Laos Visa Availability: Airport Access And Entry Requirements

Laos has different visa requirements depending on the traveller's nationality and type of passport. 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 eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa. The Laos e-Visa system was launched in July 2019, allowing citizens from 162 eligible countries to apply online. The Laos visa on arrival is available for travellers planning to stay in the country for up to 30 days with a single entry. This visa can be obtained at major entry points, including Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province, and Pakse International Airport in Champasak Province.

Laos e-Visa application process

The Laos e-Visa system has streamlined the visa application process for travellers, offering a convenient and straightforward alternative to traditional visas. The e-Visa is available to citizens of 162 countries and can be used to enter Laos through five international ports: Wattay International Airport and Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I in Vientiane, Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang, Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II in Savannakhet, and Pakse International Airport in Champasak.

Who Can Get a Laos e-Visa?

The Laos e-Visa is available to citizens of 162 countries. Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the e-Visa and must obtain a visa from a Laotian embassy or consulate: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Types of e-Visas

There are two types of e-Visas available for foreign nationals:

• Tourist e-Visa: This is a single-entry visa that allows visitors to stay in Laos for 30 consecutive days within a 60-day period. It is suitable for those visiting friends or family, exploring the country, or spending holidays in Laos.
• Business e-Visa: This visa is for foreign nationals who want to enter Laos for training, business meetings, or investment purposes. It is also valid for 60 days, with a maximum stay of 30 days.

Requirements for the Laos e-Visa

To apply for the Laos e-Visa, applicants must meet the following general requirements:

• A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Laos.
• A digital passport-sized photograph.
• A credit or debit card for payment of the visa fee.
• A valid email address to receive the confirmation email.

Please note that the Laos e-Visa is only for tourism or business purposes. For other purposes, such as work, study, or residence, a different type of visa is required.

How to Apply for the Laos e-Visa

The Laos e-Visa can be obtained by following these simple steps:

• Gather the required documents, including a valid passport, digital passport-sized photo, and payment method.
• Visit the website of a Laos e-Visa provider, such as VisaHQ or iVisa, and select your citizenship.
• Fill out the online application form with the required personal, passport, contact, and travel information.
• Pay the e-Visa fee using the online payment method.
• Submit the online application form along with the supporting documents.
• Once the application is processed and approved, the e-Visa will be sent to your email address. Print it out or save it on your mobile device to show at the border.

The standard processing time for a Laos e-Visa is 3-5 business days, but urgent e-Visas can be obtained within 3 business days. It is recommended to apply for the e-Visa at least two weeks before the intended departure date.

Laos visa on arrival

Laos offers a visa on arrival for travellers who plan to stay in the country for up to 30 days with a single entry. This visa is issued at designated immigration checkpoints, including major airports and border crossings. The visa on arrival option is available to citizens of most countries, except for a few specified countries whose citizens must obtain a visa from a Laotian embassy or consulate before entering Laos.

Eligibility for Laos Visa on Arrival

The Laos Visa on Arrival is available to citizens of most countries. However, there are a few exceptions. Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for the Laos Visa on Arrival and must obtain a visa in advance from a Laotian embassy or consulate:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Bangladesh
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Congo
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea Bissau
• Jordan
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
• Mozambique
• Nauru
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Suriname
• Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)
• Swaziland
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Requirements for Laos Visa on Arrival

To obtain a Laos Visa on Arrival, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, with at least two blank pages.
• Complete a Visa Application Form, which can be filled out in advance or obtained at the visa counter on arrival.
• Provide two recent passport-size photographs. If you are unable to provide photographs, there will be an additional fee for scanning your photograph from your passport and placing it on the application form.
• Pay the visa fee in cash. The cost of the visa depends on your nationality and is displayed at the visa counter. For citizens of the US, the fee is $35, for Canada, it is $42, for Sweden, it is $31, and for Australia and other countries, it is $30.

Where to Obtain Laos Visa on Arrival

The Laos Visa on Arrival can be obtained at the following international airports:

• Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital.
• Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province.
• Pakse International Airport in Champasak Province.

It can also be obtained at various border checkpoints with China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Advantages of Laos Visa on Arrival

The Laos Visa on Arrival offers flexibility in making travel arrangements, as visitors do not need to plan their visa in advance. However, it may result in longer lines at the port of entry, and travellers must carry all the required documentation and cash to pay the visa fee.

Alternative Options

As an alternative to the Visa on Arrival, travellers can opt for the Laos Electronic Visa (E-Visa), which can be applied for online before departure. The E-Visa eliminates the need for a complicated application process upon arrival and allows travellers to use a special lane at the arrival port to avoid long queues. The E-Visa is valid for a maximum of 60 days after receiving the approval letter, and the stay permit is for 30 days.

Laos visa requirements

Laos has different visa requirements depending on the traveller's nationality and the purpose of their visit. Here is a comprehensive overview of the Laos visa requirements:

Visa-Exempt Countries:

Laos has visa-exemption agreements with several countries, including all ASEAN member states. Citizens of these countries can enter Laos without a visa for a specified duration:

• Philippines (since July 12, 2005)
• Japan (since January 1, 2007)
• Russia (since September 1, 2007)
• Mongolia (since October 14, 2007)
• South Korea (since September 1, 2008)
• Luxembourg and Switzerland (since July 7, 2009)
• Sri Lanka (visa on arrival since August 1, 2018)
• Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain, and Sweden (July 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024)
• Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden (January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018)

Additionally, holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports from specific countries may enter Laos without a visa for up to 30 days.

Visa on Arrival:

Laos offers visas on arrival for citizens of most countries, except for a few specified nationalities. The visa on arrival allows for a stay of up to 30 days with a single entry. It can be obtained at designated international airports and border checkpoints upon submitting the required documents and paying the visa fee. The visa fee varies depending on the traveller's nationality.

EVisa:

Laos launched its eVisa system in July 2019, offering an online application process for eligible citizens. The eVisa is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and permits a stay of up to 30 days in Laos. The application process typically takes 3-5 business days and can be completed on the official eVisa website. The eVisa is accepted at major entry points, including international airports and specific border checkpoints.

Traditional Visa:

For travellers who are ineligible for visa on arrival or eVisa, a traditional visa must be obtained from a Laotian diplomatic mission before travelling to Laos. This includes citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Laos visa extensions

Department of Immigration NongBuek-Dongnaxok Road, Dongnaxok Village, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Capital. Phone: 021 219 607 Hotline: 1502

The office is open Monday to Friday, from 8:00-16:00 (closed 12:00 to 13:00 at lunchtime), and it is closed for applications on Friday afternoons. The process typically takes one business day and you will need to provide the following:

• One ID/passport type photo (size 3x4cm)
• Cash to pay fees, including a service fee of 25,000 kip (less than US$2) and a visa extension fee of 20,000 kip per day for a normal extension or US$10 per day for overstayed days. Laotian holding foreign nationality pay half the fee (10,000 kip per day).

It is important to note that you must apply for the visa extension before your current visa expires. You can extend your 30-day tourist visa twice for a maximum stay of 90 days.

If you are unable to go to the immigration office, another option is to do a "visa run". This involves leaving Laos at an international border checkpoint and then crossing back at the same or another checkpoint to get a new Laos visa on arrival. The visa fee for this option ranges from US$30-US$50 depending on nationality, and it can be repeated twice for a maximum 30-day stay each time.

Additionally, you can use a travel agent or specialist provider to arrange your visa extension for a small fee. This option may be more suitable if you hold a visa type other than a tourist visa, as it involves more paperwork and can be more complicated.

It is important to ensure that your passport has at least six months of remaining validity and a blank page for the visa stamp, along with any required photos and cash for the visa fee.

Laos visa fees

The Laos eVisa was launched in July 2019 and is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, allowing holders to stay for up to 30 days in Laos. The eVisa can be issued within 3 business days, and applicants will receive an approval letter via email.

The visa on arrival fee for Laos is 35 USD for US citizens, 31 USD for Swedish citizens, 42 USD for Canadian citizens, 30 USD for Australian citizens and citizens of other countries, and the fee must be paid in cash. The visa on arrival allows visitors to stay in Laos for up to 30 days with a single entry. The visa can be obtained at the arrival international airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, as well as at various border checkpoints.

It is important to note that citizens of certain countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are not eligible for the visa on arrival option and must obtain their visas at Lao Embassies or Consulates before entering Laos.

Frequently asked questions