The Military Council’s Consulate Office in Chiang Mai announced on March 18 that Myanmar citizens residing in Thailand must submit recommendations from their ward administrators and police stations in Myanmar to obtain embassy endorsements for visa and stay permit extensions. Myanmar nationals seeking embassy endorsements in Chiang Mai must submit copies of recommendations from their respective wards and police stations in Myanmar, along with the original TM30 form showing their current address in Thailand, to receive embassy certification.
The Military Council’s Chiang Mai Consulate Office has declared that it will only process endorsements for tourist visas and visa extensions, excluding other types of certifications. However, according to a source close to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, the embassy there provides endorsements for bank account openings and driver’s license applications, allows black and white copies of documents, and does not require ward and police station recommendations for extensions. The Chiang Mai Consulate Office, under the control of the military council, will only accept applications from Myanmar citizens who have long-term residence permits in Thailand for notary and various embassy endorsements.
For notary services, applicants must submit original translated documents and color copies of all other documentation. The office has set a processing time of three days for regular embassy endorsements and up to 14 days for notary signatures. These restrictions will be implemented starting March 19, as announced by the Myanmar Consulate Office in Chiang Mai under the military council’s authority. The office requires color copies of all documents in addition to original translation documents for notary services.
A CDM officer residing in Bangkok criticized these strict regulations, stating that they specifically target Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) staff and political activists who have fled to Thailand. He emphasized that requiring ward and police station recommendations from Yangon for foreign residence permits and visa extensions is an unreasonable approach, as it is impossible for CDM staff and political activists to obtain such documentation. He further noted that this appears to be a deliberate pressure tactic by the military council to create difficulties for those opposing their rule. The requirements particularly affect those who have fled Myanmar due to political persecution, making it extremely challenging for them to maintain their legal status in Thailand.
