Naypyidaw
Yangon, Mandalay
Burmese, also known as Myanmar language.
Burmese kyat (MMK)
Tropical Climate
Visa Application Link
For further details and to apply, visit:
https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/
To film in Myanmar, production companies typically need accreditation from the Myanmar Ministry of Information. This involves submitting detailed production information, including the script, crew list, and filming locations.
Film permits are issued by the Ministry of Information, specifically the Motion Picture and Video Production Department, in coordination with the Myanmar Investment Commission.
To apply for a film permit, production companies generally need to submit a completed application form, along with the script and storyboard. Additionally, they must provide a filming schedule, a list of locations, and a crew list. An equipment list is also required, as well as proof of insurance and liability coverage.
A fixer in Myanmar is instrumental in securing private film locations. They handle negotiations with property owners, acquire the necessary permits, and manage all logistics to ensure a smooth and successful filming experience.
The cost of securing a private film location can only be determined after reviewing the Film Production Synopsis. The final price depends on various factors, including location specifics, filming requirements, and negotiations with the property owner.
Operating drones for film and photography requires prior approval from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Drone flights must adhere to regulations concerning flight altitude, proximity to airports and sensitive areas, and pilot licensing.
Importing drones for film and photography purposes requires a permit from the Ministry of Commerce and the payment of customs duties. Drones must also be declared and registered with the relevant authorities.
To import drones, applicants need to provide a commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, certificate of origin, permit from the Ministry of Commerce, and technical specifications of the drone.
Drone permits for film and photography are issued by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The typical processing time for a drone permit is 7-14 working days. However, more complex applications or those requiring additional approvals may take 4-6 weeks or longer.
Ranges from $100 to $300 USD, with additional fees for more complex applications, extended filming periods, or special requirements.
In a Carnet country, the process involves obtaining an ATA Carnet from a national issuing association, listing the equipment to be temporarily imported. Upon arrival and departure, the Carnet is presented to customs. It must then be returned to the issuing association within a specified timeframe.
Film crews arriving in Myanmar must present several documents, including the Carnet, commercial invoices, packing lists, customs declaration forms, and a letter of introduction or authorization from the Myanmar Ministry of Information or the relevant government agency.
Customs clearance for film equipment is handled by the Myanmar Customs Department, under the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
Myanmar presents logistical challenges, infrastructure limitations, and bureaucratic complexities, making careful planning and local expertise essential for a smooth production.
Film crews are advised to exercise caution and adhere to safety protocols. This includes hiring local guides and fixers, respecting cultural norms, avoiding sensitive military or government areas, and staying updated on local conditions, protests, and weather forecasts.
No formal incentive / rebate
Myanmar
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Hoodlum offers expert film fixer services in Myanmar, supporting international productions across one of Southeast Asia’s most visually extraordinary and logistically demanding filming destinations.
Myanmar is a country of remarkable cinematic depth — thousands of ancient temples scattered across the plains of Bagan, the mist-covered waters of Inle Lake, the golden spires of Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, the colonial architecture of the former capital, the remote Himalayan terrain of Hkakabo Razi in the far north, the pristine island environments of the Myeik Archipelago, and the sweeping river journey of the Ayeyarwady through the country’s heartland. The visual range is extraordinary and largely unfamiliar to international audiences.
Productions considering Myanmar must understand the current operating environment. The country has been under military rule since the February 2021 coup. The political and security situation remains complex and subject to change, with significant implications for production logistics, authority relationships, crew safety and travel advisories from multiple governments. Hoodlum’s in-country team operates with full awareness of the current environment and helps productions make informed decisions about feasibility, risk management and operational planning.
For the right production — documentary, factual, travel, adventure and conservation work with a specific editorial reason to be in-country — Myanmar remains accessible with the right local expertise and preparation. This guide sets out the practical production framework.
Myanmar is a Southeast Asian filming destination that works for productions with a specific creative or editorial reason to be in-country — documentary, factual, travel, conservation, cultural and heritage programming that requires authentic Myanmar settings, landscapes and storytelling that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
The country is served by Yangon International Airport as the primary international hub, with domestic airports in Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Bagan (Nyaung-U), Heho (Inle Lake) and numerous regional airstrips. Road infrastructure varies significantly — the Yangon-Mandalay highway is well-maintained; routes to remote areas require careful planning.
The main production environments include Yangon and its colonial, sacred and urban character, the temple plains of Bagan, the Inle Lake valley, the royal city of Mandalay and its surrounds, the Ayeyarwady River corridor, the beaches and islands of the west and south coasts, and the remote northern highlands.
A successful Myanmar production requires early preparation across visa, Ministry of Information film permit, crew accreditation, DCA drone approval and ATA Carnet customs clearance — all in parallel. Security planning is a required component of the production plan, not an afterthought.
Productions come to Myanmar for visual and editorial reasons that cannot be served by proxy locations. The ancient temple landscape of Bagan — over 2,000 pagodas and temples visible from a single viewpoint — has no equivalent in Asia. Inle Lake’s floating gardens and leg-rowing fishermen represent a way of life that is unique to this corner of the world. The Ayeyarwady river journey connects a chain of cultural environments unavailable in any neighbouring country.
Strong production use cases include:
Productions should have a clear editorial or creative reason for being in-country and a realistic understanding of the current security environment before committing to a Myanmar production.
November to February is the optimal filming window — cool temperatures, dry conditions and clear skies across all main production environments.
March to May brings increasing heat and humidity. June to October is monsoon season — heavy rainfall, high humidity and challenging conditions for outdoor filming across most of the country.
Regional considerations:
Film crews require both a filming permit and a business visa. The filming permit from the Ministry of Information is required before the business visa can be finalised. Productions should initiate the permit process first.
Required documentation:
Processing time: Two to four weeks. Apply at least six to eight weeks in advance.
Estimated cost: USD 20–500 per person depending on visa type and length of stay.
eVisa application: https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/
Work authorisation for paid professional filming activity should be confirmed separately from standard visitor or business entry. Hoodlum coordinates the local sponsorship documentation required as part of the application.
Productions must obtain accreditation from the Myanmar Ministry of Information. This confirms professional status and is a required component of the overall approval framework.
Required documentation:
Processing time: Two to four weeks. Apply at least six to eight weeks in advance.
Estimated cost: USD 50–200 per person depending on accreditation type and duration.
Accreditation should run in parallel with the film permit process — not sequentially after it.
Film permits in Myanmar are issued by the Ministry of Information, specifically the Motion Picture and Video Production Department, in coordination with the Myanmar Investment Commission.
Required documentation:
Processing time: Two to four weeks for standard productions. Six to eight weeks or longer for larger or more complex productions requiring additional approvals.
Estimated cost: USD 500–5,000 or more depending on production nature, locations and duration.
Filming at heritage and archaeological sites including Bagan requires specific site authority permissions in addition to the Ministry permit. Filming near military installations, government buildings, restricted border areas and politically sensitive locations requires specific clearance — productions should never approach these without confirmed permission.
Bagan — the archaeological zone of over 2,000 ancient Buddhist temples, pagodas and stupas on the plains of the Mandalay Region. One of Asia’s most extraordinary archaeological landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ministry permit required. Archaeological zone authority permissions apply. Drone operations above Bagan have historically been restricted and require specific DCA and authority confirmation before any aerial scheduling.
Yangon — Myanmar’s largest city and former capital. The Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, the colonial Strand Hotel waterfront and the Scott Market district give productions a combination of sacred, colonial and urban environments. Municipal coordination for public location filming. Temple and pagoda filming requires specific religious authority permission.
Inle Lake, Shan State — the shallow, reed-fringed lake with floating gardens, stilt villages, five-day market rotations and the distinctive leg-rowing fishermen. One of the most cinematic inland water environments in Asia. State authority and local coordination required. Boat logistics required for most location access.
Mandalay — Myanmar’s second city and cultural heart. The Mandalay Hill viewpoint, the U Bein Bridge, the royal palace, ancient monasteries and the surrounding craft villages of Amarapura and Mingun give productions a concentrated heritage environment. U Bein Bridge sunset sequences are among the most requested filming moments in Myanmar.
Ayeyarwady River — Myanmar’s great river runs from the Himalayan foothills to the Andaman Sea. Slow boat journeys between Mandalay and Bagan, the delta region around Pathein and the river town characters along the route give productions a longitudinal journey environment unlike any other in Southeast Asia.
Ngapali Beach, Rakhine State — a quiet fishing village beach of genuine natural beauty on the Bay of Bengal. Accessible by domestic flight. Coastal filming with low commercial tourism development.
Myeik Archipelago, Tanintharyi Region — over 800 islands in the Andaman Sea, largely undeveloped and extraordinarily biodiverse. Remote access by liveaboard or charter. Restricted area permit required for some zones.
Drone operations require approval from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), under the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Operations must comply with regulations on flight altitude, proximity to airports and sensitive areas, and pilot licensing.
Required documentation (local drone permit):
Required documentation (drone importation):
Issuing authority: Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Processing time: Seven to fourteen working days for standard applications. Four to six weeks or longer for complex applications or those requiring additional approvals.
Estimated cost: USD 100–300 plus additional fees for complex applications, extended periods or special requirements.
Drone operations above Bagan’s archaeological zone, near military installations, above government buildings and in restricted areas require specific location-by-location confirmation beyond general DCA approval. Productions should not commit aerial sequences to the schedule without explicit DCA confirmation for each intended location.
Myanmar is an ATA Carnet country. Professional filming equipment can be imported under the standard Carnet system.
Required documentation:
Issuing authority: Myanmar Customs Department, Ministry of Planning and Finance.
Processing time: Two to four hours with complete documentation. One to two days or more if documentation is incomplete or additional inspection is required.
Estimated cost: USD 50–200 depending on shipment complexity, equipment type and whether a customs broker is used.
The Ministry of Information letter is a required supporting document for customs clearance — reinforcing the importance of confirming permit status before freight departs. All equipment should be listed with serial numbers and values.
Myanmar’s current security environment requires honest, direct assessment as part of any production planning conversation. The country has been under military rule since the February 2021 coup. Multiple governments maintain travel advisories for Myanmar, and the security situation varies significantly by region and can change rapidly.
Productions planning to film in Myanmar should conduct a current security assessment with Hoodlum’s in-country team before any commitment is made. The following guidance reflects the general production security framework — but current conditions must be verified before any specific location or timing is planned.
Key safety and security considerations:
Myanmar does not currently operate a published national film rebate or tax incentive programme for international productions. The primary production advantage is visual and logistical — authentic and visually exceptional environments with relatively low production costs for crew, location access and logistics by regional standards.
Confirm current incentive landscape with Hoodlum before budgeting any financial support.
Business visa, Ministry of Information film permit, crew accreditation, DCA drone approval, ATA Carnet customs clearance and heritage or site-specific permissions are all separate processes. None covers the others. The Ministry film permit is required before the visa can be finalised and is a required supporting document for customs clearance.
A complete production plan connects:
Allow six to eight weeks from first engagement to first filming day as the minimum pre-production window.
Myanmar is the right choice when a production has a specific editorial or creative reason to be in-country that cannot be served elsewhere — and when the production team has the experience, preparation and local support to operate there safely and responsibly given the current environment.
It is especially suitable for:
It is not suitable for productions that can achieve their creative goals elsewhere, cannot allocate adequate resources to security planning, or do not have an experienced local fixer partner engaged from the earliest planning stage.
Avoid:
Support may include:
Do international film crews need a visa to film in Myanmar? Yes. A business visa and a filming permit are both required. The filming permit from the Ministry of Information must be obtained before the visa can be finalised. Allow six to eight weeks total. Apply at https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/. Estimated cost: USD 20–500 per person.
Is it safe to film in Myanmar currently? Myanmar has been under military rule since the 2021 coup and the security situation remains complex and variable by region. Productions must conduct a current security assessment with Hoodlum before any travel is committed, and must check current government travel advisories for all crew nationalities. Hoodlum provides current, location-specific safety guidance.
Can productions film at Bagan? Yes, but Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site archaeological zone requiring specific permissions beyond the Ministry film permit. Drone operations above Bagan have historically been restricted and require specific DCA and archaeological authority confirmation — do not commit aerial Bagan sequences to the schedule without explicit confirmation.
Can productions use drones in Myanmar? Yes, with DCA approval. Processing takes seven to fourteen working days for standard applications, up to six weeks for complex ones. Estimated cost: USD 100–300. Drone operations near military sites, government buildings and restricted areas require location-specific confirmation. Operations above Bagan require additional archaeological authority approval.
Is Myanmar a Carnet country? Yes — Myanmar is an ATA Carnet country. Customs clearance takes two to four hours with complete documentation. The Ministry of Information letter is a required supporting document. Cost: USD 50–200.
What is the best time to film in Myanmar? November to February — cool, dry and clear conditions across most of the country. Avoid June to October monsoon season for outdoor productions. March to May is manageable but increasingly hot.
What documents are typically needed? Ministry of Information film permit (required first), business visa, crew accreditation, script and storyboard, filming schedule, location list, equipment list, insurance and liability coverage, ATA Carnet, DCA drone permit and flight plan, and current security assessment documentation.