Myanmar Permanent Residency System for Foreigners in December

[SeaVisionBurma]

A permanent residency (PR) system for foreigners will be introduced, starting in the first week of December, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Immigration and Population.

From Myanmar Business Today - Author: Tin Mg Oo

The PR system will enable eligible foreign applicants to stay in Myanmar for five years, with a possibility of further extension.

More details, including criteria for the applicants and application fees, will be released when the system is launched, U Maung Maung Than, director general of the National Registration Department under the ministry, told Myanmar Business Today.

“By applying this system, we will attract more people as well as more investors to our country,” he said.

Read more here: http://mmbiztoday.com/articles/permanent-residency-system-foreigners-december

[razer]

Competition for expat $$$. Smart move.

[pchansmorn]

So does anyone think Thailand will do the same? Wouldn't it be Great if you didn't have to check in every 90 days, I mean Really we want to live here, but you just make us jump though the hoops every time, not many other countries treat expats like that. When will they catch up with the 21st century?

[webmaestro]

Naahh, Thailand will never be clever enough to do this, who will pay the installments on Immigrations officers expensive cars???

[TheSwede99]

How can you call a 5 year visa for permanent residency? I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

[davemos]

Cant wait really expensive hotels / house/ cond Great electric if you have generator no WiFi or 4g I Irish pub in Yangon And the best military junta in SE Asia But the people are great ...

[Time Traveller]

So does anyone think Thailand will do the same? Wouldn't it be Great if you didn't have to check in every 90 days, I mean Really we want to live here, but you just make us jump though the hoops every time, not many other countries treat expats like that. When will they catch up with the 21st century?

Thailand is a different country from myanmar and has seperate laws. So no I doubt it.

Regardless, the fact that a 3rd world country with poor roads and even poorer electricity service now offers permanent residence is meaningless if your desire is to live in a different country that does not..

[cnx101]

Yes iv worked with and known lots of Burmese people in the past, very nice easy people, it will be very tempting to go there.

[KamnanT]

So does anyone think Thailand will do the same? Wouldn't it be Great if you didn't have to check in every 90 days, I mean Really we want to live here, but you just make us jump though the hoops every time, not many other countries treat expats like that. When will they catch up with the 21st century?

Thailand already has Permanent Residency - applications are taken by the Immigration Bureau each year in the last week of December. In very simplistic terms, it requires 3 consecutive years of extensions of stay, evidence of the payment of income tax (preferably on a salary of >= 80,000 baht/month) and basic Thai speaking/listening/reading skills. Application fee is THB 7,600 and if granted, there is a fee of THB 191,400 for the residence certificate (THB 95,700 if married to a Thai or someone who already has PR).

[SeaVisionBurma]

How can you call a 5 year visa for permanent residency? I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

Can't see an issue with this unless you're just being really pedantic.

Most countries that offer a PR system have a limit on validity subject to meeting renewal requirements etc.

Nothing wrong with this announcement...

[SeaVisionBurma]

Nonsensical post removed

[nithisa78]

So does anyone think Thailand will do the same? Wouldn't it be Great if you didn't have to check in every 90 days, I mean Really we want to live here, but you just make us jump though the hoops every time, not many other countries treat expats like that. When will they catch up with the 21st century?

No doubt the host will plug into the 21st Century as soon as their guests do. My relationship has been 21st Century like,since the 20th Century. 90 days, buy a stamp.

[ColdSingha]

vietnam announced foreigners can buy landed home as well as condos today too

http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/property-management-news/2014/11/74228/vietnam-to-allow-foreign-ownership

[White Christmas13]

How can you call a 5 year visa for permanent residency? I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

You can laugh or cry it's up to you, my wife has permanent residency in Australia and has to renew it every 5 years

[Si Thea01]

Naahh, Thailand will never be clever enough to do this, who will pay the installments on Immigrations officers expensive cars???

Not real smart for your first post. Have never had to contribute any extra whenever I visit immigration, have you? Be careful if you have or anticipate in doing so as this is starting to be frowned on in many venues. Looks like your learning bad habits early.

Edited November 27, 2014 by Si Thea01

[ggt]

Wow...this could be a game changer...cause other SE Asian countries to rethink their punitive immigration laws...Thailand would benefit immensely by immigration reform to reward retirees in this country with less hassle and longer stays...

[davo2003]

I spent 6 years visiting Thailand, I like it there. But the retirement and visa situation is oddly punitive. Came to the Philippines and found that if you put 10,000 USD in the bank, show 1,000 USD monthly pension, you get permanent status. No check ins or other exorbitant fees. No 5 year expiration either. As a bonus, 99% of the people you deal with daily speak English and are generally very happy to see you.

[millwall_fan]

Burma is still in the infancy of its development, but its potential is huge - all those islands - currently mosquito and pirate infested will become tourist havens if handled properly, better than the over priced, over developed,jet-ski-scam ridden <deleted> holes that many Thai islands have become. A 5 year visa will certainly be competition for the expat dollars currently in Thailand. Many expats I know have relocated in the past 18 months, mostly to the EU (Spain particularly), most are only going because of Thailand's visa clampdowns, incompetent bureaucracy, military coups and rip-offs. I'm sure Burma will develop its own rip-offs - in time, but if it makes the Thais wake up and stop taking foreigners for granted, it can't be a bad thing!

[Christie Paul]

Consider it a race.

Some SEA countries like Burma didn't even start when Thailand was out of the gate with a running start and shifting nicely up to third gear and 3500 RPM.

Then all of a sudden...

Just when some backward countries a crawling forward, Thailand decides to pull a cunning stunt to throw everyone off.

Ever so slowly and carefully the Thai drivers, skilfully manoeuvre the gearbox into reverse.

And now at cruising speed, they are gently releasing the clutch.

[BestBitterPhuket]

How can you call a 5 year visa for permanent residency? I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

Same as the Singapore PR. 5 years and then reevaluate.

[balo]

So does this mean I can work as a digital nomad from Myanmar ?

[SeaVisionBurma]

So does this mean I can work as a digital nomad from Myanmar ?

Short, non time wasting answer - no.

Do some research on this. There will be a lengthy application process and a lot of criteria to satisfy before they will consider you for PR.

Surely you don't expect to simply get off the plane with your laptop one day, smile nicely, and stay for 5 years?

[godden]

Vietnam allowing falang to buy property, Myanmar 5 yr visa, what is Thailand going to offer?

[kinmaew]

Nice one but unfortunately LOS is exactly the opposite they will do everything possible to make it as difficult as possible for you to live and work in LOS. The result, well just look around you.

[monkey4u]

How can you call a 5 year visa for permanent residency? I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

It all depends on how old or sick you are when you apply

[gregk0543]

I live in Myanmar. Wait till the rules come out before getting excited.

We have to report and get an Foreigners registration certificate and cannot stay in private houses without permission on a business visa. I have a farm and cant stay there without permission and applying. So you have more freedom in Thailand and rents are cheaper and condos etc. Oh yes and our hospitals are pretty bad and electricity and internet and on it goes.

The main reason is to bring home Myanmar people who have lost Myanmar citizenship as they fled and moved to other countries and took up foreign citizenships.

Second is to allow teaching professionals to come and improve the education system.

So wait till you see the rules first this is not what you think it is. They want the people who can help the country develop and bring back the educated and experienced who left over last 50 years.

[Bernard Flint]

Vietnam allowing falang to buy property, Myanmar 5 yr visa, what is Thailand going to offer?

One can own property in Thailand, buy house in company name, multi 0 visa, stay 15 month, renew, marriage visa, retirement visa, visa if one has thai/non thai infant etc etc

[Bernard Flint]

I live in Myanmar. Wait till the rules come out before getting excited.

We have to report and get an Foreigners registration certificate and cannot stay in private houses without permission on a business visa. I have a farm and cant stay there without permission and applying. So you have more freedom in Thailand and rents are cheaper and condos etc. Oh yes and our hospitals are pretty bad and electricity and internet and on it goes.

The main reason is to bring home Myanmar people who have lost Myanmar citizenship as they fled and moved to other countries and took up foreign citizenships.

Second is to allow teaching professionals to come and improve the education system.

So wait till you see the rules first this is not what you think it is. They want the people who can help the country develop and bring back the educated and experienced who left over last 50 years.

Good post, it amazes me some of the claptrap spoken on here.I thought this forum had inteligent people, maybe you are the only one lol

[LivinginKata]

Vietnam allowing falang to buy property, Myanmar 5 yr visa, what is Thailand going to offer?

One can own property in Thailand, buy house in company name, multi 0 visa, stay 15 month, renew, marriage visa, retirement visa, visa if one has thai/non thai infant etc etc

Just to be clear ... 'one' if a non-Thai cannot own the land in Thailand. Sure, 'one' can own the structure on the land, or a Thai registered company can own the land.

[Anthony5]

Vietnam allowing falang to buy property, Myanmar 5 yr visa, what is Thailand going to offer?

One can own property in Thailand, buy house in company name, multi 0 visa, stay 15 month, renew, marriage visa, retirement visa, visa if one has thai/non thai infant etc etc

Just to be clear ... 'one' if a non-Thai cannot own the land in Thailand. Sure, 'one' can own the structure on the land, or a Thai registered company can own the land.

And additional that Thai registered company is not allowed to be registered for the sole purpose of owning land, so that weeds out the majority of foreigners who don't run a business in Thailand.