Permanent residency notification

August 1, 2017

Foreigners applying for permanent residency must have lived in Myanmar at least three years or have been married to a Myanmar national for at least two years, according to an announcement made yesterday by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.

Details of the notification can be obtained at Myanmar embassies, at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, or at the ministry website (www.mip.gov.mm).

According to the announcement, a foreign expert or an investor who had within 10 consecutive years from the date of application for permanent residence resided in Myanmar not less than 3 years with a type of visa that is not entitled to reside permanently, a foreigner (husband or wife) married to a Myanmar national for not less than 2 years who had within the 10 consecutive years from the date of application for permanent residence resided in Myanmar not less than 2 years with a type of visa that is not entitled to reside permanently, a child of such couple or legally adopted child who is not married and below the age of 16 and former Myanmar nationals who had become a citizen of foreign countries can apply for permanent residence.

Applicants for permanent residence can apply in person at Myanmar embassies, consulates or Permanent Residence Department, No. 111/113, 37th Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon.

A non-refundable fee of US$500 for an application is charged and no additional fee is charged for family members who apply together. When called for an interview, the applicant(s) need to come in person to Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population in Nay Pyi Taw.

When the Implementation Central Committee issues an approval letter to the applicant, the applicant must come in person within 60 days of the issuing date of the approval letter with prescribed documents to Permanent Residence Department, Yangon and pay a yearly fee of US$1,000 for the foreign applicant, US$500 for a former Myanmar national, and US$300 each for son and daughter aged between 7 to 18 years. No fee is charged for sons and daughters below 7 years of age. The applicants, son(s), and daughter(s) need to come in person. Applicants who are issued an approval letter need to complete the process within 60 days and if not done, the Implementation Central Committee must be provided with a valid reason within 120 days.

Permanent residence will be initially granted for 5 years and within the 5 years, yearly renewal need to be done.

Renewal can be made 60 days before the expiry of a year and the renewal applicant must apply in person to Permanent Residence Department in Yangon. When the first five years is completed, renewal for another five years can be applied. This application will have to be made with necessary supporting documents at the township immigration and manpower department where the applicant resides. If the Permanent Residence card is lost, damaged, or amendments need to be made, applications can be made at at the township immigration and manpower department where the applicant had resided.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population is located at Office No. 48, Nay Pyi Taw, telephone 067-431500 and 067-431515.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar