Myanmar (Burma) - Clearance
COVID-19 coronavirus: New procedures are in place for arriving yachts – see Biosecurity for details.
The authorities must be advised of the yacht’s ETA and the vessel must proceed without stopping to an official port of entry. Boats coming from the south should keep well away from the Burmese coast after leaving Thai territorial waters and only head inshore when ready to approach their selected port of entry.
Stopping at any islands prior to arrival at an official port of entry is prohibited and should be avoided.
Prior to Arrival
New cruising permits are no longer issued for private yachts visiting the Mergui Archipelago, however, with permission, they are allowed to visit this area without one.
Permission to cruise the Archipelago must be applied for to Myanmar Tours and Travels (MTT) in Yangon at least 30 days before arrival. Provide a copy of the yacht’s registration certificate, 4 photos of the outside of the yacht (each of the front, side, and stern) and also 4 of the inside. Note if the boat registration certificate does not have an expiry date, an official letter stating that to be a fact is required. If it is not in English, it will need to have a translation.
Permissions for other ports outside of the Mergui Archipelago have to be sought individually by applying to MTT with an itinerary.
A personal visit can be made to Yangon to pay the fees. Alternatively, permits can be obtained from the MTT office in Kawthaung or some yacht agents in Phuket. See Clearance Agents for a list.
Once permission has been obtained, you will need to provide a detailed itinerary for your trip (which you can deviate from without a problem later) and a full list with passport information for passengers and crew to MTT.
On Arrival
Provided your documentation is all properly arranged in advance, checking in at Kawthaung is straightforward and fast. When you arrive at Kawthaung, contact MTT to assist with the check-in process.
You will need 1 copy of the crew and passenger list, 2 passport size photos and 2 copies of the passport (the page with the photo is sufficient) plus the fees (see below).
When your yacht is in Myanmar waters you must have an official guide on board at all times. This guide is provided by MTT and is responsible for making sure you comply with local regulations and do not go to islands that are off limits. You will need to pay the guide a ‘salary’ during their time on board. They are generally very helpful and do earn their fee.
See Fees for further details.
Last updated: September 2020
Myanmar Tours and Travel (MTT) – Kawthaung
Myanmar Travel & Tours (MTT) – Yangon
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Hi – how current is this information about Myanmar? Seems like much of it is several years old – are vessels still required to have an MTT agent aboard when cruising?
Hi Ian, thanks for your question. It seems nothing much has changed in Myanmar according to our contacts in SE Asia. A Guide is still required aboard, fees are the same (plus a 1000US$ extra per trip as a one off fee per trip – related to nothing special). No license is needed ahead of time now, you just pay per trip. MTT still handle things and Customs, Immigration and Harbor department still board in Kawthaung – same as before. Paperwork to be filled out before is the same and time frames to get it in are the same. I hope that helps.