Myanmar: visa and entry rules

Myanmar's borders: every crossing point

Myanmar's land border crossings, grouped by the neighbour they lead to:

With Thailand: Myawaddy - Mae Sot, Tachileik - Mae Sai, Kawthaung and Htee Khee on the southern route.
With China: Muse - Ruili, the country's main trade crossing.
With India: Tamu - Moreh.
With Laos: Xiengkok.
With Bangladesh: Maungdaw.

Opening hours at the crossings change without warning. The border areas are affected by armed conflict and the posts close and open according to the situation, so an overland route cannot be planned.

Muse is the main trade corridor into China, but it is practically inaccessible to tourists.

Real-world entry goes through the airports of Yangon and Mandalay.

Driving to Myanmar

Transit of foreign cars through the country is effectively closed. That is precisely why an overland car route from Russia to Thailand cannot be put together: Myanmar breaks it in the middle.

An organised crossing is possible - with a permit arranged in advance through a local agency and with an escort. It is expensive and takes months to agree.

An International Driving Permit is mandatory.

Traffic drives on the right, yet most cars in the country are right-hand drive - an awkward combination, and a dangerous one when overtaking.

Travelling to Myanmar with a pet

A permit from the veterinary service is required, arranged in advance.

A rabies vaccination and a veterinary certificate are mandatory.

The paperwork process is complicated, and there is little infrastructure for animals in the country - people rarely plan a trip here with a pet, and not without reason.

Overstaying your visa in Myanmar

The fine is charged per day and is paid in dollars on departure.

A long overstay ends with detention pending investigation and an entry ban.

Breaching the rules on restricted areas is a separate offence, and a more serious one than an expired stay.