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. According to the announcement, those living in Chiang Mai must submit copies of recommendations from their ward and police station in Myanmar where they previously resided, along with the original TM 30 form showing their current address in Thailand, to receive embassy endorsements.
The Chiang Mai Consulate Office has stated that they will no longer process any endorsements except for tourist visas and visa extension recommendations. However, sources close to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok confirmed that their office continues to provide endorsements for bank account openings and driver’s license applications, as well as black and white copies of documents. They also noted that ward and police station recommendations are not required for extensions in Bangkok. The Chiang Mai Military Council Consulate Office will only accept applications from Myanmar citizens who have long-term residence permits in Thailand, and for notary services, original translated documents along with color copies of all other documents must be submitted.
The Consulate Office has set a processing time of three days for regular embassy endorsements and up to 14 days for notary signatures. These new regulations will be implemented starting March 19. The office has specified that only Myanmar citizens with long-term residence permits in Thailand can apply for notary and various embassy endorsements, requiring original translated documents and color copies of all supporting documents.
A CDM officer residing in Bangkok analyzed that these strict regulations are deliberately targeting CDM staff and political activists who have fled to Thailand. He emphasized that it would be virtually impossible for CDM staff and political activists to obtain recommendations from wards and police stations in Myanmar, creating significant obstacles for their visa and stay permit extensions. This new requirement appears to be a calculated move to make life more difficult for those who have opposed the military council and sought refuge in Thailand.
