Myanmar nationals in Thailand face new passport hurdle

The Myanmar embassy in Bangkok has announced that it will stop renewing the passports of Myanmar nationals studying at language schools and other non-accredited educational institutions in Thailand. In a statement released on Thursday, the embassy said that consular offices would no longer extend the passports of those staying in Thailand on non-formal education, or “Non-Ed,” visas. The visas are popular among Myanmar nationals and other foreigners who wish to remain in Thailand for longer than the few months normally granted to tourists. This includes many who have fled Myanmar since the military seized power in February 2021. In its statement, the embassy said that there was a growing number of students “who have obtained the Non-ED visa while studying virtually,” suggesting that this was not a valid reason to stay in Thailand. Many, it said, were studying Thai or learning how to teach English at schools without accreditation. “Therefore, the consular offices starting from Monday, September 16, will suspend the process” of extending passports, the embassy said. It added, however, that students at universities would be allowed to renew their passports as usual. The announcement was greeted with concern on social media, where many Myanmar passport holders lamented the latest move by the country’s military regime to restrict citizens’ freedom of movement. “This just makes more trouble for Myanmar citizens living abroad. Their embassies only make more difficulties for them,” one social media user commented on the embassy’s Facebook page. Another social media user commented, “It is obvious they won’t renew the passports because they want us for conscription.” Earlier this year, the junta began enforcing the People’s Military Service Law, enacted by a previous regime more than a decade ago. Under the law, men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 are required to serve three to five years in the military. Since the draft came into effect, many young people have left Myanmar to work or study abroad. As Myanmar’s closest neighbour, Thailand has been the favoured destination of most.To stem the flow, the regime has introduced many new restrictions specifically targeting citizens of conscription age, including a move last week aimed at preventing border crossings at Kawthaung, in Myanmar’s far south.

Myanmar nationals in Thailand face new passport hurdle

The regime’s embassy in Bangkok has moved to end passport renewals for students getting visas through unaccredited schools

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