If you’re visiting Myanmar, perhaps even moving here, there are a few rules that you should be on your radar. Expats know these quirky laws well and are a resource in navigating between the permissible and the forbidden.
US Dollars Must Be Perfect
Well-documented, always worth mentioning. US currency is trusted over the tumultuous Myanmar kyat, as long as the notes are crisp and clean. Crisp and Clean. A smudge on Benjamin Franklin’s likeness could easily result in a less favorable exchange rate. A creased or wrinkled bill could lead to worthless money, seriously. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand why, US dollars must be in mint condition.
Carrying dollars in your pants pocket is not the same thing as burning it, after all Thailand bankers will happily accept your used notes, but it’s still a horrible idea. A hardcover book as a wallet will do the trick.
No Motorbikes in Yangon
The roads of Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, even Mandalay may be filled with schools of motorbikes, not Yangon. Motorbikes are illegal in most of Yangon, riders can be seen on the outskirts of town in areas like Mingalar and Hlaing Thar Yar townships.
Rumors swirl over why motorbikes are banned in Yangon. Is it policy aimed at increasing public safety, or an arbitrary rule left over from the previous government? Either way, the law has worked, motorbikes have been driven to extinction in the city centre.
Electric scooters and electric bicycles, however, occupy a grey zone in the law. You will occasionally see one quietly zip down a side street. Is it legal? They seem to drive by Yangon police without issue but the riders tend to be foreigners who are always treated differently, for better or for worse.
Foreigners Can Not Lodge At Private Residences (Especially Outside Yangon)
This law is hardly enforced in Yangon where expats make up a substantial chunk of the rental market. Outside of the city, foreigners should plan on staying in hotels or hostels. Rural areas with no hotel options are exempt from the law, allowing tourists to stay with local families, even a few monasteries.
If a foreigner stays at a private residence, it won’t be the traveler who will be in trouble, but the Myanmar local who provided the lodging.
Foreigners Can Not Own Property or Sign Leases Over One-Year
Have you ever thought about purchasing a few acres of land in Shan State? It doesn’t matter how rich you are, foreigners are banned from having property under their name. These restrictions hardly matter for people in Myanmar temporarily, but are vital for those interested in starting a business.
All expat-operated enterprises rent their space from a landlord of Myanmar citizenship. Not only that, but foreigners are not allowed to sign a lease more than one year, which can be problematic where the price of land is only going up. As a result, the relationship between landlord and foreigner business owner is paramount.
Rent Must Be Paid Upfront, For The Entire Lease
If you’re planning on renting a flat in Myanmar, you must be prepared to pay a lot of cash on day one. Landlords typically allow for either a 6-month lease or a 1-year lease, either way, the entire amount must be paid in a lump sum before the move-in date. If your rent is USD $400 a month, on a 1-year lease, you will need to cough up $4,800 to secure the flat. This does not include any deposit or utilities.
Try to negotiate everything before you hand over the money. After all, you won’t have the threat of withholding your rent. Renters commonly ask for a bed to be included, or a new fridge before agreeing upon a lease. Landlords will sometimes help out with repairs, but don’t hold your breath. You may have to hire a local handyman on your own dime for small repairs around the flat.
Alcohol Bans Do Not Apply For Hotels
They’re called curfews, but more accurately, they’re alcohol bans. Occasionally the government will impose a ban on the sale of alcohol after 9pm during school exams or times of perceived threats. Sometimes the reason is never fully understood.
Hotels have been exempt from these alcohol bans in the past, at least in Yangon. If your visit to Myanmar coincides with an early last call, there’s no need to fret, your hotel bar should still be open.
Do Not Mock Buddhism
Don’t. Not even as a homage. If it makes light of the religion, it is punishable under the law. Foreigners are not exempt.
The Burma Penal Code outlaws insulting any religion or religious class, but with Buddhism being the dominant faith in the country, perceived offenses to Buddha are particularly enforced.
