Permanent Residency System for Foreigners by October: Minister

[SeaVisionBurma]

NAYPYIDAW — A permanent residency (PR) system for foreign nationals will be implemented by October of this year, Burma’s immigration chief said last week.

From The Irrawaddy by May Kha

“We will allow a PR system in four months, not later than October. The duration of permitted stay will start with a five-year term,” Minister of Immigration and Population Khin Yi told The Irrawaddy, adding that foreigners would be able to extend residency upon expiration of their five-year stay in the country.

The Ministry of Immigration and Population will invite foreigners and evaluate their applications based on a prioritization of the country’s needs, Khin Yi said.

The system will take a four-tiered approach in weighing candidates, with the forthcoming framework for permanent residency based in part on a study of the systems in place in other Asean member states and Europe.

“We will invite intellectuals and technicians, which the country needs. Secondly, [we] will invite investors. Third, former Burmese citizens. Finally, we will also accept Burmese citizens and his or her extended family who have studied abroad or went abroad for various other reasons,” Khin Yi said.

Read the full article here: Permanent Residency System Expected Within 4 Months

[DagonKhan]

That 4th category seems somewhat ambiguous to me, I wonder if they will include foreigners married to Myanmar nationals? My understanding is that spouses currently only get 6 months officially, in practice that appears not to be the case at all as far as I have heard.

[onthemoon]

Five years is not exactly permanent, but it is a good first step.

Sent from my A 8+ using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Pralaad]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

[Pralaad]

Five years is not exactly permanent, but it is a good first step.

Sent from my A 8+ using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's not but as OP states after the 5 years you can extend to another 5 Edited June 11, 2014 by Pralaad

[DagonKhan]

What they say and what they actually do are two entirely separate things.

As I alluded to above, the Immigration Ministry printed a press release in the newspaper last year concerning foreigners married to Myanmar citizens being entitled to an "automatic" 6 month visa that could be renewed indefinitely, they even provided instructions on how to go about it. Follow those instructions and you're told by the officials on the ground that they've never even heard of it! To the best of my knowledge the situation has not changed either and we're a year on.

[Joe Mamma]

Very clever and smart. Canada started a program many years ago to attract the professional peoples from Hong Kong and other nations. It is a very successful program that attracts people who have things to offer the country, not be a burden for those working and not bringing problems to the new country. The USA, oh well, what a disaster!

[richard10365]

Immigration is a science that if properly executed, labor shortages can be properly managed.

About the 3rd category (former Burmese citizens) and 4th category (also Burmese citizens), I believe it is referring to Burmese citizens (as is mentioned in the opening post) who in the past may have been blacklisted from entering the country for "whatever reason" and have made a life for themselves abroad. What's seems odd to me is they refer to them as Burmese citizens but are included as a category which need to apply for permanent residency. Burmese citizens should not have to apply permanent residency. Are they now 2nd class Burmese citizens? Why would anyone come back to Burma if they are automatically going to be discriminated against?

Perhaps the announcement might read better if it said people of ethnic Burmese decent who are now citizens of another country and who wish to return....etc.

Either way, I think this is good for Burma (Myanmar) and wish them the best of luck.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Nonsense off topic post removed. Please keep it related to the OP thanks.

[janpharma]

Wake up, Thailand !!!

[Lupatria]

Wake up, Thailand !!!

LOS - Land Of Sleepers?

[JO1973]

Very clever and smart. Canada started a program many years ago to attract the professional peoples from Hong Kong and other nations. It is a very successful program that attracts people who have things to offer the country, not be a burden for those working and not bringing problems to the new country. The USA, oh well, what a disaster!

A country with a small population like Canada needs people because it can't fill those positions on its own whereas the USA has never had that problem. And as far as the US being a disaster, just remember you said that the next time they create the latest innovation which everyone else imports.

[gregk0543]

Great news. I am glad that they are taking steps to improve this situation and I am sure that it will be of benefit to a lot of people.

I look forward to the real details.

It is a great step forward also for those Myanmar Nationals who for whatever reasons in the past have left to go overseas and took up other citizenships.

People can be as cynical as they like, but there are genuine moves here to move the country forward and this reform is one step forward away from the isolationist policies of the past.

Last time I looked at the visa regulations on social visit visas allow spouse of Myanmar Nationals to get a visa and stay in Myanmar.

You get a 28 day social visit visa, then can extend for 3 months, 6 months and then 1 years.

If you leave the country you start this process all over a again.

Then you have Foreigners Registration Ceritificates and registering with local authorities.

It has been like this forever.

The Myanmar embassy in Bangkok has updated its website with all this information on different visas that are current.

http://www.myanmarembassybkk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ME-BKK-VISA-Infor.pdf

Edited June 12, 2014 by gregk0543

[janpharma]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

[kinmaew]

They sound a lot more amenable to foreigners than LOS that is for sure. May check it out I heard there are good teaching opps over there but can be bureaucratic; its good to know that if LOS pi***** us off to much their neighbouring countries have some good work and live options..

[stickylies]

@ BV: regarding -> http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/733607-permanent-residency-system-for-foreigners-by-october/#entry7959115

my link works perfect on my pc ?

[poweratradio]

Hong Kong to Canada and Canada a small population for 2nd largest country in the world? How does this relate to the Burmese immigration topic? BTW the Hong Kong migration to Vancouver caused the bidding up of for sale houses and now Vancouver is one of the 3 most expensive cities in the world. It did not work well for Canada and now the gov has made it harder to immigrate there.

[332]

Will the Rohingya people qualify?

[Oceanbat]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

Pensioners are not productive and don't pay tax

OB

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Pralaad]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

That is a wonderful picture of a pensioner you have painted.

Those with sufficient funds do not retire to Thailand .

There is a reason why so many whine when price of beer goes up by 5 baht.

As for healthcare, if pensioner described by you was so "sufficient" no doubt he/she could afford health insurance instead of expecting hosting country to provide affordable cheap care

[332]

Being in my 30's and being in the region for the rest of my life, it's always nice to see the open desire for progression in places like Burma, Cambodia and Laos.

I have a feeling that in 20 yrs time when I am in my 50's, they will be much nicer than Thailand to live in.

Edited June 12, 2014 by 332

[pumpuy]

My Thai wife gets a 5 year residence card in the country where we were living ,( that can be renewed indefinitely after ) , she also gets social security and of course the right to buy property and sell just as a native .

She does not work , she is married to me , that's all she needs ...

Thailand should not treat all Farangs the same , why don't they do a criminal background check for somebody who applies for a long term visa , as they do in Malaysia .

Some Farang who wants to retire in Thailand and brings in money to support thai economy , should get a fairer treatment by the Thai authorities ...?

[belg]

they just started to be a bit democratic and baaaam... 5 years permanent residency, instead of the yearly begging trip to immigration and 90 day jail reporting

Edited June 12, 2014 by belg

[DamienG]

It would be good for the Thai economy and for the genuine farangs who want to make Thailand home if they followed in the line of Burma. I always wonder why Thailand does not do this for good tradesmen i.e. Electricians, telecommunications technicians, carpenters, plumbers etc. at least they would have a proper functioning network. I know the pay would not be as good as they are probably use to, but it's all relative.

[Pralaad]

It would be good for the Thai economy and for the genuine farangs who want to make Thailand home if they followed in the line of Burma. I always wonder why Thailand does not do this for good tradesmen i.e. Electricians, telecommunications technicians, carpenters, plumbers etc. at least they would have a proper functioning network. I know the pay would not be as good as they are probably use to, but it's all relative.

Because if they did, most if not all Thai's would be out of work in any of the fields you mentioned.

Naturally, Thainess would not allow them to learn the skills from the stupid foreigners, so best not to allow them in eat all.

Got to love the Jack of all trades master of none attitude in Thailand

[Naam]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

Pensioners are not productive and don't pay tax

good to know that the 7% tax i spend on goods and services and employing four people full time is not productive.

get a life man

[Oceanbat]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

Pensioners are not productive and don't pay tax

good to know that the 7% tax i spend on goods and services and employing four people full time is not productive.

get a life man

It's the way they look at it.

OB

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Pralaad]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

Pensioners are not productive and don't pay tax

good to know that the 7% tax i spend on goods and services and employing four people full time is not productive.

get a life man

You are not a pensioner and do not live off the pension.

Do not call turn a bag of potato's into banana's

[ericthai]

They sound a lot more amenable to foreigners than LOS that is for sure. May check it out I heard there are good teaching opps over there but can be bureaucratic; its good to know that if LOS pi***** us off to much their neighbouring countries have some good work and live options..

I wouldn't be counting my chickens just yet. They said they are giving visa's they didn't say what hoops you need to jump through to get that visa.

Also I dont think Burma is at the same level of creature comforts as Thailand more on par with Cambodia but I do expect that will change rapidly.

One Poster said Thailand should do the same. Thailand provides visas now which are not hard to get. I have had a visa and work permit for over 15 years with never a problem getting it renewed. I know plenty of other ex-pat engineers, teachers etc that never had a problem getting a visa. The problem in Thailand is people that are not working under the age of 50 not being able to get a visa and some low cost language schools that don't follow the rules and force their staff to work illegally.

I think Burma is going to be the same as Thailand if you have a degree and can bring something to the county they will give you a visa. If you just want to go there to live and not going to work it might be a problem.

[janpharma]

Call me crazy but if Burma continues on this path it will leave Thailand behind.

Burma is doing everything to attract business people, money and people with skills.

Thailand doing everything to attract pensioners and people with no skills.

Sorry to bring Thailand into Burmese topic, but seems all countries in the region looking to attract the right people, only Thailand looks for ways to make it harder for the same people

I don't see what's wrong with "pensioners"...they bring and spend their pension in to Thailand, build houses,buy cars, take care families and make it possible to (often) Thai children to have a proper education and help them learnig to speak English.

Thai should think about that, make it more convenient, think about offering a health care system at reasonable cost for expats etc...etc...etc...

That is a wonderful picture of a pensioner you have painted.

Those with sufficient funds do not retire to Thailand .

There is a reason why so many whine when price of beer goes up by 5 baht.

As for healthcare, if pensioner described by you was so "sufficient" no doubt he/she could afford health insurance instead of expecting hosting country to provide affordable cheap care

Did I mention "cheap healthcare"? No, Sir, I mentioned "reasonable"...