Just Landed in Myanmar? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data is the primary way to get online; home fibre exists in Yangon through providers such as Ooredoo, MPT and 5BB but power cuts and periodic network restrictions make it unreliable. Expect blocked platforms, throttling and slower speeds than in neighbouring countries, and treat a paid VPN as an essential utility rather than an optional extra. A backup SIM on a second network is worth carrying, because outages and slowdowns are not evenly distributed.

Typical cost: Prepaid SIM from around 1,500 MMK; data bundles roughly 5,000-15,000 MMK for several GB, with unlimited-style monthly plans available on some networks

Myanmar is overwhelmingly cash-based and largely cut off from the international banking system. Foreign cards rarely work, international transfers in and out are tightly restricted, and the kyat is volatile against a scarce US dollar, with a wide gap between the official and informal exchange rates. Budget in cash, plan larger payments around USD, and never assume a card terminal will be available.

Opening an account: Foreigners can open accounts at local banks such as KBZ, AYA or CB with a passport, visa and usually an employer letter or local reference, but the account is of very limited use abroad and cannot easily receive international transfers. Many expats rely on cash plus a domestic mobile wallet like KBZPay, and keep their real savings in an account back home.

Cash: Cash is king. Carry a mix of small and large kyat notes, keep pristine USD for rent and big-ticket payments, and do not expect card terminals outside upmarket hotels and a handful of restaurants. Kyat notes come in denominations up to 10,000 MMK, so paying rent or a deposit can mean handling a genuinely thick stack of cash.

Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated. Rounding up or leaving 5-10% at restaurants that serve foreigners, and handing small notes to porters, drivers and hotel staff, is normal and goes a long way given how hard the economy has hit ordinary workers.

Registration is genuinely and legally required at two levels. First, any foreigner staying overnight must be reported to the immigration authorities: hotels register guests automatically, but if you stay in private accommodation your landlord or host must file a Form C arrival report with the local ward administration office, and if they do not, the responsibility falls to you. Second, foreigners staying 90 consecutive days or more must obtain a Foreigner Registration Certificate (FRC) from the township immigration office; it is valid until 30 November each year and must be renewed. Non-compliance can block a later visa extension or even prevent you leaving the country, so treat both steps as unavoidable rather than optional.

Deadline: Form C arrival report within 24 hours of moving into private accommodation; FRC required once your stay reaches 90 consecutive days

Where: Local ward/township administration office for Form C (via your landlord or host); Township Immigration and National Registration office for the FRC and Stay Permit

Yangon relies on taxis, crowded public buses (the YBS network) and ride-hailing; Grab is the most reliable app and shows a fixed fare up front, which spares you haggling. Metered street taxis are rare, so agree the fare before getting in. Traffic is heavy and unpredictable, and motorbikes are banned within central Yangon, which is unusual for the region and shapes how the city moves.

From the airport: From Yangon International Airport (RGN) in Mingaladon, central Yangon is roughly 30-60 minutes depending on traffic. Use Grab or the official airport taxi counter rather than touts; a taxi to downtown typically runs around 12,000-20,000 MMK. Confirm the price before departing if you take a street cab, and have small notes ready as drivers rarely carry change.

Most expats rent serviced apartments or condos in Yangon townships such as Bahan, Golden Valley, Kamayut, Sanchaung and downtown. Listings spread by word of mouth, agents and Facebook groups rather than polished portals, and landlords often quote rent in USD. Viewing in person and verifying the landlord actually owns the property is essential, because advance-rent fraud is common. A serviced apartment can be worth the premium early on for the built-in generator, water and management.

Typical rent: A modern one-bedroom in central Yangon runs roughly 500-1,200 USD per month; older or outer-township flats can be found from around 250-400 USD

Deposit norm: Landlords commonly ask for several months up front, and paying 6-12 months in advance in a lump sum is a widespread expectation rather than a monthly deposit, so budget a large cash outlay to secure a place

Public healthcare is under-resourced and further strained by the conflict, with staff shortages worsened by strikes and departures. Expats and wealthier locals use a handful of private hospitals in Yangon, and serious or complex cases are routinely evacuated to Bangkok or Singapore rather than treated in-country. Do not assume advanced care is locally available.

How to access it: For anything beyond minor care, go to a private hospital such as Pun Hlaing (Hlaing Tharyar), Victoria (Yankin) or Parami General Hospital in Yangon and expect to pay upfront in cash or by direct billing if your insurer is recognised. Keep the numbers of an international clinic and a medevac provider saved offline so you are not searching for them in an emergency.

Insurance: There is no public health scheme for foreigners. Carry international health insurance that explicitly covers Myanmar and includes emergency medical evacuation, and confirm the policy is active before you travel, because local capacity for serious surgery, intensive care and specialist treatment is genuinely limited.

• Remove your shoes and socks before entering pagodas, temples and many homes, and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered at religious sites; this is strictly observed and non-negotiable at places like Shwedagon.
• Use your right hand, or both hands, to give and receive items and money; using the left hand alone is considered impolite.
• Avoid touching anyone's head, including children's, and never point your feet at people or Buddha images; tuck your feet away when sitting on the floor.
• Keep political opinions private in public; publicly criticising the military or openly discussing the conflict can put you, and especially the locals around you, at serious risk.
• Learn a few Burmese greetings such as 'mingalaba', and accept tea or food when offered, as hospitality is central and refusing outright can seem cold.
• Show respect to monks and elders; step aside for monks, avoid physical contact with them (especially women), and lower yourself slightly when passing seated elders.
• Dress conservatively in general, not only at temples; revealing clothing draws unwanted attention and reads as disrespectful in most settings.

• Curfews, checkpoints and sudden road closures can appear with little notice; carry your passport, stay calm and comply cooperatively with security forces.
• Photographing soldiers, police, checkpoints, military sites or government buildings can lead to questioning or detention, so keep your camera and phone away in these situations.
• Power cuts are frequent and can last many hours; keep torches, charged power banks, and cash on hand for when card and digital systems are down.
• Avoid getting drawn into political conversations, protests or online activity, as the authorities monitor communications and expressing views can endanger you and your local contacts.
• Verify security conditions before any travel outside Yangon, as fighting, landmines and conscription patrols make many regions genuinely unsafe.