Junta-run immigration offices in northern Shan State’s Lashio City are quickly issuing National Identity Cards (NIC) to Chinese citizens whilst locals face far longer waits to receive NICs from the same office.

Following the withdrawal of Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) troops from Lashio City, following pressure from China, the junta re-took control of the city from the MNDAA on 21 April 2025.

On 19 May, the junta re-opened the district and township immigration offices in Lashio City. Since then they have speedily processed applications for NICs from Chinese citizens who pay bribes. Conversely, Lashio residents who are Myanmar citizens and did not pay a bribe face prolonged waits for their NIC applications to be processed.

A young man from Lashio said: “To apply for an NIC, people have to wait in front of the office from very early in the morning. By 6:00 am, there’s already a queue of hundreds. Those who don’t want to wait can pay a bribe through brokers. They don’t have to stand in line — they just enter through the back door. They usually receive their NICs much faster. The bribes are expensive, and most of those who can afford them are Chinese.”

Some NICs and household registration records held by the immigration offices were destroyed during fighting and anyone whose records were destroyed cannot get new copies of their NICs or household registration or register a change of address,  even if they have the original documents. 

A parent from Lashio City said to Shan Herald: “We went to the township immigration office to reapply for the household registration list, which is needed to enrol our child in school, but we couldn’t get it. The staff told us the documents had been destroyed during the fighting, even though we showed them a copy of the original. Instead, they just gave us something called smart cards.”

The smart card she referred to is a controversial 10-digit unique identification (UID) card, introduced by the junta. To obtain one, people have to submit their personal details and biometric information.

The junta announced that as of 27 May, residents of MNDAA-controlled Theinni (Hsenwi) and Kunlong townships in northern Shan State can apply for household registration lists, NICs, and UID cards at the district immigration office in Lashio City.

As of 22 May, government schools in Lashio City began accepting enrolments and are scheduled to open for the new academic year on 2 June.

The passport office in Lashio is expected to resume issuing passports in June, according to brokers familiar with the office.