No visas needed for S’poreans on short trips to Myanmar from Dec

NAYPYIDAW — Visa requirements between Singapore and Myanmar are set to be lifted on Dec 1, in a move that is expected to benefit business travellers and open up the tourism industry between both countries.

The upcoming visa change will apply to ordinary passport holders for visits not exceeding 30 days, subject to prevailing entry requirements.

On Tuesday (June 7), Singapore’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Robert Chua, and Myanmar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Kyaw Tin, exchanged diplomatic notes on the visa exemption agreement.

The event at the Presidential Palace in Naypydaw was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, who is Myanmar’s State Counsellor, Union Minister in the President’s Office and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs.

At a dinner later hosted by Myanmar president U Htin Kyaw, Prime Minister Lee said of the upcoming visa exemption: “Many Singaporeans and Myanmars travel back and fro for business, for leisure or for community service. This will make it easier for both sides to visit each other. I hope that if we can further increase the number of flights and connectivity between our two countries, we will be able to enhance and deepen the relationship further.” 

Presently, there are 49 weekly flights between the two countries, he noted.

The latest move comes at a time when Singapore’s economic ties with Myanmar are growing. Last year, Singapore was Myanmar’s third-largest trading partner, and bilateral trade increased to S$3.54 billion, up 9.6 per cent from 2014.

As of April, Singapore is also the second-largest investor in Myanmar, after China, with a cumulative investment amount of US$13.06 billion (S$17.7 billion). 

Ms Jasmine Branson, a jewellery shop owner who visits Myanmar two to three times a year to source for gems at mines, sometimes enters Myanmar through Bangkok to avoid the hassle and cost of applying for business visas as a group.

“Now it will save us money,” the 55-year-old said. “And we don’t need to go to the embassy to apply for visas. It is better for our economy, too.”