This country currently has a directory entry or basic profile only; a full handbook is planned.
01Overview
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Capital
- Naypyidaw
- Currency
- MMK
- Languages
- Burmese
- ISO code
- MM / MMR
Jurisdictions
- Myanmar — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules
Macro indicators such as GDP and population will be added from the World Bank in the data release (P1).
02Market Entry
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Managed through restricted and prohibited lists under the Myanmar Investment Law
- Applies to
- Political and international sanctions risks are significant
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Private company limited
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA, MyCo online)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
Managed through restricted and prohibited lists under the Myanmar Investment Law
- Applies to
- Political and international sanctions risks are significant
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
22%
- Applies to
- Companies listed on the Yangon Stock Exchange pay 17%
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
Commercial tax 5% (no VAT)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
0% on dividends to non-residents
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Internal Revenue Department
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- State Taxation Administration Internal Revenue Department
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
Strict foreign exchange controls
- Applies to
- Mandatory conversion since April 2022; MIC-approved and SEZ projects can be exempt
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Central Bank of Myanmar
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
No separate work permit currently; residence permits after a business visa
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Immigration and Population
- Applies to
- No foreign work permit regime at present
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Myanmar Customs Department
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
ASEAN, RCEP (in force for Myanmar 2022) and others
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations; Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Special economic zones
- Applies to
- Under the 2014 Myanmar SEZ Law
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
09Digital & IP
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Myanmar Intellectual Property Office (MIPO)
- Applies to
- The Trademark Law moved to first-to-file from April 2023
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- MOFCOM
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Myanmar
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Asia-Pacific, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
View Asia-Pacific risk monitor
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
- 1Decide model and jurisdiction
- 2Confirm licences
- 3Prepare documents
- 4Incorporate
- 5Register for tax
- 6Open bank account
- 7Obtain operating licences
- 8Start operations
Generic steps without times or fees; rely on the facts and official sources on this page.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻缅甸联邦共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.