Country Profile for Burma (Myanmar) for Traveling Canadians

Valid as of August 30, 2005 11:32 EST
The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed. Sections 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 have been updated.
2. ATTENTION
OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs Canada advises against all travel to the region(s) specified below. (IDW5)
You are advised against all travel to border areas with Thailand or neighbouring areas where rebel groups may be active due to ongoing insurgency, banditry, and risk of landmines. Border crossing points may close without notice.

Tensions between pro-democracy and pro-regime supporters have resulted in violent clashes. The detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders, and the related closures of political party offices and universities across the country could lead to further demonstrations and violence. Canadians should exercise caution (particularly in the capital), avoid locations where demonstrations are being held and other public areas where disturbances could occur, and carefully monitor local and international news reports.

Since the imposition of U.S. economic sanctions, credit cards have not been accepted, except in a few foreign-owned hotels. Check the method of payment in advance. Traveller’s cheques are not accepted. Travellers should take enough cash to cover their expenses while in Burma. Please see section 9 (below) for further details.

3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

Bombs have exploded in various parts of the country recently, including the capital Rangoon (Yangon). On May 7, 2005, four explosions occurred at shopping malls and a trade centre in Rangoon, killing at least 11 individuals and wounding more than 160 others. On April 26, a bomb exploded in a market in Mandalay, resulting in at least two deaths. Sporadic anti-government insurgent activity has occurred in various locations. Exercise caution when travelling to Bao, Hinthada, Pyi, Taunggo, and Taunggyi. There have been instances of clashes between Buddhist monks and Muslims. Curfews are occasionally imposed.

Violent crime against foreigners is rare but has occurred. There is also a risk of street crime, such as pickpocketing and mugging. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure. Avoid demonstrations and areas cordoned off by security forces.

Telephone services are unreliable in Rangoon and are difficult to find in other areas. Long-distance calls can be extremely expensive. Mobile phones, apart from those supplied by Burmese authorities, will not function. E-mail services are available at some large hotels, but they are limited and costly. Electronic communications may be monitored by local authorities.

4. LOCAL TRAVEL

Travel to and within Burma is strictly controlled by the government. Foreigners are not permitted to enter by road. Travel is restricted outside major cities to designated tourist areas only. Permission from local authorities is required to visit certain areas. Tourists trekking in remote parts of the country have experienced difficulties with military authorities, even after obtaining prior permission. There are frequent security roadblocks on some roads. Travellers must show their passport and valid visa at the airport, train stations, and hotels.

Do not travel on internal flights operated by Myanmar Airways due to serious safety concerns. Two fatal crashes occurred in 1998. Railway equipment is outdated and there have been fatal accidents, most recently in 2004.

Drive defensively, as traffic accidents are a common cause of death and injury. Road conditions are poor and different from those in Canada. The general condition of automobiles does not meet minimal international standards. Driving can be hazardous, especially after dark. Drivers have little regard for traffic regulations and do not follow safe-driving practices. It is common for pedestrians to walk on roads. A driver involved in any accident with a pedestrian is always at fault and is liable to be detained.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required. The IDP is an internationally recognized document that, when accompanied by a valid Canadian (i.e., provincial) driver’s licence, allows you to drive in over 160 countries without a specific test. Its purpose is to overcome difficulties that you may have while travelling in other countries with widely varying licence requirements. It is printed in the six United Nations official languages (Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese), plus German, Italian, the Scandinavian languages, and Portuguese. The IDP can also be a useful form of picture identification in case of a lost or stolen passport. An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is the sole issuer of the IDP in Canada.

5. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

The monsoon season extends from June to September in the southwest and December to April in the northeast. Overland travel can be hazardous due to flooding. Roads can become impassable and bridges damaged. Travellers should keep informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail or death sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed below. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.

Foreign Affairs Canada publishes a booklet, A Guide for Canadians Imprisoned Abroad, specifically targeted at incarcerated Canadians. Its prime objective is to inform Canadian detainees, their families, and friends about available assistance and advice.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are strict. Convicted offenders can face imprisonment or a death sentence.

Freedom of speech and political activity is severely restricted, and the Burmese government suppresses any expression of opposition to its rule.Dual nationality is not recognized. This may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Canadians should travel using their Canadian passport and present themselves as Canadian to foreign authorities at all times. Burmese authorities may also be extra vigilant in applying local laws and customs regulations when dealing with foreign citizens of Burmese origin.Foreign Affairs Canada publishes a booklet, Dual Citizenship: What Travellers Should Know, specifically targeted at Canadians with dual nationality.Importation of communications equipment such as mobile phones and laptop computers is prohibited. Laptop computers have been taken from tourists and held at the airport until their departure. Baggage may be searched upon arrival.A permit is required to purchase or possess cultural or archaeological artifacts. It is illegal to export gems. Foreigners have been arrested, searched, and imprisoned for attempting to take Burmese gems out of the country.Photography of military installations and personnel is prohibited. Offenders could be arrested, deported, and have their equipment confiscated.

Common sense and discretion should be exercised in dress and behaviour, particularly when visiting religious sites. Visitors should dress conservatively and respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities.

7. ASSISTANCE FOR CANADIANS ABROAD

There is no resident Canadian government office in Burma. Canadians in Burma can obtain consular assistance and further information from the Australian Embassy in Rangoon (under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement) at the following address:

Burma (Myanmar) – RANGOON (YANGON), Australian Embassy
Address: 88 Strand Road, Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar)
Tel.: 95 (1) 251-810
Fax: 95 (1) 246-159

The Embassy of Canada in Bangkok, Thailand, has consular responsibility for Burma (Myanmar). The address is as follows:

Thailand – BANGKOK, Embassy of Canada
Address: 15th Floor, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV, Bangrak, Bangkok 10501, Thailand
Postal Address: P.O. Box 2090, Bangkok 10501, Thailand
Tel.: 66 (2) 636-0540
Fax: 66 (2) 636-0555
E-mail: bngkk@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/bangkok

Canadians travelling to or residing in Burma should register their presence with Foreign Affairs Canada. Registration can be done on-line. Please complete all required fields. Once you leave the country, please advise Foreign Affairs Canada in order to ensure that the list of Canadians in Burma is accurate. Canadians can also register their presence with the Australian Embassy in Rangoon. Visitors are encouraged to leave a copy of their itinerary with the Australian Embassy.

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Australian Embassy in Rangoon and follow the instructions. You may also make a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.

8. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Conditions are subject to change.
 
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Burma. A visa is also required. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date the visa is issued.

Visas are rarely issued to journalists, some of whom have been denied entry when travelling to Burma on tourist visas. Journalists, and tourists mistaken for journalists, have been harassed. Some journalists have had film and notes confiscated upon leaving the country.

Travellers are advised to use the same port of entry (international airport of Rangoon) to enter and exit Burma to avoid problems with immigration services.

Tourist Visa: Required (valid for 28 days)
Business Visa: Required (renewable)

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.

Foreign Affairs Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.

9. MONEY

The currency is the kyat (MMK). Travellers should take enough cash to cover their expenses while in Burma. Credit cards are not accepted except in a few foreign-owned hotels. Confirm the method of payment in advance. Traveller’s cheques are not accepted. Cash advance or cheque-cashing facilities and ATMs are not available. U.S. dollars are widely accepted for cash transactions. Other foreign currencies are not normally accepted. The Burmese government issues Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs), which have the same face value as the U.S. dollar. FECs can be exchanged for local currency, or used to pay for goods and services where FECs are the accepted forms of payment. Neither FECs nor kyat can be converted to any other currency. Officially, the Burmese government states that the only foreign currency that is convertible into local currency is the euro. However, travellers report that U.S. dollars can be exchanged. It is illegal to exchange currency at unauthorized locations. Foreign currency in excess of US$2,000 must be declared upon arrival and visitors are required to exchange US$200 when entering the country Failure to do so could result in imprisonment. These procedures are subject to change without notice.

10. GENERAL INFORMATION

Burma (Myanmar) (capital: Rangoon) is located in Southeast Asia, bordering China, Laos, Thailand, the Andaman Sea, the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, and India. The official language is Burmese. Tourist facilities are adequate in Bagan, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Rangoon, and Taunggyi but limited elsewhere. Foreigners can expect to pay several times more than locals for accommodations, domestic flights, and entry to tourist sites.

Radio Canada International (RCI) broadcasts on shortwave to this country. For a schedule of times and frequency of broadcasts, check the RCI Web site. You may also e-mail RCI at info@rcinet.ca or call 514-597-7500.

11. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

12. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Medical facilities are available in Rangoon but are limited elsewhere. Foreign prescription drugs are often counterfeit and are unsafe to use.

13. RETURNING TO CANADA

Declare everything acquired abroad, whether purchases for yourself or gifts, as well as goods bought at a Canadian or foreign duty-free store. Keep original receipts. Certain items are restricted from entering Canada. If you are considering importing meat or dairy products, plants, vehicles, weapons, cultural property, endangered species or products derived from them, obtain more information from the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canada Firearms Centre, Canadian Heritage, or the office of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The booklet I Declare describes what you can and cannot bring back to Canada if you have been away for less than a year.

Transportation companies, such as airlines and rail and bus services, are required to ensure that all passengers that they bring to Canada have satisfactory evidence of their identity and status in Canada, if any. For international travel purposes, the Canadian Certificate of Citizenship (citizenship card) accompanied by a non-Canadian passport is not reliable evidence that the holder is a Canadian citizen. A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document. It proves that you have a right to return to Canada.
Due to increased scrutiny of international travellers by airlines and immigration authorities around the world, Canadian citizens are strongly advised to obtain a Canadian passport prior to initiating travel. Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Canadian passport should contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad to apply for one.

14. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS

Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

15. TRAVEL TIPS

You should:
a) carry a Canadian passport for all visits outside Canada;
b) keep a photocopy of your passport’s identification page with you;
c) carry passport, tickets, and money separately;
d) keep personal belongings and passports safe and carry only enough money for anticipated expenses;
e) leave a copy of your itinerary and proof of citizenship with family and/or friends;
f) carry legally certified documentation signed by both parents permitting a child under 18 to travel alone or with an adult (i.e., a relative or teacher), or carry legally certified documentation from the absent parent if only one parent escorts the child, in addition to a copy of any separation or divorce decree or death certificate; and
g) not visit unknown or isolated areas without first obtaining information or assistance.

16. HEALTH AND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

17. FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Consular Affairs Bureau of Foreign Affairs Canada provides: (a) Country Travel Reports detailing safety and security conditions, health advice, and entry requirements; (b) information on Current Issues highlighting current and ongoing situations around the world; (c) daily e-mail Travel Updates notifying you of changes to our Current Issues and Country Travel Reports; (d) a series of free safe-travel publications to help travellers prepare for a safe and problem-free journey; and (e) Country Profiles for over 200 destinations, which include links (when available) to Canadian government offices abroad and information on individual countries and trade and investment.
For additional information, you may contact the Consular Affairs Bureau by telephone: 1 800 267-6788 or 613-944-6788; e-mail: voyage@international.gc.ca; Web site: www.voyage.gc.ca/consular_home-en.asp; and TTY: 613-944-1310 or 1 800 394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.). Specific information may also be obtained from a consular representative by contacting Canadian government offices abroad.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=200000

August 30, 2005   Posted in: Burma