Significant safety concerns; travel only if you have a clear reason to go. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
The risk picture in Myanmar varies sharply by state, but very little of the country sits outside a formal warning. The official advisory guidance warns against all travel to Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon and Rakhine states. Along with Sagaing and Magway regions, northern Shan State, and most of Tanintharyi. These are the areas where fighting between the military and resistance groups is heaviest, and where landmines and airstrikes are most often reported. A second tier covers places where official advisory guidance warns against all but essential travel. This includes southern and eastern Shan State, Mandalay Region, parts of Bago region, and specific townships in Ayeyarwady. Yangon, the country's largest city, is not under a blanket warning, but official advisory guidance points to a steady pattern of small bomb attacks and unrest. The US notes that improvised explosive devices in Yangon (Rangoon) averaged about 21 detonations a month during 2024. Naypyidaw, the capital, and Mandalay city itself sit inside the essential-travel-only zone. Travellers should treat the country as a patchwork rather than assume any single region is calm, because front lines and curfews can shift within days.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Myanmar advice on 28 January 2026. The current wording stresses that the conflict is becoming more volatile and that the military regime can bring in new travel restrictions with little or no notice. The official advisory guidance also reminds travellers that travel insurance is likely to be void for any trip that ignores its advice. Which in practice rules out most of the country. The official advisory guidance reissued its Burma advisory on 12 May 2025 at Level 4, Do Not Travel. It cites armed conflict, arbitrary detention, landmines and a military conscription law that targets men and women aged 18 to 45, including dual nationals. US government staff face internal travel limits, and dependents under 21 are not allowed to join employees posted to the country. Both governments highlight a real risk of wrongful detention by the regime, with some foreign nationals held for long periods in poor conditions.
What travellers should know
Anyone still considering a trip should plan around the basics: entry rules, conscription exposure, and the limits of consular help. The military authorities have stopped some people from leaving the country, including dual nationals they view as eligible for conscription. Dual international-Myanmar and US-Myanmar citizens face the highest exposure here and should take legal advice before travelling. Healthcare outside Yangon is limited, and serious cases usually need medical evacuation to Bangkok. Cash is king because international cards rarely work, and power and internet outages are routine. Avoid political gatherings, do not photograph military sites, and expect checkpoints on most intercity routes. The international and US embassies in Yangon both warn that their ability to help in an emergency is reduced, especially outside the main city. Watch the official advisories pages closely in the days before any trip, because the security picture can change between booking and departure.