You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

August 27, 2025

Myanmar to Enforce Registered Office and Directors’ Address Requirements

Subscribe to Updates

Myanmar’s Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) has issued an announcement reinforcing compliance obligations under the Myanmar Companies Law (MCL). This follows recent updates to reporting requirements and signals increased regulatory scrutiny regarding registered office addresses and directors’ residential information submitted online via MyCO, Myanmar’s company registration system.

Key Compliance Areas

Under the MCL, every company must maintain a registered office for official communication and legal correspondence. Any change to this address must be reported to the DICA registrar.

In April 2023, DICA introduced additional reporting obligations for newly incorporated companies. The additional rules require companies to submit their Annual Return accompanied by verification documents within two months of incorporation. These documents include a recommendation letter from the relevant township police station or ward administrator confirming the operational status and physical location of the registered office. Directors’ residential addresses must also be verified through similar documentation, and foreign directors are required to submit the arrival notification form issued by the Immigration Department.

For companies operating through a virtual office, clarification from a DICA official indicates that the virtual office address must correspond with the registered address submitted via MyCO. A recommendation letter confirming the validity and operational status of the virtual office must be submitted.

Legal Consequences

The recent announcement signals that DICA will begin enforcing these requirements in earnest. Failure to comply with the additional reporting obligations may result in inspections and enforcement actions by the DICA registrar, or complaints from third parties. It may also lead to penalties or other legal consequences as prescribed under the MCL.

Recommended Actions

It is strongly advised that all newly incorporated companies and their directors:

  • Review their MyCO submissions for accuracy.
  • Secure the required supporting documents within the Annual Return deadline.
  • Ensure that all address information reflects the company’s actual and lawful operating premises.
Related Professionals

Practices

Corporate/M&A

Location

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

February 20, 2023
On December 20, 2022, the Notification re: Rules, Procedures, and Conditions on Transfer of Energy Licenses of the Thailand Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) became effective. The notification sets out the new standard and procedure for transferring licenses for energy industry operation. The notable changes in the notification are provided below. Anti-Competition Consideration and Impact Assessment Report In considering the transfer of a license, in addition to ensuring the transferee meets all the qualifications for an applicant for the license, the ERC will consider if the transfer would (1) create a monopoly, reduce or restrict competition, or result in market dominance; (2) affect the contracting parties of the transferors or energy users; or (3) affect energy security or the public interest. In this respect, the vetting process for an application for license transfer would be separated into two different approaches. If the ERC believes that the transfer of the energy license would affect competition, energy users, energy security, or the public interest, the transferor will need to submit an impact assessment report on the license transfer to the ERC. In this regard, the ERC may establish a sub-committee or an independent consultant to contemplate the transfer at the transferor’s expense. However, if the ERC believes that the transfer of license would not lead to any impact, the transferor will not be required to submit the impact assessment. Also, if the license transfer is related to any transactions specified under the ERC’s Regulation re: Rules and Procedures on Merger and Cross-Shareholding in Energy Businesses, B.E. 2565, the ERC can combine the license transfer application with the M&A application. After approval, the ERC might require the transferee to periodically report to the ERC and comply with measures stipulated by the ERC. Therefore, an energy license holder which plans to carry out M&A
Read More
February 16, 2023
Thailand has issued a Royal Decree on the Supervision of Regulated Digital Identification Authentication and Verification Service Businesses B.E. 2565 (2022) (the “Royal Decree”), aimed at regulating business operators that provide digital identification authentication and verification services (“Digital ID Services”). The Royal Decree was published in the Government Gazette in December 2022, and will take effect 180 days from the publication date, i.e., on June 21, 2023. The key details and requirements of the Royal Decree are as follows: Regulated Digital ID Services Under the Royal Decree, the provision of the following Digital ID Services requires prior approval from the Electronic Transaction Development Agency: Identity verification service – Services for collecting and identifying information relating to the identity of a person, and verifying the connections between the person and the identity. Authenticator issuance and management service – Services relating to the connection between a person who has passed the identification process with an authenticator, and managing actions which are used to identify a person. Authentication service – A process to authenticate a person by inspecting his/her authenticator. Digital ID networks/systems – Provision of networks or systems used to exchange information for digital identification purposes, excluding services provided by an intermediary. Exempted Digital ID Services The Royal Decree also specifies a list of Digital ID Services that are exempted from supervision under the Royal Decree, as follows: Issuance of certificates to support the use of electronic signatures in accordance with the Electronic Transaction Act. Digital ID Services conducted for use within the operator’s own business only, and which do not involve the provision of such services to third parties. Other Digital ID Services as prescribed by the Electronic Transaction Committee. Qualifications of Business Operators The types of business operators qualified to operate Digital ID Services include (i) private limited companies;
Read More
February 8, 2023
Thailand has a robust legal framework for competition, with laws and regulations in place to prevent anticompetitive conduct and market concentration and to promote fair competition. However, as the business environment in the country continues to evolve, it is important for companies operating in Thailand to stay informed about the latest developments in competition laws and regulations. Generally, Thailand’s competition regime is based on the Trade Competition Act B.E. 2560 (2017) (the TCA) and its implementing regulations, except for certain industries which are governed by sector-specific competition regulations. The TCA is designed to promote free and fair competition by suppressing anticompetitive behaviors. In this article, we will examine what businesses can expect in the coming year, and what they need to be aware of in order to stay compliant. A Maturing Regulatory Structure The Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) is the agency responsible for enforcing competition laws and regulations in Thailand. The TCCT has the authority to oversee the market structure, act to maintain competitiveness in various industries, investigate misconduct, and take action against companies that engage in anticompetitive practices, such as abuse of market dominance, cartels, and unfair trade practices. It also has discretionary power to consider applications for a merger of two or more businesses that may cause monopoly or market dominance. While the TCA and the TCCT had limited success in the decades after the original TCA’s enactment in 1999, a new TCA in 2017 made several significant changes to the previous version of the law. The 2017 TCA guarantees the independence of the TCCT from political and business interventions. It also introduces administrative penalties for less-serious offenses, including non-hardcore cartels, unfair trade practices, and neglect of merger filing duties. Since then, the TCCT has been more active in its issuance of subordinate regulations to
Read More
February 7, 2023
Phuong Thi Minh Tran, an associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ office Ho Chi Minh City, contributed the Vietnam chapter of Foreign Investment Review 2023, a recently published global guide to the legal and regulatory environment for foreign investment in 29 jurisdictions worldwide. Published and distributed by Getting the Deal Through (GTDT), the guide discusses law and policy on oversight of foreign investment, regulatory frameworks, procedural requirements, and other important stipulations for foreign investors. The Vietnam chapter covers the following topics: Law and Policy: Government policies and practices, main laws and their scope of application (including details on investment promotional measures), definitions, rules for state-owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds, relevant authorities and oversight, and national interest provisions. Procedure: Jurisdictional thresholds, national interest clearance, securing approval, the review process for competition clearance and associated penalties, involvement of authorities, facilitation of clearance, and post-closing regulatory powers. Substantive assessment: Substantive tests for clearance, authorities’ consultation with other countries and other relevant parties, transactional prohibitions and objections, mitigating arrangements and challenges to a decision, and protection of confidential information. Recent cases, updates, and trends: Relevant recent case law, key recent and ongoing developments. A PDF of the Vietnam chapter can be accessed through the button below. Tilleke & Gibbins also contributed the Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar chapters to Foreign Investment Review 2023. To browse all 29 jurisdictions covered by the guide, please visit the Getting the Deal Through website.
Read More