Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.
Do not travel to Burma due to civil unrest and armed conflict. Reconsider travel to Burma due to COVID-19-related restrictions and limited and/or inadequate healthcare resources. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnance.
COUNTRY SUMMARY: The Burmese military detained and deposed elected government officials in the February 2021 coup d'état. Protests and demonstrations against military rule occur. The military often responds to these protests by arbitrarily arresting individuals and with the indiscriminate use of deadly force against protesters and bystanders.
The Department has determined that at least one U.S. national is wrongfully detained by the Burmese military regime.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services in Burma as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Rangoon. Minor dependents cannot accompany U.S. government employees who work in Burma.
Civil unrest and armed conflict occur throughout Burma. The level of civil unrest and armed conflict varies significantly between and within states and regions and may change at any time.
Civil unrest and armed violence due to fighting between the Burmese military and various ethnic groups and militia occur in parts of Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine, Shan state, Sagaing, and Magway.
In Northern Shan state and parts of Chin, Kachin, and Rakhine states there are land mines and unexploded ordnance; their locations are often not marked or identifiable, and foreign travelers have been injured in the past.
The military regime arbitrarily enforces local laws, including carrying out random and wrongful detentions without due process. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Burma may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens may be subject to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law. Local law enforcement officials may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for speaking out or protesting against the military regime, including on their personal social media accounts, and for sending private electronic messages critical of the military regime.
Burma has limited and/or inadequate healthcare resources due to critical staffing shortages in the public sector health workforce. Importation of medical supplies, including medicine, into Burma is not consistent and medical prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine may not be available.
Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page.
There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Burma.
If you decide to travel to Burma:
- Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before planning any international travel, and read the Embassy’s COVID-19 page for country-specific COVID-19 information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
- Review the Country Security Report for Burma.
- Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
- Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths due to risk of unexploded ordnance.
- Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
- Make contingency plans to leave the country.
- Review local laws and conditions before traveling.
- Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
- Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Find a suggested list of such documents here.
- Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization.
- Erase any sensitive photos, comments, or other materials that could be considered controversial or provocative by local groups from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices prior to travel.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Burma, also known as Myanmar, is a country located in Southeast Asia. It is home to a diverse culture and a rich history, with a number of interesting attractions to explore, including ancient temples, beautiful beaches, and picturesque mountain ranges.
Currently, the U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Burma due to COVID-19, crime, and civil unrest. The advisory advises travelers to reconsider their need to travel to Burma and to carefully consider the risks of doing so.
There are also a number of specific areas in Burma where the Department of State has advised against all travel, including Rakhine State, Shan State (north), and the border areas with Thailand and Laos. These areas are considered to be especially dangerous due to ongoing conflict, civil unrest, and the risk of terrorism.
Before traveling to Burma or any other destination, it is important to check the latest travel advisories and warnings from the U.S. Department of State and to follow the guidelines and recommendations of local authorities and your embassy or consulate. It is also important to exercise caution and take basic safety precautions when traveling, such as staying aware of your surroundings, protecting your personal belongings, and following local laws and customs.