What is the Multiple Re-Entry Visa for foreign workers in Myanmar?
The Multiple Re-Entry Visa (MRV) lets a foreign-national employee leave and re-enter Myanmar multiple times during the validity of a Stay Permit, without applying for a fresh entry visa each trip. The DICA-registered employer sponsors the MRV at the Ministry of Immigration and Population. Validity is tied to the Stay Permit — typically one year.
What Myanmar law and practice say
The Multiple Re-Entry Visa (MRV) is a Myanmar immigration document that lets a foreign-national employee leave the country and return without applying for a new entry visa each trip. It is separate from the work permit and from the Stay Permit. The Ministry of Immigration and Population issues the MRV; the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA)-registered employer sponsors the application.
An MRV is essentially the "travel passport" of the immigration document set. Without it, a foreign-national employee who exits Myanmar must apply for a new entry visa before each return — disruptive for global teams. With it, the employee travels freely within the validity period.
How the MRV fits with other immigration documents
| Document | Authorises | Issued by | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business / Employment Visa | Initial entry to Myanmar | Myanmar Embassy / e-Visa | Per visa class |
| Work permit | Right to work for sponsoring employer | MIC / MoLES / SEZ Authority | 1 year, renewable |
| Stay Permit | Right to remain | Ministry of Immigration and Population | 1 year, renewable |
| MRV | Multiple international exits and re-entries | Ministry of Immigration and Population | Tied to Stay Permit |
Required documents for the MRV application
- Passport (≥ 6 months remaining).
- Valid Stay Permit (typically already issued).
- Valid work permit.
- Employer sponsorship letter on letterhead.
- DICA / MIC company registration extract.
- Tax / SSB undertaking from the employer.
- Application form, passport-size photos, prescribed fees.
Foreign-worker specifics
The MRV is usually applied for alongside or immediately after the Stay Permit. Validity tracks the Stay Permit — when the Stay Permit is renewed, the MRV is renewed in step. Inside Special Economic Zones (SEZs) such as Thilawa, the SEZ Authority co-ordinates the MRV alongside the work permit and Stay Permit on a single-window basis.
Employer takeaway
Apply for the MRV alongside or just after the Stay Permit for any foreign-national employee likely to travel during the assignment. Sponsor the application through the DICA-registered employer with a sponsorship letter, registration extract, and tax / SSB undertaking. Diary the renewal 60 days ahead, in step with the Stay Permit, and retain the immigration file for at least 7 years post-exit.
Edge cases
- One-off business trip without MRV — apply for a single-entry exit / re-entry approval; not sustainable for frequent travellers.
- Dependants travelling with the employee — separate dependant MRV applications.
- Lost passport mid-assignment — emergency travel document via embassy, then re-apply for the MRV against the new passport.
- SEZ employees — single-window through the SEZ Authority.
Common hiring mistakes
- Confusing the MRV with the work permit or Stay Permit — they are three documents.
- Letting the MRV expire before the Stay Permit and stranding the employee abroad.
- Forgetting dependant MRVs for accompanying family members.
- Booking international travel before the MRV is in hand.
- Immigration Regulations — Multiple Re-Entry Visa and Stay Permit
- DICA Notification — foreign-investor employer registration
- Foreign Workers' Quota Notification (current)
Related questions
Stop calculating PIT manually.
QHRM's payroll engine applies the latest Union Tax Law brackets, basic relief, and dependant allowances automatically.