More former citizens apply for permanent residency
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More former Myanmar citizens are expected to apply for permanent resident permits than foreign expatriates, according to Immigration and Manpower Department.
Application forms for the resident permits have been available free since December 24 last year and also can be downloaded from the department's website.
The system is planned to attract four types of would-be permanent residents such as foreign experts, investors, spouses married to Myanmar nationals including former nationals of Myanmar living abroad.
"As more former citizens have taken the forms, they would outnumber others to apply for the PR system on January 26 in person," said an official from the department.
A panel of experts will select those who have applied for the residency. And those who live overseas under a refugee status, a political asylum and having criminal records will not be considered.
A successful foreign applicant will be charged US$1,000 and a former citizen will be charged US$500 for a year to live as a permanent resident in the country. Their children aged 7 to 18 will be charged US$300 for a year. Children of a former citizen under 7 years old will be free of charge.
The duration of permanent residency is five years and would be able to extend for another five years upon expiration.
