CNI News
2 October 2025
Analysts in economics and politics warn that tightened restrictions on those leaving Myanmar for various reasons could lead to corruption among lower-level officials.
According to the population census conducted at the end of 2024, the country’s population was found to be declining. Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing explained that the population decrease was due to the large numbers of people leaving the country.
In January 2025, the Ministry of Labor began imposing stricter regulations and certain prohibitions on men between the ages of 18 and 35 who sought employment abroad.
Similarly, when young people attempted to leave Myanmar for overseas destinations, some staff at airports blocked their departures on security grounds or demanded money.
Because many of those wishing to leave the country are young people of military service age, there might be interrogations and tighter scrutiny. Observers note that if the process is not smooth, opportunities arise for those who can manipulate the situation which effectively encourages corruption.
U Thet Lwin Toe, a Myanmar travel business operator, told CNI News:
“As departure restrictions have become tighter recently, I think young people of military service age will inevitably face some questioning and strict scrutiny. Some will still be able to pass smoothly. But at present, for those who are legally allowed to go abroad, if the process is smooth and convenient, it’s much better. Otherwise, when some people find ways to bypass the system while others exploit it, it ends up encouraging corruption.”
While entry cards are being issued at Yangon International Airport
After Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made remarks on the issue of overseas departures, the bylaw of the Military Service Law was promulgated on January 23, 2025.
Article 51 of that law stipulates that anyone who receives a military conscription summons may not leave the country without permission from the Central Recruitment Committee.
Dr. Nyo Nyo Thin, chair of the Yangon Watch Group, told CNI News that if those responsible deal effectively with the misconduct, the public will benefit:
“Even though departure restrictions are in place, sometimes it depends on the attitude and discretion of the officials on duty. In such cases, some people are allowed to go and others are not. But there are also officials engaging in misconduct and making arbitrary decisions. The consequences affect citizens in major ways. If responsible officials give clear instructions and take effective action against misconduct, the people will benefit.”
Even before such official restrictions were introduced, many young people in Myanmar who wished to go abroad had already resorted to illegal border crossings into neighboring countries.
Currently as well, Myanmar citizens continue to leave the country for a variety of reasons.
