Burma

Safety and security

Emergency numbers

Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes and providing emergency services.

• Dial 199 for police
• Dial 191 for fire emergencies
• Dial 192 for highway emergencies

Unrest

• Fighting between Burma’s regime military forces and opposition armed groups such as ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defense Forces is widespread. This includes attacks by opposition armed groups on military and security sites in Rangoon and the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw.
• The regime responds with military force. They use artillery and air strikes. Checkpoints are often set up, along with frequent reported arbitrary arrests of journalists and others. Nightly raids search private houses for pro-democracy activists and opposition members.
• Local opposition armed groups are active across the country.
• Fighting goes beyond clashes between the regime and opposition groups. Travelers are cautioned of the potential for the regime to limit access to highways and airports, causing isolation.
• U.S. citizens have been caught in the middle of conflict, preventing them from leaving the country or seeking safety.
• Armed opposition groups have not demonstrated intent to target U.S. personnel interests, but you may find yourself caught in the crossfire.
• Some groups have warned the populace in advance of planned or impending attacks.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations are common. They may take place in response to political or economic issues. They may also occur on significant holidays, and during large events.

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable. Avoid areas around protests and other demonstrations.
• Past demonstrations have turned violent.
• Participants in demonstrations against the regime are often arrested and may be subject to arbitrary detention.

Crime

• Crime rates in Burma are low, especially involving foreigners. Nevertheless, the crime rate has been increasing, particularly home burglaries, snatch-and-grab thefts, and other petty crime.
• Violent crime against foreigners is rare, but there have been incidents involving attacks by taxi drivers and muggings.
• Take particular care when taking taxis late at night.

Scams

• Follow the Department of State guidelines to protect yourself from scams.
• If you are a victim of a scam, learn how the FBI can help.

Scam centers

• Foreign nationals have been trafficked into Burma and forced to work in internet scam centers.
• The centers are often located in active conflict zones along Burma's eastern borders, but are expanding to other parts of Burma, including Rangoon and Mandalay.
• Victims often respond to ads promising jobs in Thailand and are then forced or unwittingly lured into working in scam centers in Burma.

Victims of crime

Local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime. You may report crimes to the local police by dialing 199.

• Review our information for Victims of Crime.

The U.S. embassy or consulate can:

• Replace a stolen or lost passport.
• Help you find medical care.
• Assist you in how to report a crime to the police.
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent.
• Provide general information regarding the criminal justice system.
• Provide a list of local attorneys. We do not endorse or recommend any specific attorneys.
• Provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States or limited medical support in cases of need.
• Help you find accommodation and options to travel home.

Sexual assault and domestic violence

• U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. embassy for assistance.
• U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the U.S. embassy for assistance.

Technology use abroad

Mobile devices are vulnerable to compromise, theft, and damage anywhere in the world. Follow these safe practices:

• Update all software (operating system and apps) before leaving the United States.
• Some social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) and chat platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Signal) are blocked by the military regime in Burma and can only be accessed while using a VPN.
• Though rarely enforced against foreigners, Burmese law criminalizes the use of VPNs.
• Don’t connect to public Wi-Fi networks.
• Research the safety of routes recommended by GPS. The fastest route is not always the safest.
• Be cautious using dating apps abroad, as scammers often target U.S. citizens.
• Do not bring mobile devices that contain content critical of the military regime. There have been reports of U.S. citizens being arrested for social media content critical of the regime created before their arrival in Burma.

Drones

Importing drones without prior permission from authorities and flying them can lead to serious penalties.

• Penalties may include jail time and the permanent confiscation of the drone.
• Sensitive areas include government buildings, famous tourist sites, and religious buildings. It’s often unclear what counts as a sensitive area, so using drones is not recommended.
• Multiple foreigners have recently been detained. Two tourists received a year in prison for flying drones over a park.

GPS

Prior to using GPS abroad:

• Research the route recommended by the GPS to make sure it’s safe.
• The fastest path may not be the safest.

Tourism safety

No formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place:

• Tourists participate in activities at their own risk.
• Emergency response and medical treatment are not available.
• U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
• Review our information on Travel Insurance.

Arrest notification

• If you are arrested or detained, ask officials to notify the U.S. embassy immediately.
• Law enforcement officials do not routinely notify the U.S. embassy of the arrest of U.S. citizens. 

Detention conditions

• Reports of torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners in Burma is common.
• Detention facilities in Burma can be poorly supplied. The level of treatment of prisoners is often substandard.
• A detention facility may not provide you with essential medications or medical care.
• Detainees in Burma often can’t get their prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Detainees may also miss out on emergency and routine medical care.
• Food in detention facilities may be limited.
• Consular officials may not be able to visit U.S. citizens detained outside of Yangon due to security concerns.
• Prison officials have been known to obstruct consular officers’ access to U.S. citizen detainees, against international law.

Counterfeit and pirated goods

Counterfeit and pirated goods are common in many destinations.

• They may be illegal according to local laws.
• Counterfeit and pirated goods may pose significant risks to consumer health and safety.
• You may be subject to fines or have to surrender counterfeit and pirated goods to authorities if you bring them back to the United States.

Learn more about U.S. restrictions on counterfeit and pirated goods:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• U.S. Department of Justice

Faith-based travelers

Faith based travel includes pilgrimages, service projects, and mission work. Prepare for your travel using these resources:

• Faith-Based Travel
• Volunteering Abroad
• International Religious Freedom Reports

Gay and lesbian travelers

• Consensual same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Burma under section 377 of the penal code. This law has provisions against “sexually abnormal” behavior. Punishments include up to ten years in prison.
• Laws against “unnatural offenses” apply equally to men and women.
• These laws are rarely enforced. However, gay and lesbian persons have reported police using the threat of prosecution to extort bribes.
• Lesbian and gay activists have also reported allegations of rape by security forces in some cases, arbitrary arrest or detention (for example, for pretextual reasons such as loitering), and broad discrimination.
• Review our information for Gay and Lesbian Travelers.

Travelers with accessibility needs

• The law in Burma prohibits discrimination against people with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities. The law is not regularly enforced.
• Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure.
• Review our information on Accessibility Needs.

Students

• Review our information on Studying Abroad.

Women travelers

• Domestic violence against women in Burma, including spousal abuse, is a serious problem. Abuse within families is common and considered socially acceptable.
• Spousal abuse or domestic violence is difficult to measure because the military regime in Burma does not maintain comprehensive statistics. Additionally, survivors are unlikely to report it. Regime investigators are insensitive to survivors of rape and sexual assault. They rarely follow through with investigations or prosecutions.
• Rape of women and men is a significant problem.
• Review our information for Women Travelers.
• Review our information on Marriage.
• Review our information for Victims of Crime.

Human rights

• Human rights violations and abuses are a serious and significant concern in Burma.
• Credible reports reflect that the military regime continues to commit human rights violations and abuses and that it does not take credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed such violations or abuses.
• Human rights violations and abuses committed by regime officials include those involving:
  • Unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings
  • Enforced disappearance
  • Torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
  • Harsh and life-threatening prison conditions
  • Arbitrary arrest or detention
  • Arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy
  • Undue restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, and censorship
  • Undue restrictions on the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association
  • Restrictions on religious freedom
  • Extensive gender-based violence
  • Crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national and ethnic minority groups
  • Trafficking in persons, including forced labor
• Some ethnic armed organizations and Peoples Defense Force groups or members committed human rights abuses, including unjust killings, disappearances, and physical abuse and degrading treatment.
• Review the Department of State’s Human Rights Report for your destination prior to traveling.
• Review our information on Journalists.

Health

Health resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Burma Traveler Information
• CDC Medical Tourism Information
• World Health Organization
• Medicine and Health
• Travel Insurance

Emergency phone numbers

• Dial 199 for police. There is no number for emergency medical services, but the police may be able to assist

Ambulance services

Ambulance services are:

• not present throughout the country or are unreliable.
• not equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment.
• not staffed with trained paramedics and often have little or no medical equipment.
• Injured or seriously ill travelers may prefer to take a taxi or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance. 

Medical payments and insurance

Make sure you know if your health insurance plan covers any medical expenses coverage abroad. Most U.S. plans do not.

• The U.S. government does not pay medical bills.
• U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover expenses or bills abroad.
• Most hospitals and doctors abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.
• Medical care is not free in Burma. If you require medical attention, you will incur expenses, even if you are treated in a public healthcare facility.
• U.S. citizens needing urgent medical care have been denied treatment at private hospitals due to a lack of funds.
• Hospitals and medical professionals in Burma require local currency cash payment. Credit cards are rarely accepted, and health insurance will not be billed.
• Hospitals often need payment up front before providing treatment or admitting a patient.
• Make sure you know if your health insurance plan provides coverage abroad or reimbursement of payments. The CDC provides more information on types of insurance.
• We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Vaccinations

Stay up to date with the vaccines recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• CDC Travelers’ Health
• World Health Organization Travel Advice

Healthcare facilities

• Most medical facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical care.
• In an emergency, you would likely need to be medically evacuated to a hospital outside Burma.
• Few medical personnel in Burma are trained to U.S. standards.
• Public medical clinics generally lack basic resources and supplies.
• Hospitals and doctors require payment upfront prior to service or admission.
• Medical staff may speak little or no English.
• Patients must cover all costs for transfer to or between hospitals.
• Patients in public hospitals typically need a family member or friend to assist them with care in the hospital.
• Food and medical supplies must be purchased for use in the hospital.
• Private hospitals will not provide care to victims of crime and certain types of accidents where questions of liability need to be investigated. Patients will be treated at public hospitals while law enforcement investigates the underlying liability questions.
• Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in larger cities.
• The U.S. embassy maintains a list of doctors in Burma but assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the providers on the list. Inclusion on the list does not mean that the providers offer services comparable to those in the United States.

Prescription medications

• Some common medications may not be available. Travelers should bring their own medications for the duration of their stay in Burma.
• Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription.
• Exercise caution when purchasing medication abroad. Pharmaceuticals are usually easy to buy with few controls.
• Counterfeit medication is common in Burma and may not work, have the wrong strength, or have dangerous ingredients. You should buy medication with the help of a medical professional and from trusted places.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have rules for bringing medication back into the United States. If you buy medications abroad, the medications must meet CBP’s and the FDA’s requirements to bring them back legally.

The medications must also be for personal use and approved for use in the United States.

For more information:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Food and Drug Administration

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Surrogacy

• Surrogacy is unregulated in Burma with no clear legal protections for foreign intended parents. Surrogacy agreements may not be enforced by courts in Burma.
• Surrogacy in Burma is often connected to human trafficking.
• The lack of a legal framework means surrogacy for foreigners is not officially permitted and carries significant risks of being considered illegal under human trafficking laws.
• Medical care in Burma is significantly substandard. Any surrogacy or ART would carry significant health risks in addition to legal risks.

Water quality and food safety

• Tap water is not safe to drink in Burma.
• Bottled water and beverages are generally safe. Use major brands and ensure the seal is intact.
• You may want to request no ice in your drinks since it may be made using tap water.
• Eating uncooked vegetables and fruits can make you sick.
• Make water safe by filtering, boiling, disinfecting, or distilling.
• Impure water and some popular street food can cause diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and dysentery.
• Electricity outages occur frequently in Burma and can cause food to spoil in restaurants or grocery stores without generators.

Air quality

Air pollution can be a significant problem in many destinations abroad.

• Check NASA’s Air Quality Forecast. It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), historical data, and global pollution modeling to generate a 3-day forecast of expected air quality in Burma.
• For information about common air pollutants, check the CDC’s Air Quality page.
• For information about the U.S. Air Quality Index and health guidance, check out the EPA’s AirNow.
• Review our information on Medicine and Health.

Transportation

Road conditions and safety

• Rangoon traffic is congested. Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles, animals, and heavy pedestrian traffic create dangers for drivers. If you drive in Burma, remain alert to avoid hitting pedestrians. If you are a pedestrian, remain alert even when you believe you have the right of way.
• Although major thoroughfares (e.g., the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway) have received government attention and undergone improvements, many roads in Burma are in poor condition or may be blocked after heavy rains or earthquakes.
• Many roads outside of Rangoon have 1 to 2 lanes, are often potholed, unpaved, and unlit at night.
• Many truckers reportedly drive under the influence of methamphetamines and other stimulants. Drunken or drugged drivers are common during the 4-day, mid-April Buddhist water festival known as Thingyan.
• Driving at night is particularly dangerous. Drivers often do not turn on their headlights until the sky is completely dark. Many do not use headlights at all. Many cyclists use no lights or reflectors.
• Traffic signage is minimal. Basic safety standards are not enforced.
• Roadside assistance and ambulances are generally unavailable.

Traffic laws

• Vehicles drive on the right side of the road as in the United States. However, many vehicles still have the steering wheel positioned on the right side of the car.
• The “right of way” concept is not respected. Drivers are aggressive, often dangerously driving into oncoming lanes to avoid traffic, and do not yield to pedestrians.
• Vehicles generally lack seat belts.
• Child car seats are unavailable.
• Most accidents are settled between the parties on site, with the party at fault paying the damages. In the event of an accident with a pedestrian, the driver- especially a foreigner - is always considered to be at fault and subject to fines or arrest.

Taxis and ride-shares

• Taxis and ride-shares are generally safe but can be in poor condition or lack seatbelts.
• Take particular care when taking taxis late at night.
• To avoid confrontation or overcharging, negotiate rates with the driver prior to departure.
• Consider using trusted ride-share apps such as Grab that provide a record of where you are traveling and a set fare in advance.
• Observe whether the driver seems impaired due to drinking or drugs.
• When in doubt, hail another taxi.
• If a curfew is instituted, plan to return to your domicile 1 or 2 hours before curfew since taxis become scarce near curfew hours.

• Public transportation is available in Rangoon and some other parts of the country.
• Many trains and buses are overcrowded and can be old and poorly maintained.
• Beware of pickpockets.
• Because of periodic nighttime curfew regulations throughout the country, intercity night buses often pull over to the side of the road during curfew hours with passengers remaining on the bus. The buses resume travel once the curfew is lifted. For these reasons, the U.S. embassy discourages the use of these intercity night buses for its employees.
• Review our information on Driving and Transportation Safety Abroad.

Aviation safety oversight

• The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Burma’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international standards for aviation safety oversight. 
• FAA's website includes more information on its assessment program.

Maritime travel

Mariners and passengers planning travel to Burma should check the following:

• U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) Advisories
• MARAD Active Maritime Alerts
• Maritime Safety Office Navigational Warnings
• U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Commons

The U.S. Coast Guard is unable to determine if effective anti-terrorism measures are in place in Burmese ports as required by 46 U.S. Code § 70108. Mariners and passengers traveling through Burmese ports should exercise caution and implement enhanced security measures. 

Weather and natural disasters

Weather conditions

Earthquakes

• Burma is a seismically active country, with the Sagaing Fault running north and south through the center of the country, including Yangon, Naypyidaw and Mandalay. A massive 7.7 earthquake struck near Mandalay in March 2025, killing over 5,000.

Monsoon flooding and landslides

• These are a significant risk during the wet season from May to October, particularly from July to September.
• Flooding can rapidly block unpaved roads and bridges. This causes severe disruption to travel by road, rail, and river. It can leave people stranded or cut off from their routes.
• Expect delays and check on-the-ground conditions before attempting to travel to rural or mountainous regions. This is where flash floods and landslides are most likely.

Tropical cyclones and storms

• These are most likely during the pre-monsoon from April to May. They are also common post-monsoon from October to November.
• Cyclones bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous storm surges to coastal areas. This leads to airport and seaport closures.
• Cyclones pose a direct physical danger to anyone in the path of the storm.

Extreme heat and heatwaves

• There are extremely high temperatures from March to May.
• Temperatures can rise above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the central plains, like Bagan and Mandalay.
• Heat can pose a significant health risk, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke.