Where is Burmese?

This is just a quick post about visiting Burma/Myanmar while you’re in South East Asia – because the embassy proved quite elusive to me over the last few days, so I’m gonna share what I’ve learned!

There are only two countries in the region that don’t offer VOA (visa-on-arrivals) – Vietnam and Burma. The easiest place to arrange your visa for Burma is in Bangkok.

Despite confusion on the internet, the address for the Embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok is:

132 Sathorn Nua Road. It’s found in the Silom area.

TO GET THERE: You can take the BTS to Chong Nonsi. From there it’s about a 10 minute walk, just come out of the station on foot and follow the BTS tracks around the corner. Walk straight for 5 or 6 minutes and you’ll walk right past the embassy. Easy.

A taxi from Khao San road would take around 35 mins to an hour depending on traffic and cost around 150-250 baht.

WHAT YOU NEED: 2 colour passport photos with a white background. 1 photcopy of your passport. You can get both of these (as well as the application forms) just around the corner from the embassy. Just walk around the corner of the embassy until you reach the visa entrance, which will be where you enter when you’re ready, walk past the visa entrance and walk straight for 200m or so. There’s a small shop offering photocopies, passport photos and the application forms for the embassy so you’ll be all set at the front of the queue (that all costs about $0.80!)

THE PROCEDURE: Visa application opens 9am-11.30pm so best to arrive around 8.30am and you should be done by 9.15. Or arrive later and fight with the queues!