Myanmar nationals in Thailand face hardship as PV passport renewals halted

By Admin 28 Aug 2026

DMG Newsroom

28 August 2026, Bangkok, Thailand

Myanmar nationals residing in Thailand report that the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand has announced that Passport for Visit (PV) renewals will only be processed with explicit approval from Nay Pyi Taw.

Starting August 19, the issuance of new PV passports and renewal of existing ones have been suspended.

Myanmar nationals in Thailand stated that renewing passports or changing status from a Passport for Visit (PV) to a Passport for Job (PJ), Passport for Education (PE), or Passport for Dependent (PT) will require approval directly from Nay Pyi Taw.

"If we have to wait like this, waiting for approval from Nay Pyi Taw could take a long time and lead to passports expiring. Expiration poses severe difficulties for those wishing to switch from a visit status to employment or student visas," a female Myanmar national in Thailand said.

Observers and residents said the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand has tightened passport renewal procedures to exert pressure on Myanmar political dissidents residing abroad.

The tightening of passport renewal procedures emerged following a visit to Thailand by self-appointed President Min Aung Hlaing on August 6 and 7.

"The main intention is to pressure politicians and dissidents living abroad. They want to check whether individuals are on their blacklist and use it as leverage. That's why Nay Pyi Taw is handling it directly. Whether issuing a new PV or renewing an existing one, applications must be submitted directly to Nay Pyi Taw," a male Myanmar national in Thailand said.

Myanmar embassies in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea have also announced that they will no longer renew passports for Myanmar citizens holding Passports for Visit (PV).

Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, political instability, economic downturns, and the conscription law have driven more than one million young people to leave the country through various channels, according to a 2026 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).