An official guide to Laos Entry and Exit Formalities

People of most nationalities require a visa to enter Laos. At the moment, have three Travel visa types:

• The Laos tourist visa online (E-visa)
• The visa on arrival (VOA)
• The Tourist Embassy Visa

Laos Visa General Requirements:

• An Original Passport valid for at least six (6) months from the expiry date.
• Your entry and exit dates and entry and exit points/airports.

Which countries are exempt from Laos visa?

Passport holders of the following countries are entitled Lao visa exemption

*The length of stay can be as long as the length of an assignment
**Ordinary passport holders of these countries can enter Laos without a visa, but Lao ordinary passport holders don’t get the same privilege in return (they still need to get a visa to enter those countries).

Who need visa when visiting Laos?

For most visitors to the Laos ( except the list of visa waiver countries )

Which countries require a Laos visa in advance

Some nationalities are required to get visa in advance at Lao Embassies or Lao Consulates abroad before entering Laos,  and present a valid passport and complete an application form. Travelers holding passports from the following countries are not eligible for Laos visa on arrival or another online Laos tourist visa:

1. Afghanistan
2. Algeria
3. Bangladesh
4. Burundi
5. Cameroon
6. Congo
7. Côte d’Ivoire
8. Ghana
9. Guinea
10. Guinea Bissau
11. Jordan
12. Lesotho
13. Liberia
14. Libya (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
15. Mozambique
16. Nauru
17. Niger
18. Nigeria
19. Pakistan
20. Senegal
21. Sierra Leone
22. Sri Lanka
23. Suriname
24. Syria (Syrian Arab Republic)
25. Swaziland
26. Tonga
27. Turkey
28. Zambia
29. Zimbabwe

How To Apply for a Laos Visa?

There are multiple ways to apply for your tourist visa to Laos, that may include:

1. Visa on Arrival (VOA)
   Obtaining Laos visa on arrival is the most convenient, cheapest, and time saving way to get a Lao visa. Great for those who are tight on time, resources, energy and Lao embassies/consulates are too far to reach. The visa obtained on arrival is usually tourist visa, the holder of this visa can stay in Laos for up to 30 days.

2. Visas via an Embassy or Consulate
   Visas can be obtained in advance from a Laos embassy or consulate. The visa fees and processing time vary according to nationality of applicant.

3. E-visas
   Citizens of up to 180 countries, including all EU countries, Canada, USA and Australia, can now apply for a Laos eVisa from the comfort of their home. The Laos eVisa is an electronic travel authorization that simplifies the process of obtaining a visa to travel to the country. A valid Laos electronic Visa allows citizens from eligible countries to visit for tourism purposes. Once approved, the Laos online visa will grant its holder a stay of up to 30 days.
   E-visas can be applied for online at https://laoevisa.gov.la/.

List of Entry Port accept Visa On Arrival (VOA)

Visitors of other nationalities may obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days for a fee at most of the 27 ports of entry to the country, except:

1. Napao–Chalo (Vietnam)
2. Subhun (China)
3. Pakxan–Bueng Kan (Thailand)
4. Xieng Kok river port (Myanmar)

List of Entry Port accept eVisa

E-visas can be used to enter through these following designated ports:

1. Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)
2. Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)
3. Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang)
4. Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)
5. Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province)

Source: Laos Immigration/Embassy