Myanmar (Burma) visa options for United Kingdom passport holders
Tourist / short stay
e-Visa
Apply for a visa online before travelling.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Myanmar (Burma)
Rules described here are written for general foreign (non-Myanmar) nationals; exact eligibility, fees and visa-on-arrival access vary by nationality, so always verify against your own passport.
- Most nomadsTourist
Tourist eVisa (short-stay)
28 days, single entry, non-extendable
- Insurance
- Recommendednot required. Official sources do not list travel/health insurance as an entry mandate, but cover is strongly advised given limited local healthcare and high medical-evacuation costs. A widely repeated ~USD 30,000 cover figure appears only on commercial sites, not official ones, so treat it as guidance and carry proof to be safe.
- Good for
- Leisure travellers from 100+ eligible nationalities applying online before arrival
- Requirement
- Online application at the official portal (evisa.moip.gov.mm), passport valid 6+ months, recent photo and proof of accommodation; approx USD 50 fee; eVisa approval letter valid 90 days from issue, processing min. 3 working days.
- Business
Business Visa / Business eVisa
Single-entry Business eVisa: up to 70 days per entry, extendable via the official eStay service. Multiple-entry (3/6/12-month) business visas available via embassy.
- Insurance
- Recommended. No confirmed legal insurance mandate for issuance; travel/medical cover strongly advised.
- Good for
- Business travellers attending meetings, conferences or professional visits; also the de-facto route most foreign workers use while a work permit is arranged
- Requirement
- Invitation letter from a Myanmar company plus company registration documents; passport valid 6+ months. Business eVisa approx USD 70 (single entry). Available online or via embassy; business visa-on-arrival exists for around 52 nationalities at major airports (varies, verify).
- Work
Employment Visa + Work Permit / Stay Permit
Typically a 1-year stay permit, employer-sponsored and renewable; often paired with a multiple re-entry permit for international travel
- Insurance
- Recommended. No confirmed statutory health-insurance requirement found for the permit itself; private medical cover strongly advised for long-term residents.
- Good for
- Foreign nationals taking up employment with a Myanmar-registered employer
- Requirement
- Employer sponsorship; a separate Work Permit (employer registered with the Ministry of Labour) plus a Stay Permit processed via DICA; applicant generally needs a recognised qualification and employer recommendation letter. Many enter first on a Business Visa, then convert. Processing approx 3-5 weeks (varies, verify).
- Study
Education / Student Visa
90 days, extendable on evidence; multiple-entry (3-month to 1-year) options exist for longer programmes
- Insurance
- Required. No confirmed mandatory insurance requirement found; medical cover advised for the duration of study.
- Good for
- Foreign students and academic visitors enrolled at recognised Myanmar institutions
- Requirement
- Admission/invitation from a recognised institution and supporting documents; issued by embassies/consulates (fee roughly USD 50 single entry, up to USD 160 for 1-year multiple entry; varies). Not available as a standard eVisa.
- Residence
Social Visit Visa
28 days (4 weeks) from arrival, extendable at the Immigration Department in Yangon; visa valid 3 months from issue
- Insurance
- Required. No confirmed mandatory insurance requirement found; private cover advised.
- Good for
- Former Myanmar citizens, foreign spouses of Myanmar/ex-Myanmar citizens, and their children visiting or staying with family
- Requirement
- Proof of the qualifying family relationship or former-citizenship link; issued via Myanmar embassies/consulates. Closest route to a family/long-stay option - there is no retirement, investor or digital-nomad visa.
- Transit
Transit Visa
Short transit, commonly cited as 24 hours / one day; non-extendable (verify with the embassy)
- Insurance
- OptionalNot required for the short transit itself, though personal travel cover is still advisable.
- Good for
- Travellers transiting Myanmar en route to a third country
- Requirement
- Onward ticket and valid visa/entry for the onward destination; issued by embassy. Eligibility is limited and nationality-dependent.
General guidance only, not immigration or insurance advice. Visa rules, fees and insurance expectations change frequently and vary by nationality and port of entry; always confirm with the official Myanmar eVisa portal (evisa.moip.gov.mm) or your nearest Myanmar embassy before you travel. Last checked: 2026-06.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Myanmar (Burma), your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
United Kingdom → Myanmar (Burma): frequently asked
- Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit Myanmar (Burma)?
- e-Visa. Apply for a visa online before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a United Kingdom passport holder live or work long-term in Myanmar (Burma)?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Myanmar (Burma) has 6 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Myanmar (Burma)?
- Entry to Myanmar (Burma) never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Myanmar (Burma) visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.