THE Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has authorised a Yangon-based travel company to offer online visa service for tourists planning to visit Myanmar.
The website (www.myanmarvisaxpress.com), established by Diamond Palace Travel and Tours Company, allows foreigners to apply for tourist visas to Myanmar 24 hours a day.

“We have tested the Myanmar On Arrival Visa (MOAV) online service system for one and a half years, and six months ago we added a secure database server system,” said U Thein Than, chairman of Diamond Palace.

He was speaking at the launch ceremony for the online service held on June 11 at Parkroyal Hotel in Yangon.

“The website is available in six languages: English, French, Chinese, Japanese, German and Korean. We will soon add the Thai language as well,” he said.

The application fees for online visas are US$50 a person for groups of one to five people, $45 for six to 10 people, and $40 for 11 people and above.

Applicants are required to submit personal data, tour plan details and a passport-quality photograph of themselves. Fees can be paid via credit card.

U Thein Than said that although his company offers online visa services, he cannot guarantee that applicants will be issued visas.

“It depends on approval from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Department of Immigration,” he said.

He said that if the visa is approved, Diamond Palace will notify the applicant, airline and airport.

“The applicant will receive an approval letter that can be presented at the immigration counter upon arrival at the airport in Myanmar,” he said.

“Immigration will make sure the applicant in not blacklisted, check the security code and confirm that the visa fee had been paid, and then issue the on-arrival visa to the visitor,” U Thein Than said.