Singapore, Myanmar citizens to enjoy visa-free travel from Dec 1

SINGAPORE and Myanmar have agreed to lift visa requirements for each other's citizens from Dec 1 this year.

The move benefits ordinary passport holders from the two Asean member states for stays of up to 30 days.

The two governments exchanged diplomatic notes on this visa exemption on Tuesday, which was witnessed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Myanmar State Counsellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw.

From 2011 to 2015, annual visitor arrivals from Myanmar to Singapore increased by 12 per cent to 105,452. There were 45,125 visitor arrivals from Singapore to Myanmar in 2015. That same year, visitors from Myanmar registered one of the highest per capita expenditure in Singapore at S$2,811.

On the first day of his official visit to Myanmar, Mr Lee met both President Htin Kyaw and Ms Suu Kyi at the presidential palace. He congratulated the two leaders on their successful elections.

In a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the leaders updated each other on plans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations this year.

They also discussed ways to strengthen economic ties through updating the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and working towards starting talks on a bilateral investment treaty.