Bangkok > Ranong > Kawthaung > Yangon > Tachileik > Chiang Rai - Visa Options

[myauq]

Hello Everyone,

It's been a long time since I lived in Myanmar and Thailand, and I'm a bit out of the loop in regards to visas and travel.

I'm from Australia, and I'll be travelling to Thailand and Myanmar, and back to Thailand (between November 2015 to February 2016). I'll arrive in Bangkok from Australia in late November, and I want to hang out in Ranong for a month. I know the Thai tourist visa on arrival won't be a problem, but here's the rest of my planned itinerary:

1 month in Thailand (Bangkok, but mainly staying in Ranong)

6 weeks in Myanmar (entering Kawthaung, travelling throughout the country)

1 month in Thailand (entering Chiang Rai from Tachileik)

Here are my questions:

- What's the best option in regards to getting the Myanmar tourist visa - apply online, at Bangkok, or just at the office in Kawthaung?

- Will it be a hassle entering Chiang Rai from Tachileik (or another land border in Shan State) from Myanmar? Will the overstay fees be a problem (it's never been a problem for me when exiting from Yangon airport)?

- Or is it possible to get some kind of overstay permit with the Myanmar tourist visa (I'm guessing not).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Roota]

Can't help with your specific questions but I can recommend Vega Travel on Suk Soi 11/1 who specialise in visas to Burma. Years ago they managed to get me one after I was repeatedly rejected for being on some sort of journalist blacklist. I've used them ever since and they've been great.

[nithisa78]

Contact the embassies.

[phuketrichard]

1st

what the hell will u do in Ranong for a month> hang out with Burmese fishermen>

U cant stay in Burma 6 weeks, Visa is for 28 days stay and than ur at $3/day overstay and possible jail time

You can get a Burmese visa online ( $50) but its only valid if u fly in.

If u want cross from Ranong to Kwathong ( boat across is 50 baht/seat) an than travel throughout Myanmar u need a visa from an Embassy

the visa u can get on arrival at Kwathong ( $10) is ONLY valid for 2 nights and u must stay in Kwathong and cant leave .

[craigt3365]

Sorry to bug you, Richard. But I'm leaving in a week and still trying to get the definitive answer on the visa. If you fly in, can you get it on arrival? Or best to do it online before just in case?

Thanks!

[phuketrichard]

NO u can not get it on arrival, as i told u before, There is NO VISA ON ARRIVAL

u apply for it online in advance; http://evisa.moip.gov.mm /

done it 3 times

pay ur $50

they will approve you within 3 days ( mine usually take only 2)

u print out the page

and when u check in they ask for it at the airport

arrive an just line up at the immigration line

no full page stamp only a enter stamp an exit stamp

valid for 90 days from issuance for a 28 day stay

U better dam right give us a report on the trip LOL

[craigt3365]

Thanks! On that other thread, somebody (I think) said you could get a visa on arrival. Others said NO. LOL!

I'm going to do a very leisurely trip. NO advanced planning. Just cruise around. And your suggested itinerary is what I'm basically going to follow!

I'll do updates to the best of my ability....

[onthemoon]

Thanks! On that other thread, somebody (I think) said you could get a visa on arrival. Others said NO. LOL!

I'm going to do a very leisurely trip. NO advanced planning. Just cruise around. And your suggested itinerary is what I'm basically going to follow!

I'll do updates to the best of my ability....

There is "visa on arrival" at Yangon airport, but it has to be pre-arranged:

http://www.mip.gov.mm/portfolio/the-required-terms-and-conditions-for-visa-on-arrival/

So, that is very different from just showing up at the airport or land border and applying for a visa then.

[phuketrichard]

that is NOT a visa on arrival it is a per-arranged visa

Cambodia / Laos have voa's (Thailand for some nationalities-- those that are not able to get a visa exempt)

there not the same

[myauq]

1st

what the hell will u do in Ranong for a month> hang out with Burmese fishermen>

U cant stay in Burma 6 weeks, Visa is for 28 days stay and than ur at $3/day overstay and possible jail time

You can get a Burmese visa online ( $50) but its only valid if u fly in.

If u want cross from Ranong to Kwathong ( boat across is 50 baht/seat) an than travel throughout Myanmar u need a visa from an Embassy

the visa u can get on arrival at Kwathong ( $10) is ONLY valid for 2 nights and u must stay in Kwathong and cant leave .

That's classic - yes I love Burmese fishermen

I'm writing a book, so I just want a nice quiet place to focus on my writing away from tourists. I speak very fluent Burmese, so I actually do like Burmese fishermen (but prefer the folksy, flirty chit-chat with the ladies at the markets). My Thai is on the up, so I'm guessing Ranong is a good place to practice that too.

After reading your advice I stopped being lazy this time and just applied for the Myanmar visa here in Australia. As much as I like chatting with the embassy staff in Bangkok, and as much as they like chatting with me (one of the fine girls there has my number), I hate the bullshit and the waiting around. So I'm guess that with the Myanmar visa I can just hop on the Kawthaung boat, get the visa checked and be on my way through Myanmar?

As for the overstay..

You're right. Every one of my last visits to Myanmar has been an overstay, but I've always stayed in Yangon in places I've booked before hand. I know it's illegal, but I usually just chat with the immigration guy at the airport - 'what did you have for breakfast?' kind of chat, and he just offers me some food and I give him the money. I've never left the country at the border on an overstay, so I might change my plans to mitigate the risk - i.e. just travel the country first, then hang out in yangon with a flexi-ticket.

Thanks for the info - that's very helpful.

[myauq]

I just found out that I can apply for a double entry tourist visa for Thailand, if I apply at an embassy or consulate. Am I right in thinking this will not only give me two opportunities to enter Thailand on the same visa, but also enable me to stay for up to 60 days per entry? I've never applied for one of those before.

If that's the case then it makes sense to stay in Thailand a bit longer (travel to a few more of those beautiful towns by the coast), and just limit my trip to Myanmar to avoid the overstay. So now that I have my tourist visa for Myanmar, here are my questions:

- Will the Thai double entry tourist visa allow me to stay for 60 days?

- Can I enter Myanmar via Kawthaung with my tourist visa already in my passport, and use that as the starting place for my 4 week adventure?

Thanks again.

[phuketrichard]

double entry;

valid for two stays of 60 days each ( which can be extended for 30 days for 1,900 at immigration in Thailand on each entry)

so really u get almost 6 months.

After Nov 13th there will be a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa as well.seems to be replacing the double an triple tourist visa

Yes, but u will need the Myanmar tourist visa issued from an embassy.

[ehs818]

We're wanting to go ove rto Tachilek from Mai Sai next month. Just to check it out and shop, etc. I have a Thailand Retirement Visa and a Multiple Entry/Exit Visa here. My question is this: Can I go over just for the day without having to get the full Visa for Myanmar? Can I get it right at the border? How does that work?

Thanks

[phuketrichard]

yes, a new crisp $10 bill will get u into Country and u must be out by 5 pm

also u will be stamped in an out

U mean u have a 1 year Retirement EXTENSION> not a visa and

a multi re entry permit.

[RichCor]

...here's the rest of my planned itinerary:

1 month in Thailand (Bangkok, but mainly staying in Ranong)

6 weeks in Myanmar (entering Kawthaung, travelling throughout the country)

1 month in Thailand (entering Chiang Rai from Tachileik)

Are parts of this itinerary going to be done by plane?

I've not heard of many foreign travelers making the trip through the eastern Shan State overland to Tachileik because of ongoing conflicts along the way. You'd need to acquire a special permit and possibly have a guide if travelling from Kengtung. I believe most tourists travelling through Myanmar will schedule a domestic flight to Tachileik from Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake->Heho, or Mandalay->Kyaing Tong [Kengtung].

Would be interesting to hear of your trip adventures.

Edited October 18, 2015 by RichCor

[jphasia]

Thanks! On that other thread, somebody (I think) said you could get a visa on arrival. Others said NO. LOL!

I'm going to do a very leisurely trip. NO advanced planning. Just cruise around. And your suggested itinerary is what I'm basically going to follow!

I'll do updates to the best of my ability....

Visa on arrival are only for business visa. You need a LOI and company papers. You get a 70 days single entry business visa.

[Too]

G'day mate,

Have you got a Thai visa with a double-entry and a Myanmarese visa

in OZ yet?

If not, one of your best bets would be to arrive in Thailand on a 30-day

visa-exempt entry, apply for a 28-day Myanmarese visa in Bangkok,

enter Myanmar via Kaw Thaung from Ranong, come back to Thailand

via Mae Sai on a 15-day visa-exempt entry (The Aussies can only get

15 days to stay in Thailand if they enter the kingdom by land) and extend

it for 30 days at the immigration offices for 1,900B.

You could also apply for a 60-day visa at the Thai Embassy in Yangon

for US$40 (approximately 1,400B) and come back to Thailand on it.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/en/services/33445-Tourist-Visa.html

Edited November 9, 2015 by Too

[myauq]

hey everyone,

that's for the great advice. i've got the double entry for thailand, and the single tourist entry for myanmar - so no faffing around at the bangkok embassy!

i've also heard of the difficulties of going through shan state via land, so i might give that a miss this time. there are plenty of other things i'd like to do instead.

however, i still just have one concern - i heard a rumor that it's not possible to enter myanmar via ranong/kawthaung with the regular 4 week tourist visa. is that right? if anyone could confirm or give an update that would be appreciated.

thanks again.

[Briggsy]

How do you intend to get to Tachilek?

[craigt3365]

A good chunk of Shan State is off limits to foreigners. I think you can get up to Lashio, but that's as far as you can go that way. I also think Taunggyi is as far as you can go when heading east on that highway. Have to fly from there. I was just there and tried to go that route, but no way.

You can apply for permits to go to places like Bhamo, but it takes time, money and not a sure thing. I was on the train with a bunch of troops headed to Lashio to fight the rebels. Seems things have flared up a bit. Unfortunately.

[Briggsy]

Craig, that is exactly what I was driving at. Thanks for the precise details.

And if OP did fly to Tachilek (the only option to get there), would it be a permitted exit point from Myanmar? If not stamped out from Myanmar, he cannot be stamped in at Mae Sai. I am not sure about this one.

[craigt3365]

I'm 95% sure there are no issues with exit into Mae Sai. I was told to fly to the border and cross there. But NO overland travel in that part of Myanmar. Same with a small section of the south near Ranong and of course the muslim areas right now.

[phuketrichard]

A good chunk of Shan State is off limits to foreigners. I think you can get up to Lashio, but that's as far as you can go that way. I also think Taunggyi is as far as you can go when heading east on that highway. Have to fly from there. I was just there and tried to go that route, but no way.

You can apply for permits to go to places like Bhamo, but it takes time, money and not a sure thing. I was on the train with a bunch of troops headed to Lashio to fight the rebels. Seems things have flared up a bit. Unfortunately.

Bhamo is not off limits, nor are any permits needed, i was there in April as we took the train to Myitkina and from there had t fly to Bhamo as that part of the river is closed to tourists and we tried , trust me

Bhamo is where we started our boat trip back to Mandalay

Last year we rode motorcycles from Mandalay to Hsipaw and were allowed to travel 80 kms further north to Namhsan which is mostly closed, it was fantastic

You can also travel even further north to Putao but u need fly in an out an book a tour ( costs average $150/day + airfare)

i heard a rumor that it's not possible to enter myanmar via ranong/kawthaung with the regular 4 week tourist visa. is that right? if anyone could confirm or give an update that would be appreciated.

if u have a visa from an embassy you can take the long tails from Ranong ( 50 Baht ) to Kwathoung.

from there u can travel by boat to Myeik, Dawei and points north

or fly out

There are many overland exit points from Myanmar back to Thailand

[craigt3365]

Richard: As you know, I was just there. Tried to go up that way from Hispaw (based on your recommendation) and was told NO by many people. Something just came up and it's closed. You can perhaps go by boat from Mandalay, but not overland from Hsipaw. Lahsio is as far as you can go. Namshan is OK for a day trip. Mogok is a no go also. Unless you get permits. Then it's potentially possible.

[jphasia]

Richard: As you know, I was just there. Tried to go up that way from Hispaw (based on your recommendation) and was told NO by many people. Something just came up and it's closed. You can perhaps go by boat from Mandalay, but not overland from Hsipaw. Lahsio is as far as you can go. Namshan is OK for a day trip. Mogok is a no go also. Unless you get permits. Then it's potentially possible.

I am working in Myanmar more than 3 years already. Based in Mandalay but travelling a lot for business purpose especially in the Northem part, Sagaing division, Kachin, Shan North and South. Situations there is changing everyday in regard to safety. Right now, it is impossible to go above Lashio, on the way to Muse, many area's in Kachin especially west and north of Meitchyna are restricted to foreigners, Mogoke and Shan south from Taunggy to Thai border. Of course if you are adventurous, you will always find the way but as I am concerned, at this time (pre and after election) I can't get any permits for foreigners to go to these places and even my locals staffs refuse to go there. I am getting daily safety reports from the authorities. The road from Mandalay to Lashio, passing Hsipaw is fine. I have a remote office in Lashio and going there frequently.

[craigt3365]

The road from Mandalay to Lashio, passing Hsipaw is fine.

I kinda question that! I did a share taxi up there back to Mandalay. Felt like a ball in a pinball machine! Those canyon traverses, with a maniac driver, are insane! LOL

I went from Pyin Oo Lin to Kyaukme via train. Amazing. Onboard were at least 100 army guys. With another what seemed to be private train just in front carrying all sorts of gear and food and more guys. Had a long talk with the captain as I was wearing a red NLD t shirt. LOL. He said there's major problems up there right now and they are off to battle.

[jphasia]

The road from Mandalay to Lashio, passing Hsipaw is fine.

I kinda question that! I did a share taxi up there back to Mandalay. Felt like a ball in a pinball machine! Those canyon traverses, with a maniac driver, are insane! LOL

I went from Pyin Oo Lin to Kyaukme via train. Amazing. Onboard were at least 100 army guys. With another what seemed to be private train just in front carrying all sorts of gear and food and more guys. Had a long talk with the captain as I was wearing a red NLD t shirt. LOL. He said there's major problems up there right now and they are off to battle.

I was not talking about the road itself but about the security in general. Yes, it's mountain road with narrow curves and lot of trucks. I have a company car with personal driver so never enjoyed shared taxis...

[mcfish]

G'day mate,

Have you got a Thai visa with a double-entry and a Myanmarese visa

in OZ yet?

If not, one of your best bets would be to arrive in Thailand on a 30-day

visa-exempt entry, apply for a 28-day Myanmarese visa in Bangkok,

enter Myanmar via Kaw Thaung from Ranong, come back to Thailand

via Mae Sai on a 15-day visa-exempt entry (The Aussies can only get

15 days to stay in Thailand if they enter the kingdom by land) and extend

it for 30 days at the immigration offices for 1,900B.

You could also apply for a 60-day visa at the Thai Embassy in Yangon

for US$40 (approximately 1,400B) and come back to Thailand on it.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/yangon/en/services/33445-Tourist-Visa.html

You cant extend a 15 day visa exempt by 30 days.

You can only extend it by 1 week.

[myauq]

like i say, i won't be traveling north this time. i'd just like to explore the southern part of myanmar, and work my way up to yangon from kawthaung. then i'll exit via yangon, and either fly to bangkok or chiang mai.

[phuketrichard]

Craig, Yes,

u can not go to Bhamo overland visa Hsipaw ( never really have been as the road is to close to China) but you can go by bus from Mandalay or down the way i came by air to catch the boat down river

Namshan is closed one day/open the next its hit of miss

Mogok u need apply for permission and have a guide to get permission to visit,

Cheapest i have found is $300 for 3 days /2 nights/person which includes a 4wd car, driver/guide/hotels and tours

Myauq

I am heading to Yangon in 2 weeks an doing the south trip exiting at Kwathoung

Edited November 17, 2015 by phuketrichard