Travel Tip: How to get a Burmese visa in Bangkok

Back in October, I traveled to Burma (also known as Myanmar).  I am often asked about the process required for getting a visa to this beautiful and rapidly changing Southeast Asian nation.  Although I plan on writing more posts about Burma, I'd like to share with you my experience getting my Burmese visa in Bangkok (often considered the easiest place to get the Burmese visa and a common gateway to Burma).

The Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Bangkok is located at 132, Sathorn Nua Rd in Silom. It’s a relatively short walk from the Surasak BTS Skytrain station.  Use Exit 3 from the Surasak station and walk down to street level.  Turn right at the bottom of the stairs so that you are walking along the sidewalk underneath the Skytrain station and past the Skytrain’s escalator entrance.  Continue walking along Sathorn Road past Bangkok Christian School.  The Myanmar Embassy is at the corner of Sathorn Road and Thanon Pan (see map).

© Ryan Goebel

The following items are required to obtain a visa:

1. Original Passport
2. Photocopy of Passport
3. Two 4x6cm passport photos with white background
4. Visa Application (available inside the Embassy, or at the copy shop down the street – see below)
5. Visa Fee, as follows:
     a. 810 Thai Baht – Two business days
     b. 1035 Thai Baht – Next Day
     c. 1260 Thai Baht – Same Day
6. Proof of plane ticket to Myanmar (only if requesting Express Service)

I recommend getting your visa application beforehand at the copy shop down a little alley off Thanon Pan (marked by the yellow star on the map above; look for the yellow signs shown in the middle two photos above).  They can also make photocopies of your passport, take passport-sized photos, and even have glue sticks available to attach you photo to the application.  There are various other passport photo and copy shops along Thanon Pan, but I can’t verify whether or not they have the visa applications available.

I got to the copy shop around 7:50am, and there was only one other person there.  By the time I filled out my application and got my photocopies, there were six others there.

By a few minutes after 8am, I was in line outside the door to the embassy.  It was raining outside and I was about tenth in line.

Around 8:30am, they opened the front door and let us stand in line inside the building.

Keep in mind that you must get in line at Counter 4 regardless of the type of visa (standard/express tourist, business, or thai passport holder) for which you are applying.

At 9am, they will open the window at Counter 4.  The embassy representative here will check your application, verify your flight information (if you request express service), and give you a number.

Sit down and wait for your number to be called.  When it is called, go to the appropriate counter, hand over your number, application, passport, and visa fee.  The embassy representative will then give you a collection receipt and tell you when you can pick your passport up (usually between 15:30 and 16:30).

It is highly recommended that you arrive to the embassy early.  By the time I left at 9:25am, there were at least 50 people in the line.

For more information, I also found this link to be useful: Travel Happy

Keep in mind, that information like visa requirements is subject to change at any time.  My experience was from October 2012. 

Please share any additional up-to-date information you have about obtaining Burmese visas in the comments section of this page.