asia, having a population of over 54 million.

Myanmar has a diverse range of indigenous cultures; the cultures of neighboring countries influence some. However, blessed with a quickly expanding economy and many natural resources, experts have said the country has more potential than most of its neighbors.

Myanmar Residence Permit

A Myanmar residence permit, or a Myanmar Permanent Residency permit, is a document that permits foreign nationals to stay in Myanmar for a long time, usually as the permit specifies. This permit is for foreign nationals who have stayed in Myanmar on a long-term visa, e.g., a work visa, for up to 10 years.

General Requirements for a Myanmar Residence Permit

Suppose you are a foreign national who has lived in Myanmar for up to 10 years of underpaid employment or paid labor. In that case, you can apply for a Myanmar residence permit under this category. The documents you need to apply include;

1. A completed Myanmar permanent residence application form with four copies that have all been signed.
2. An original Passport with at least six months validity with four copies of the photo page and four copies of the pages of visa & stay permit for three years in Myanmar, such as both arrival and departure stamps inside the passport by immigration control.
3. One original identity card and four copies.
4. One original medical certificate and four copies.
5. Three recent passport-sized photographs. They must be color photos; the acceptable dimension is 1.5 x 2 inches.

The documents required to apply for permanent residency in Myanmar differ based on your eligibility category. You can apply for Myanmar permanent residency under any of the following categories;

• Skilled worker or professional
• Foreign investor
• Ex-Myanmar resident
• A foreign relative of a Myanmar national

Additional documents for the Myanmar residence permit based on category include;

Skilled Workers or Professionals

1. An original Degree or Certificate of Qualifications with four copies
2. An original reference letter for work experience or service with four copies
3. An original letter of appointment for at least one year of service with four copies
4. A scanned CD of all the documents mentioned above, including right & left-hand fingerprints and the signature of the applicant

Foreign Investors

1. Four copies of the documents relating to company registration, valid license Form-6, 26, recommendation letter of Myanmar Investment Commission and Special Economic Zone Administrative Committee
2. A scanned CD of all the documents mentioned above, including right & left-hand fingerprints and the signature of the applicant

Ex-Myanmar Citizens

1. A recommendation letter from a sponsor in Myanmar
2. A copy of the applicant’s National Identity Card
3. An original Identity Card of the parents and grandparents with copies
4. A scanned CD of all the documents mentioned above, including right & left-hand fingerprints and the signature of the applicant

Foreign Relatives of a Permanent Resident in Myanmar

1. Four authentic notarized copies of the marriage license (must be over two years of marriage)  
2. A scanned CD of all the documents as mentioned earlier, including right & left-hand fingerprints and the signature of the applicant

Additional Documents for Applicant with Dependent Relatives

If you are applying for permanent residency in Myanmar and you are coming with your wife or dependent children (under 18 years of age), you need to submit the following documents as well;

1. A list of your family members
2. Your family members’ curriculum vitae, including their names, ages, and occupation
3. Birth certificate/marriage certificate for your children/spouse, respectively
4. Official proof of guardianship if your children are adopted

Procedure for Applying for Permanent Residency in Myanmar

The following steps are to be followed by anyone who wishes to apply for permanent residency in Myanmar:

1. Gather all the documents that you will need to submit in the correct order. The required documents are listed above for several categories of applicants.
2. Go to the immigration office or the Myanmar embassy and pay the application fee.
3. Complete the application form and submit it together with all the required documents.
4. The Implementation Central Committee will review your application and inform you in writing if your application for permanent residence is approved or denied.
5. If your application is approved, you have 60 days to obtain a permanent residence certificate from the day you are notified.

Alternatively, you can apply online at the Myanmar Embassy portal. The application, when duly filled, can be submitted in person at the embassy from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on a weekday. 

Cost of Applying for Permanent Residency in Myanmar

The initial cost for applying for a Myanmar residence permit is 500 USD, a non-refundable fee. You will receive a receipt on page 3 of your application form as evidence of payment. Every year, however, you will need to go and re-register your permanent residence certificate at the Myanmar immigration office. The annual registration costs are as follows;

• Foreign national: 1000 USD
• Ex-Myanmar national: 500 USD
• Dependent child: 300 USD

You must pay the dependent child renewal fee for each child; for two children would be 600 USD. Furthermore, permanent residence certificate renewal is free if the child is seven (7) years or younger.

Renewal of Myanmarese Residence Permit

Although the Myanmar residence permit is permanent, it only lasts five (5) years. Therefore, after five years, you need to go and renew it at the immigration office in Myanmar.

To renew your permanent residency in Myanmar, you will get a permanent residency renewal form, complete it, and sign it. Then, you will take all the other documents you used for your initial application, along with your old residence card, and apply to the immigration office. After that, the process is essentially the same.

You must apply no later than 90 days before your current residence permit expires. 

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. Does Myanmar allow dual citizenship?

No. Myanmar doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. Regarding this, there is an option for ex-Myanmarese, i.e., people who renounced their Myanmar citizenship to another country, to apply for permanent residency again. 

#2. How many types of passports are there in Myanmar?

There are nine types of passports issued in Myanmar. They are

• Business passport – PB
• Dependent passport – PT
• Job passport – PJ
• Religious passport – PR
• Seaman passport – PS
• Student passport – PE
• Visit passport – PV
• Diplomatic passport – PD
• Official passport – PO

#3. Which country is visa-free for Myanmar?

Myanmar passport holders have visa-free and visas on arrival access to 45 destinations. Some are Kenya, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Iran. As a permanent resident in Myanmar, you will be allowed visa-free entry to some of these countries. However, that will depend on their policies.

#4. Do people speak English in Myanmar?

Myanmar English, also called Burmese English, is the register of the English language used in Myanmar. It is spoken as a first or second language by about 2.4 million people. That is about 5% of the population.

#5. Is it safe to work in Myanmar?

Myanmar’s security situation is unstable and subject to change at any time. In Myanmar, there is still a state of emergency in effect. Also, there is widespread conflict and violence in many of its states and regions.

#6. What is the cost of living in Myanmar?

The cost of living in Myanmar is, on average, 53.33% lower than in the United States. Rent is also significantly lower, an average of 59.41% lower than in the United States.

Conclusion

Since gaining its independence, Myanmar has been plagued by endemic ethnic conflict and one of the world’s longest-running civil conflicts. In addition, due to the present state of emergency in the country, anybody attempting to immigrate to or become a citizen of Myanmar must exercise great caution. If you’ve considered all this and still want to apply for permanent residency in Myanmar, this article contains a complete list of the prerequisites for beginning your application.

See also: Study in Canada from Myanmar – Full Guide.