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 are not included yet; see official statistics such as the World Bank.
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 AdministrationInternal 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.