Myanmar Junta Restricts Migrant Passports to Thailand-Only Travel

(MYANMAR) Myanmar’s military authorities have imposed a sudden new passport restriction on their citizens working abroad, issuing documents marked for “Thailand only” travel and halting conversions from work to tourist passports, according to rights groups and local media reports as of September 26, 2025. The Myanmar junta’s move focuses on young men and is meant to slow the outflow of people who might otherwise avoid conscription, while tightening control over labor and remittances during a period of intense political instability.

Under the change, new passports for migrant workers are now valid only for travel to Thailand, and officials have stopped converting overseas work passports (known as PJ) into tourist passports (PV). The junta has also targeted men aged 23 to 31, who are now banned from working abroad so they remain available for the draft. This step blocks onward travel to countries like Malaysia, South Korea, or Japan. VisaVerge.com reports that this policy closes a path many used to escape military service by switching to tourist status and leaving for a third country.

Policy changes — what’s different

• The central measure is a “Thailand only” stamp or condition applied to new passports for migrant workers.
• There is a ban on PJ-to-PV conversion, removing a common route used to shift from work status to tourist status and then travel onward.
• The restrictions are targeted at men aged 23–31, effectively banning them from working abroad to preserve the pool available for conscription.

Officials appear motivated to:
– Assert tighter control over young citizens.
– Limit draft evasion.
– Keep remittance flows within state-approved channels.

Since early 2024, the military administration has required workers overseas to send at least 25% of their salary through junta-approved channels at weaker exchange rates, while also imposing extra taxes when applying for documents at Myanmar embassies abroad. These measures increase costs and pressure on families dependent on every dollar sent from abroad.

Immediate effects for migrants in Thailand

• PJ-to-PV conversion is no longer possible, cutting off a common route for onward travel or short-term exits from the workforce.
• Men aged 23–31 are effectively banned from working overseas, blocking plans to leave due to conflict or to avoid conscription.
• Travel to third countries is largely closed for most ordinary citizens unless they hold older, unrestricted passports.
• Renewals and conversions are difficult to secure, increasing the risk that documents will expire and people become undocumented.
• Legal status is at risk for those whose visas, permits, or passports are delayed in the renewal process; job loss or detention may follow if papers lapse.

Real-life consequences: a construction worker in Samut Sakhon who saved to convert to a tourist passport and fly to Malaysia can no longer do so. A 25-year-old electrician expecting a transfer to South Korea may be stuck with a “Thailand only” passport and a ban on working abroad. Families relying on future earnings face immediate financial strain and may take on debt.

Broader context and enforcement mechanics

• The policy sits on top of the reactivation of conscription laws in February 2024, which drove many young people to seek exits abroad.
• Previously, some exploited a loophole by converting to tourist passports and then moving to a third country. That loophole is now closed.
• The combined measures (Thailand-only passports, no PJ-to-PV conversion, forced remittance via official channels) create what analysts call a closed loop that traps workers while channeling hard currency into state-controlled pipelines.

Impact on Thailand’s economy and employers

• Sectors that rely heavily on Burmese labor—seafood, construction, agriculture, hospitality—could see worsening shortages.
• Employers may face higher turnover, more administrative checks, and potential fines if staff slip into irregular status.
• Business groups in Thailand are monitoring the situation closely; negotiations between Bangkok and Naypyidaw are ongoing but so far have not resolved the core passport restriction.

Practical steps and guidance

• For current rules on stay and extensions inside Thailand, migrant workers can consult the Thai Immigration Bureau’s official guidance at: https://www.immigration.go.th/?lang=en.
• While Thai guidance does not change Myanmar’s passport policy, it can help workers understand options for maintaining lawful presence in Thailand.

Recommended preparatory steps for migrants and employers:
1. Keep multiple copies of important documents (passport, visa, work permit).
2. Monitor visa and permit expiry dates closely.
3. Seek assistance from trusted community groups, legal clinics, or labor advocates.
4. Employers should budget extra time for renewals and monitor policy updates from Thai agencies.

Warnings and likely outcomes

• The passport restriction will likely increase irregular migration routes, raising the risk of smuggling, higher costs, and vulnerability to trafficking.
• Even if Thailand eases domestic procedures for work permits, Myanmar’s “Thailand only” passports will still block outward movement to third countries.
• For families split across borders, the measures mean delayed reunions and canceled plans to resettle in safer third countries.

“The policy is not just a rulebook change—it is a forced choice between stasis in Thailand and return to a country at war.” — reporting summarized from Radio Free Asia and Mizzima

Reporting and advocacy

Radio Free Asia and Mizzima have documented these developments since early 2024, tracking measures such as:
– Thailand-only passports
– The block on PJ-to-PV conversion
– The 25% remittance rule
– New taxes and fees at embassies

Advocacy groups and the National Unity Government (Myanmar’s shadow administration) have urged Thailand to keep the junta out of migrant affairs, citing exploitation and abuse in document handling and payment systems. Analysts, including VisaVerge.com, warn the combined rules create strong incentives for irregular movement and deepen the financial burden on migrant families.

For now, the passport restriction remains the central obstacle. Negotiations between Bangkok and Naypyidaw may ease some administrative pain points, but unless Myanmar changes its passport issuance rules, many migrants will remain constrained to Thailand only, with all the attendant legal, economic, and human-security consequences.