At the town of Kan Paik Ti situated on the border with China in Kachin State, there has been a temporary suspension of issuing new border passes, commonly referred to as Red Books. As a result, individuals who require a border pass are now resorting to negotiating and applying through brokers. This alternative method of application can be quite costly, typically ranging from 100000 to 500000 kyats, according to locals.
Since May 12th, the Kachin State Border Security Department, under the authority of the Military Council, has temporarily halted the issuance of border passes. Consequently, approximately 500 travelers are currently stranded at Kan Paik Ti as a result of this policy change. It has come to light that some individuals are managing to obtain border passes through brokers by paying higher fees than the standard rates set by the authorities, a local who did not want to be named told KNG.
"The issuance site for border passes is currently closed. Individuals in urgent need of a border pass are resorting to negotiating with brokers, paying fees ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 kyats. Certain travelers are determined not to face any delays and are pursuing border pass applications through any means possible. I heard that the process of issuing border passes has been temporarily halted due to inspections by higher-ranking officials, although I can’t say exactly”, he said.
When opting to apply for a border pass through brokers, individuals are required to pay a substantial sum of money to the officials responsible for issuing the pass. Additionally, they must also pay service fees amounting to hundreds of thousands of kyats to the brokers facilitating the process.
People from various regions of Myanmar who arrived with the aspiration to work in China and are now stranded in Kan Paik Ti are currently seeking shelter in suitable accommodations such as guesthouses, religious buildings, warehouses, and the homes of their relatives. They are patiently waiting for their border passes to be reissued so they can proceed with their intended work opportunities in China.
However, with each passing day, the cost of accommodation and other expenses has been steadily rising, making it increasingly challenging for those who are waiting.
"If the suspension of border pass issuance continues for an extended period, it will undoubtedly present significant challenges for these individuals. A considerable number of those stranded in Kan Paik Ti hail from Rakhine State. As time passes, their expenses continue to accumulate, leading to financial strain. Even at present, they express their distress over the exorbitant costs of accommodation, which they find burdensome”, a Kan Paik Ti resident noted.
At present, only the issuance of new border passes has been suspended while existing border pass holders are still permitted to travel through the border without any disruption or changes to the established procedures.
KNG made attempts to contact the Kan Paik Ti immigration office regarding the resumption of the border pass issuance process. However, their calls went unanswered, and they were unable to obtain any information regarding the timeline for when the issuance of border passes will resume.
According to local sources, the process of issuing border passes at the Kan Paik Ti border gate has experienced intermittent suspensions on at least three occasions between the beginning of this year and June. In situations where individuals are in urgent need of a border pass, it has been reported that some resort to negotiating for higher fees or reaching agreements to expedite the process.
Initially, the service fee for issuing a border pass was set at a mere 5000 kyats. However, since the end of 2022, there has been a significant increase in the fee, ranging between 15000 and 20000 kyats.
Nevertheless, in the current period of border pass issuance suspension, individuals who manage to acquire border passes through brokers are being compelled to pay exorbitant sums ranging from 100000 to 500000 kyats.
