Myanmar revokes exemption for foreign-owned companies from currency conversion rule

21 July 2022

Via Letter No. FE-1/739 issued on 13 July 2022, the Central Bank of Myanmar announced that companies operating with the permission of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) and having 10% or more foreign investment will no longer be exempt from compliance with the foreign currency conversion system put in place from April 2022.

Effective immediately, banks holding an authorised dealer licence (that is, able to transact with foreign currency) will be obliged to convert these companies’ foreign currency into Myanmar Kyat within one business day of receipt as required by Notification No. 12/2022 issued on 3 April 2022.

Other exemptions to Notification No. 12/2022 remain valid, including companies making investments approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission as well those operating in special economic zones. 

Reference materials

To read our articles on the foreign currency developments in Myanmar that were issued soon after each was announced, please click on the titles below:

• Central Bank of Myanmar stipulates only Myanmar Kyat to be used in domestic payments (13 June 2022)
• Myanmar establishes Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee to oversee use of foreign currency (1 June 2022)
• Central Bank of Myanmar exempts exporters and importers under the Thai-Myanmar Border Trade and China-Myanmar Border Trade programs from foreign currency conversion requirements (10 May 2022)
• Central Bank of Myanmar announces exemptions to foreign currency conversion mandate (22 April 2022)
• Central Bank of Myanmar clarifies obligations relating to foreign currency conversion (8 April 2022)
• Central Bank of Myanmar requires foreign currency to be converted into Myanmar Kyat (5 April 2022)