Burmese nationality law currently recognizes three categories of citizens, namely citizen, associate citizen and naturalized citizen, according to the 1982 Citizenship Law. Citizens, as defined by the 1947 Constitution, are persons who belong to an "indigenous race", have a grandparent from an "indigenous race", are children of citizens, or lived in British Burma prior to 1942.
Under this law, citizens are required to obtain a National Registration Card , while non-citizens are given a Foreign Registration Card . Citizens whose parents hold FRCs are not allowed to run for public office.

Burma has a stratified citizenship system (from the 1982 Citizenship Law), based on how one's forebears obtained it:

• Full citizens are descendants of residents who lived in Burma prior 1823 or were born to parents who were citizens at the time of birth.
• Associate citizens are those who acquired citizenship through the 1948 Union Citizenship Law.
• Naturalized citizens refers to persons who lived in Burma before 4 January 1948 and applied for citizenship after 1982.

Dual citizenship is not recognized by Burma. Naturalization in another country immediately voids Burmese citizenship.

Foreigners cannot become naturalized citizens of Burma, unless they can prove a close familial connection to the country.