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Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

Country Description:

Burma (Myanmar) is an underdeveloped agrarian country ruled by an authoritarian military regime. The country’s government suppresses all expression of opposition to its rule. The Government of Burma has announced that it will hold nationwide elections on November 7, 2010, the first such elections in Burma in two decades.

After a long period of isolation, Burma has started to encourage tourism. As a foreigner, you can expect to pay more than locals do for accommodations, domestic airfares, and entry to tourist sites. Tourist facilities in Rangoon, Bagan, Ngapali Beach, Inle Lake, and Mandalay are superior to tourist facilities in other parts of the country, where they are limited or nonexistent. Please note that you should travel with sufficient cash to cover your expenses for the duration of your visit. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are not accepted anywhere, and ATM machines are nonexistent in Burma. (See “Currency” and “U.S. Treasury Sanctions” below.) Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on Burma for additional information.

Registration/EMBASSY LOCATION:

If you are going to live in or visit Burma, please take the time to tell our Embassy in Rangoon about your trip. If you check in, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link to the Department of State’s travel registration page

Local Embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.

The U.S. Embassy is located at 110 University Ave., Kamayut Township, Rangoon. The Consular Section telephone number is (95-1) 536-509, ext. 4240; email consularrangoon@state.gov. Travelers may visit the U.S. Embassy website at http://burma.usembassy.gov/. The after-hours emergency number is 09-512-4330, or (95-1) 536-509, ext. 4014. The Consular Section is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 p.m., with non-emergency American Citizen Services from 2:00 to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday except on U.S. and Burmese holidays.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State list of embassies and consulates

Entry/Exit Requirements:

The Government of Burma strictly controls travel to, from and within Burma. Since October 1, 2006, Burmese authorities have often prohibited entry or exit at most land border crossings, unless the traveler is part of a package-tour group that has received prior permission from the Burmese authorities. You must have a valid passport and visa to enter Burma. You should apply for your Burmese visa at a Burmese embassy or consulate abroad before you arrive in Burma. Please note that on August 23, 2010, the Government of Burma informed the U.S. Embassy that starting on September 1, 2010, it will suspend its "Visa on Arrival" program, which had been in effect since May 2010.

In Burma, you will be required to show your passport with a valid visa at all airports, train stations, and hotels. Security checkpoints are common outside of tourist areas.

Burmese authorities rarely issue visas to persons with occupations they deem “sensitive,” including journalists. Many journalists and writers traveling to Burma on tourist visas have been denied entry. Journalists -- and tourists mistaken for journalists -- have been harassed. Some journalists have had film and notes confiscated upon leaving the country.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

You can get information about entry requirements as well as other information from the Burmese Embassy’s (Embassy of the Union of Myanmar) website, 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone 202-332-4350 or the Permanent Burma Mission (Mission of Myanmar) to the U.N. 10 East 77th St., New York, NY 10021, (212-535-1311) 212-744-1271, fax 212-744-1290.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Burma.

You can find general information about dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

Threats to Safety and Security:

When traveling in Burma, you should exercise caution, register with the U.S. Embassy, and check in for an update on the current security situation. Nobody is better at protecting yourself than you are. Take some time before you leave on your trip to think about ways to stay safe while overseas. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad. While in Burma, you should carry your U.S. passport or a photocopy of passport data and visa pages at all times so that if you are questioned by Burmese officials, you will have proof of your U.S. citizenship readily available.

On April 15, 2010, a series of explosions occurred near a crowd of revelers at a Water Festival celebration in Rangoon, killing at least ten and wounding as many as 170. On April 17, 2010, several explosions occurred at a dam construction site in Burma's northern Kachin State, killing four and injuring 12. On April 27, 2010, a man detained at a police station in Kayah State detonated a bomb, killing himself and wounding at least three policemen. These bombings follow other sporadic bombings throughout Burma over the past several years. There is no indication that such attacks -- including the recent spate of explosions -- targeted U.S. citizens or U.S. interests. The Government of Burma has not identified the perpetrators of these attacks.

In September 2007, the Government of Burma brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators, using gunfire, rubber bullets, batons, and tear gas against them and nearby observers. The authorities killed at least 30 people during the crackdown and arrested more than 3,000. On September 27, 2007, security forces shot and killed a Japanese journalist in the Sule Pagoda downtown area during a demonstration. The Government of Burma has a standing law, which is selectively enforced, that bans all gatherings of more than five people.

Burma experienced major political unrest in 1988 when the military regime jailed or killed thousands of Burmese democracy activists. In 1990, the military government refused to recognize the results of an election that the opposition won overwhelmingly. Major demonstrations by opposition activists occurred in 1996 and 1998. In May 2003, individuals affiliated with the Burmese regime attacked a convoy carrying opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Sagaing Division; dozens were killed or injured.

Conflicts between the government and various ethnic minority groups continue in a number of border regions in Burma, and anti-personnel landmines in some border areas pose an additional danger. Occasional fighting between government forces and various rebel groups has occurred in Chin State and Sagaing Division near India and along the Thai-Burma border area in Burma's Shan, Mon, Kayah (Karenni) and Karen states. From time to time, the governments of Burma and Thailand have closed the border between the two nations on short notice.

In light of these incidents and the possibility of political unrest surrounding Burma's nationwide elections scheduled to be held on November 7, 2010, you should exercise caution in public places at all times. Be alert to your surroundings and the presence of unattended packages or bags or suspicious objects/activity in public areas. Furthermore, avoid crowded public places, such as large public gatherings, demonstrations and any areas cordoned off by security forces. Do not photograph or videotape the military or police, because Burmese authorities might interpret these actions as being provocative may question and/or arrest you. Given the Government of Burma's restrictions on travel by U.S. diplomats, U.S. Government assistance to U.S. citizens affected by incidents in remote areas of Burma may be difficult. While in Burma, you should follow closely media reports and public information about the security situation in Burma.

U.S. citizens have been detained, arrested, tried and deported for, among other activities, distributing pro-democracy literature and visiting the homes and offices of Burmese pro-democracy leaders. If you take photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest, you may have problems with authorities. Burmese authorities have warned U.S. Embassy officials that those who engage in similar activities in the future will be jailed rather than deported, although this has not yet occurred.

In the past year, the Government of Burma has deported a number of U.S. citizens engaged in teaching and training programs in Mandalay and other locations in Upper Burma. In some cases, the individuals were sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. Although their activities were apolitical, their deportations demonstrate the Government of Burma’s sensitivity to activities by foreigners. Burmese authorities often did not inform the Embassy of these deportations, nor did they give the individuals an explanation for their deportations. However, in subsequent discussions with the Embassy, Burmese authorities stated that some of the deportations were due to the visitors' violation of the terms of their Burmese visas. The authorities told us that in one case, a U.S. citizen was detained, questioned and "asked to leave Burma" because of her boyfriend’s political activities in the United States. If you travel to Burma, and especially those traveling to Mandalay and remote regions of the country, you should be aware of these potential risks and make informed choices about your travel and activities in Burma.

Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.

You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

CRIME:
Crime rates in Burma, especially toward foreigners, are lower than those of many other countries in the region. Nevertheless, partly because of the poor economic situation in Burma, the crime rate has been increasing. Violent crime against foreigners is rare.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootleg items illegal in the United States, but purchasing them may also be illegal under local law..

Victims of Crime:
If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). If your passport is stolen we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and help you get money from them if you need it. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

Criminal Penalties:
While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. While you are overseas, U.S. laws don’t apply. If you do something illegal in Burma, your U.S. passport won’t help get you out of trouble. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. Criminal penalties vary from country to country. In Burma, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. It is illegal to take pictures of Burmese officials and certain buildings, such as military installations and government buildings. Be aware that some activities that might be legal in the country you visit could be illegal in the United States, such as buying pirated goods or engaging in child pornography, and you could be prosecuted under U.S. law for engaging in these activities.

Some foreigners have been denied even minimal rights in criminal proceedings in Burma, especially when suspected of engaging in political activity of any type. This includes, but is not limited to, denial of access to an attorney, denial of access to court records, and denial of family and consular visits. The criminal justice system is controlled by the military junta, which orders maximum sentences for most offenses.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Foreigner Travel within Burma: Burmese authorities require that hotels and guesthouses furnish information about the identities and activities of their foreign guests. Burmese who interact with foreigners may be compelled to report on those interactions to the Burmese authorities. Security personnel may at times place foreign visitors under surveillance, and you should assume your actions, such as meeting with Burmese citizens, particularly in hotel lobbies and rooms, are being closely monitored. You should assume that telephones and fax machines are monitored and that your personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched.

You will not generally be required to obtain advance permission to travel to the main tourist areas of Mandalay and the surrounding area, Bagan, Inle Lake, Ngapali and other beach resorts. However, some tourists traveling to places where permission is not expressly required have reported delays due to questioning by local security personnel. Additionally, the military regime restricts access to some areas of the country on an ad-hoc basis, and in 2005 the regime stated it could not guarantee the safety of foreigners traveling in eastern Shan State, specifically in Wa territory, also known as Special Region 2. If you plan to travel in Burma, you should check with Burmese tourism authorities to see whether travel to specific destinations is permitted. Even if the Burmese authorities allow travel to specific destinations in Burma, you may not be safe traveling in those areas.

Wherever you travel in Burma, you should be careful to respect the differences between the United States and the Burmese culture and customs.

Dual Nationals: Burmese authorities reportedly require former Burmese citizens to inform the Burmese Government about their acquisition of U.S. citizenship, surrender of their Burmese nationality, and the change of address associated with their move to the United States. They also demand surrender of any National Registration Card or National Scrutiny Card, which the Government of Burma uses as evidence of citizenship. On occasion, Burmese authorities have detained and pursued criminal proceedings against Burmese-Americans who have returned to Burma on U.S. passports and who have also had in their possession evidence of Burmese citizenship, such as a National Registration Card. If you have both U.S. and Burmese citizenships, you should check with the Burmese Embassy in the United States prior to your travel to Burma to be sure you are not at risk of arrest if you travel to Burma. According to Burmese Embassy officials in Washington D.C., Burmese citizens will automatically lose their Burmese citizenship if/when they attain another country’s citizenship.

Irrawaddy Delta Region: On May 2, 2008, Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma’s Irrawaddy Delta region and surrounding areas, killing over 130,000 people. Like other areas of Burma, the Delta region is still without many basic necessities. The United Nations, ASEAN, and other members of the international community, including the United States, continue to provide international relief assistance to assist communities recovering from the storm. Rangoon, Burma’s most populous city, and other areas outside of the Irrawaddy Delta are recovering. Electrical power and water supply have been restored in most areas and markets are now operating normally.

Customs Regulations: Customs regulations in Burma are restrictive and strictly enforced. Customs authorities closely search travelers’ luggage upon their arrival and departure from Burma. It is illegal to enter or exit Burma with items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medications, business equipment, currency, gems, ivory, and other restricted items. On several occasions in the past two decades, foreigners have been detained, searched, and imprisoned for attempting to take restricted items out of the country.

Customs officials also strictly limit what items are brought into the country, including pornography and political material or literature critical of the regime or supportive of the opposition, all of which are banned. Travelers have also reported problems bringing in high-tech electronic devices and equipment, ranging from toys to computers. The military regime has never provided a complete list of prohibited import items. For information on restricted items for import into Burma and specific customs’ requirements, please contact the nearest Burmese embassy (Embassy of the Union of Myanmar) or the Embassy in Washington DC, which is located at 2300 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008, tel:: 202-332-4350. You may also contact Burma’s Mission in New York located at 10 E. 77th Street, New York, NY 10021, tel. 202-535-1310, or 212-535-1311, fax 212-744-1290. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal, and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. Please see our information on Customs Regulations.

Computers, Internet, and Email: The military regime carefully controls and monitors all Internet use in Burma and restricts Internet access through software-based censorship that limits the materials individuals can access online. The government has allowed cyber cafes to open, but access to the Internet is very expensive, and access to most “free” international e-mail services such as Hotmail and Yahoo is prohibited. Currently, Gmail (Google mail) accounts can be accessed in Burma, and many locals and resident expatriates use it. It is illegal to own an unregistered modem in Burma. You may bring one laptop computer into Burma, but you must declare it upon arrival. Limited email service is available at some large hotels. All emails are subject to monitoring by Burmese security services. It is very expensive to send photographs via email. One foreign visitor was presented a bill for $2,000 after transmitting one photograph via a major hotel's e-mail system. During September and October 2007, the military government disconnected all internet access across the country for extended periods of time.

Consular Notification and Access: U.S. consular officers do not always receive timely notification of the detention, arrest, or deportation of U.S. citizens. In addition, Burmese authorities have on occasion refused to give Embassy consular officers access to arrested or detained U.S. citizens. If you are arrested or detained, you should request immediate contact with the U.S. Embassy. Please carry your U.S. passports with you at all times, so that if questioned by local officials, you have proof of identity and U.S. citizenship readily available.

Should an emergency arise involving the detention of a U.S. citizen, especially outside of Rangoon, U.S. Embassy personnel may not be able to assist quickly because travel inside Burma can be slow and difficult. The Burmese authorities do not routinely notify the U.S. Embassy of the arrest of U.S. citizens and have obstructed regular access by U.S. consular officers to U.S. citizen detainees.

Photography: Burmese authorities prohibit the photographing of military installations or people in uniform, and if you take photos f these subjects, authorities could arrest you or confiscate your cameras and film. Avoid photographing anything that could be perceived by the Burmese authorities as being of military or security interest—such as bridges, airfields, government buildings or government vehicles.

Telephone Services: Telephone services are poor in Rangoon and other major cities and non-existent in many areas. Calling the United States from Burma is difficult and extremely expensive.

Currency: Executive Order 13310, signed by President Bush on July 28, 2003, imposed a ban on the exportation of financial services to Burma. Traveler’s checks, credit cards, and ATM cards can rarely, if ever, be used. Although moneychangers sometimes approach travelers with an offer to change dollars into Burmese kyat at the market rate, it is illegal to exchange currency except at authorized locations such as the airport, banks and government stores. It is also illegal for Burmese to possess foreign currency without a permit. Foreigners are required to use U.S. dollars, other hard currency, or Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC) for the payment of plane tickets, train tickets and most hotels bills. Burmese kyats are accepted for nearly all other transactions.

In recent months, U.S. financial institutions have increased scrutiny of online financial transactions taking place on Burmese Internet providers. The result has been that bank accounts of some U.S. citizens working or traveling in Burma have been frozen. To avoid this potential problem, customers of U.S. banks should avoid online banking while using a Burmese Internet Service Provider (ISP). Those who believe their accounts have been subject to similar restrictions in error are asked to contact the Consular Section of U.S. Embassy Rangoon.

U.S. Treasury Sanctions: As of August 27, 2003, U.S. Treasury sanctions ban the import of almost all goods from Burma into the United States. This ban includes Burmese-origin products such as gifts, souvenirs and items for personal use, even if carried in personal luggage. These sanctions are part of a much larger U.S. sanctions regime for Burma, which includes a ban on new U.S. investment among other measures. For specific information, contact the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) home page or via OFAC's Info-by-Fax service at 202-622-0077, or by phone toll-free at 1-800-540-6322.

Medical Facilities and Health Information:

Medical facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical care. There are few adequately trained medical personnel. We recommend that you have medevac insurance in case you need to be transported to a regional medical center for emergency care. You can purchase medevac insurance online that will provide for emergency transport should you experience a serious injury or illness. Most foreign drugs on sale in Burma have been smuggled into the country, and many are counterfeit or adulterated and thus unsafe to use. Travelers should bring adequate supplies of their medications for the duration of their stay in Burma. HIV/AIDS is widespread among high-risk populations, such as prostitutes and illegal drug users. Malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases are endemic in many parts of the country.

In early 2006, throughout 2007, and again in early 2010, brief avian influenza outbreaks resulted in the death of domestic poultry and some wild birds. In December 2007, the World Health Organization and Burmese Ministry of Health confirmed Burma’s first case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. If you travel to Burma and other South Asian countries affected by avian influenza, we caution you to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any other surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. There were no reported human cases on H5N1 during the 2010 outbreaks.

You can find current information about avian influenza A (H5N1) and pandemic influenza on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/ or at AvianFlu.gov. For additional information on avian influenza as it affects U.S. citizens residing abroad, see the U.S. Department of State’s Avian Influenza Fact Sheet.

Good Information on vaccinations and other health precautions can be found via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Burma. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.

Medical Insurance:
You can’t assume your U.S. health insurance will be valid in Burma. You should make sure you have valid health insurance that covers overseas medical expenses before you arrive in Burma. You may need to be evacuated from Burma for even routine or simple illnesses or health complications. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

--Does my policy apply when I’m out of the U.S.?

--Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions:

While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Burma is provided for your general reference only, and may not be accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Rangoon's main roads are generally in poor condition. Traffic in the capital is increasing rapidly, but heavy congestion is still uncommon. Some roads are in serious disrepair. Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles, animals, and heavy pedestrian traffic create numerous hazards for drivers on Rangoon's streets. If you drive in Burma, you must remain extremely alert to avoid hitting pedestrians.

Most roads outside of Rangoon consist of one to two lanes and are potholed, often unpaved, and unlit at night. Many of the truck drivers traversing from China to Rangoon are believed to drive under the influence of methamphetamines and other stimulants. Drunken and/or drugged drivers are also common on the roads during the four-day Buddhist water festival in mid-April. Driving at night is particularly dangerous. Few, if any, streets are adequately lit. Most Burmese drivers do not turn on their headlights until the sky is completely dark; many do not use headlights at all. Many bicyclists use no lights or reflectors.

Vehicular traffic moves on the right side, as in the United States; however, a majority of vehicles have the steering wheel positioned on the right. The “right of way” concept is generally respected, but military convoys and motorcades always have precedence. Most vehicle accidents are settled between the parties on site, with the party at fault paying the damages. In the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the driver is always considered to be at fault and subject to fines or arrest, regardless of the circumstances. Accidents that require an investigation are concluded quickly and rarely result in criminal prosecution. There is no roadside assistance and ambulances are not available. Vehicles generally do not have seat belts. Child car seats are also not available.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:

As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Burma, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Burma’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA safety assessment page

The U.S. Embassy in Rangoon has advised its employees to avoid travel on state-owned Myanmar Airways, as well as on Air Bagan, whenever possible due to serious concerns about the airlines’ ability to maintain their airplanes.

Children’s Issues:

Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information Sheet dated May 19, 2010 to update the sections on Country Description, Entry/Exit Requirements, Threats to Safety and Security, Crime, Criminal penalties, Special Circumstances, Medical Facility and Health Information, and Medical Insurance.
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