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Government Laws

The Burma Immigration Act 1947

The Burma Immigration Act ¹⁸ prohibits a foreigner from entering the country without an immigration permit. Under the act, anyone who assists or attempts to assist any person in illegally entering Burma is subject to imprisonment, a fine, or both.¹⁹ The act also punishes anyone who willfully suppresses information or gives false information to prevent the apprehension of any foreigner who has illegally entered Burma.²⁰ Falsifying an immigration permit or tampering with or altering such a permit subjects the offender to a prison sentence of up to 12 months.^{21 1} The following are extracts from the Burma Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1947: No foreigner shall enter the Union of Myanmar without valid passport duty visa or endorsed by or on behalf of the President. (Act 3.1) No Citizen of the Union of Myanmar shall enter the Union of Myanmar without a valid Union of Myanmar Passport or a certificate in lieu thereof, issued by a competent authority (Act 3.2) Any foreigner who breaches any of those conditions prescribed in visa principles shall render the holder liable to deportation from the Union of Myanmar if the President of the Union so directs. (Act 4.2) The President of any such authority appointed might order any foreigner who has been convicted under any section of the Act of rules made there under to be deported from the Union of Myanmar. (Act 7.1) In lieu of prosecution, authorized persons may order any foreigner who contravenes any of this Acts of rules made there under to be deported from the Union of Myanmar. (Act 7.2) Whoever enters or attempts to enter the Union of Myanmar of whoever after legal entry remains or attempts to remains in the Union of Myanmar in contravention of any of this Act or the rules made there under or any of the conditions set out in any permit or visa shall be punished with six months to five years imprisonment or with a fine of a minimum of Ks. 1500 or with both. (Act 13.1) Nothing in this Act shall apply to any duly accredited head of a foreign diplomatic mission or members of his household, or to members of his official staff and their families, or to any consular representative in the Union of Myanmar and his family. ¹ http://www.protectionproject.org/human_rights/countryreport/burma.htm