Lao visa sticker
Lao entry and exit stamps

Visitors to Laos must obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.[1]

Visa policy map

  Lao People's Democratic Republic
  Visa not required (30 days)
  Visa not required (15 days) or eVisa (30 days)
  Visa not required (14 days) or eVisa (30 days)
  Visa on arrival or eVisa (30 days)
  Visa required in advance

Visa exemption

Ordinary passports

According to the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, holders of ordinary passports of the following countries (including all ASEAN member states) may enter Laos without a visa for stays up to the duration listed below:[2]

30 days (11)

15 days (3)

14 days (1)

Diplomatic and service category passports

Holders of diplomatic and/or service category passports issued by following countries may enter Laos without a visa for up to 30 days (unless otherwise noted):[2]

D - diplomatic passports only
1 - 90 days
2 - 14 days

A visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic passports was signed with Turkey in November 2018, but it has yet to come into force.[13]

Visa on arrival and e-Visa

External image
image icon Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility
The official Lao e-Visa logo
eVisa Approval Letter
Visa on arrival for Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

Most nationals of other countries may obtain a visa on arrival in Laos or an e-Visa online for a fee, except those who are ineligible for either facility.

The duration of stay of a visa obtained upon arrival in Laos is 30 days, but can be extended twice, for a maximum stay of 90 days. Visa extensions are handled by the province immigration office inside Laos for a fee.[14][15]

The Laos e-Visa service was launched in July 2019.[16][17] It is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and its holders may stay for up to 30 days in Laos.[18] e-Visa can be issued within 3 business days.

Travellers eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa can enter Laos through one of the following ports of entry:[19][20]

Port of entryOpposite sideVoAeVisa
Luang Prabang International Airport—YesYes
Pakse International Airport—YesYes
Wattay International Airport—YesYes
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane)Nong Khai province, ThailandYesYes
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet)Mukdahan, ThailandYesYes
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge III (Thakhek)Nakhon Phanom province, ThailandYesNo
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge IV (Houayxay)Chiang Khong district, ThailandYesYes
SamliemkhamThailand and MyanmarYesNo
Thanaleng railway stationNong Khai railway station, ThailandYesNo
DaensavanLao Bảo, VietnamYesNo
VeunkhamNong nok khian, CambodiaYesNo
Vang taoChong Mek, ThailandYesNo
Boten (road checkpoint)Mohan, ChinaYesYes
Boten railway stationMohan railway station, ChinaNoYes

Ports not listed above do not accept visa on arrival nor e-Visa, some of them are closed to third-county visitors, others may require visitors from non-visa-exempt countries to show visas issued by Laos diplomatic missions.

Visa required in advance

Nationals of the following countries are ineligible to obtain a visa on arrival nor an e-Visa. They must thus obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions in advance. However, if they are traveling on an official visit, they may still obtain a visa on arrival, provided they are holding an official letter of guarantee issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos:[1][21]

Statistics

Most visitors arriving to Laos were from the following countries of nationality:[22]

See also

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Laos.

References

  1. 1 2 "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Visa exemption – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ". The Department of Immigration of Lao PDR. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 05 March 2004
  4. ↑ "Lao Airlines". www.laoairlines.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 10 May 2004
  6. 1 2 Under the Visa Agreement on 1 July 2004
  7. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 28 October 2004
  8. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 1 April 2005
  9. ↑ "Under the Visa Agreement on 10 April 2005" (PDF).
  10. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 14 September 2007
  11. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 20 November 2009
  12. ↑ Under the Visa Agreement on 23 September 2011
  13. ↑ "From Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "How to apply the visa extension". immigration.gov.la. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  15. ↑ "Law On EntryExit, And the Management of Foreigners in the Lao PDR Article 41 Section 5". Laoservicesportal.gov.la. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  16. ↑ Laos launches e-Visa service in Vientiane
  17. ↑ Lao E-visa launched for foreigners
  18. ↑ eVisa Laos
  19. ↑ "Checkpoints – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ". immigration.gov.la. Department of Immigration of Lao PDR. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  20. ↑ PDR, Consular Department-Ministry of Foreign Affairs LAO. "Lao e-Visa / Faq". laoevisa.gov.la. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  21. ↑ Who can Apply for Lao e-Visa
  22. ↑ "Statistical Reports on Tourism in Laos".


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