Pan Pan
The military regime has imposed stricter rules on traveling abroad for work. On 6 June, the junta banned the conversion of Passport for Job (PJ) to Passport for Visit (PV), according to passport service providers.
Although the restriction is not officially announced on social media and websites, the passport offices no longer accept the conversion, according to those who went to the passport office and the service providers.
The prohibition of men from traveling abroad with Passport for Job (PJ) in May led to a surge in leaving the country by converting into Passport for Visit (PV). This might be the reason for the recent restriction, a passport service broker said.
“Since people could not leave the country with PJ, they converted it into PV to go abroad. They would continue the process after arriving with PV. The number of applications converting passports is extremely high. That might lead to this restriction. The offices no longer process the conversions.”
The duration of this restriction on converting PJ to PV remains unclear. Previously, such conversions were allowed within six months of passport issuance, requiring an online appointment thereafter.
Mizzima tried to contact the passport office in Yangon for detailed information regarding the issue, but in vain.
A man in Yangon attempting to obtain a passport said that the junta might impose stricter regulations on leaving the country, so he is preparing to leave the country as soon as possible.
“I applied for PV since I am doing the passport now, so it is better. I am planning to study in Japan by using the PV first. It is crucial to leave quickly because the regulations might tighten in the future. So, I am paying extra fees to speed up the process. Brokers are charging the price of around three million kyat.”
On May 1, the junta restricted men aged 23 to 31 from going abroad for work. Then, on 6 June, they prohibited those holding Passport for Job from converting to Passport for Visit.
Following the enactment of the Military Conscription Law on 10 February, many men eligible under the law began leaving the country. As a result, the junta is tightening up who is allowed to go abroad.
