Myanmar Visa for Australian Citizens

Getting your Myanmar visa as an Australian citizen: where to apply, photo and documents requirements, visa costs and processing times.

The Myanmar visa may seem confusing to visitors who spend a lot of time in other South East Asian countries. Whereas in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore most nationalities enjoy free visa travel, it’s somewhat different in Myanmar. Tourists have to get their Myanmar tourist visa in advance and face more restrictions and costs. This article describes everything you need to know about getting a visa for Myanmar for Australian nationals.

Myanmar Visa on Arrival

Unfortunately, the Myanmar visa on arrival isn’t available for Australian citizens. But, it’s quite straightforward to apply in advance either online or at the embassy. You can then enter Burma without any difficulties.

Myanmar e-Visa

Australians are eligible to apply for the Myanmar e-Visa, which involves filling in an online visa form and making a payment of $50 USD. This is the quickest and most convenient way for getting Myanmar visa in a short space of time. Basically, you need to upload a colour photograph that abides by their strict guidelines, provide a local address, and pay. An approval letter is sent within three business days and you’re ready to go.

How to Get a Visa for Myanmar

Below is a checklist on how to get a visa for Myanmar using the online e-Visa system:

1) Book your accommodation (registered hotel, hostel, or resort
2) Check out the Myanmar visa photo size requirements and upload a colour photograph
3) Complete the online form and pay the $50 fee
4) Print your approval letter

Where to Apply for a Visa to Myanmar in Australia?

The only place where you can apply for a tourist visa in Australia is at the Myanmar Embassy in Canberra (a link to the website is in the essential resources below). One of the advantages of doing it at the embassy is that you have more flexibility. The e-Visa is only useful for tourists and business travellers.

You can choose from a selection that best suits your needs including getting an education, journalist or social visa. Most apply for a Myanmar tourist visa, so let’s have a look how.

The short way to describe this relatively complicated process is to say that you need to fill out a few forms, provide a colour photograph, and post these off with your passport. Return flights from your home country, as well as evidence of your hotel, are also required. You can find out exactly how you can do this by following the link in the resource section below.

The visa should be processed within three business days, which means you can expect it to take up to a week or perhaps longer.

A few things you should be aware of when applying for the Myanmar visa at the embassy:

The total cost is A$60.
You need to send your application or apply in person more than four weeks before you plan to travel.
Payment is tricky. You can only pay with cash (in person) or use a bank or company cheque. Personal cheques will be rejected.
The visa office opens between 9.30 am and 3 pm.
Be aware that the visa office will close for public holidays in Myanmar.

Things to Be Aware of Regarding the Myanmar Visa Requirements

The visa policy in Myanmar is different from other countries in the region. There are certain parts of the country that you’re not allowed to visit without getting official permission from the government. This includes large regions of Shan State, Rakhine State, and a number of other places in a state of conflict. See the section on Myanmar visa resources for a link to the places foreigners are prohibited to visit.

In Myanmar, it’s also against the law for tourists to stay in a residential address. It’s one of the strange customs that the government imposes on foreigners. This means that you have to book your accommodation at registered hotels and resorts that include some, but not all, hostels, guesthouses, and B&B’s.

You cannot stay with a friend or use house sharing platforms such as Airbnb. If a residential address is on your visa application, it’s probably going to be rejected. And if you’re caught staying in the wrong place, the authorities have the right to detain you.

Is it Possible for Australian Citizens to Apply for a Myanmar Visa in Other Countries?

Australians can apply for a Myanmar tourist visa in any country where there’s a representative embassy. Most travellers who get visa free entrance in South East Asian countries may decide they want to visit Myanmar. You need to follow the same steps as applying for the visa in Australia. More often than not, in Thailand, you can get your visa much faster at the embassy than online.

Can Citizens of Other Countries Apply for Myanmar Visa in Australia?

Again, anyone can get a Myanmar visa by visiting an embassy. Since the only one is in Canberra, it may be difficult to go there in person. And if you’re travelling around, you can’t exactly post off your passport. The best bet is to just pay the $50 and get an e-visa. The section above describes how to apply for an e-Visa.