DHAKA: Myanmar launched an online visa application on Monday promising an end to painful waits for permits to visit the once secretive nation as it tries to lure five million tourists a year by 2015.

The e-visa is open to tourists from 41 countries, from Singapore, China, Japan and North Korea to the United States and Britain, Minister of Immigration and Population Khin Yi told reporters, according to The Straits Times.

The website is at www.evisa.moip.gov.mm.

The entry permit will cost US$50 and be valid for 28 days to those arriving at Yangon’s international airport, said Yi, adding it will take five days to process.

‘This is a special moment for our country... as the process improves, we will extend it - more countries will be added in the list,’ he added.

BDST: 1955 HRS, SEP 01, 2014