Laos Entry Requirements

Laos is a land of golden temples, majestic mountains and magnificent scenery. Visit a bear sanctuary, ride high on an elephant or take a kayaking adventure on the Mekong River. Caving, biking and trekking through this untouched country will give you a glimpse of a disappearing traditional Asia.

If traveling to Laos has already been on your bucket list, then please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation or follow our Facebook to get the latest information.

Entering and Leaving Laos

• A passport valid for at least six months
• Have enough funds to pay for the fees during the travel in Laos
• A submitted Arrival Card
• A valid Laos visa(please check if you belong to the 36 countries having Visa Exception Agreement with Laos)
• A confirmed onward or return ticket
• Evidence that you can enter your next destination

Passport

To travel to Laos, a passport valid for more than 6 months is needed to enter Laos. Please confirm the validity of your passport before you travel to Laos.

Visa

Countries have the Visa Exception Agreement with Laos

15 countries have visa exception agreement with Laos

E-Visa Application

Traveling to Laos, travelers who do not belong to the 15 countries having visa exception agreement with Laos should apply for the visa. And Laos provides the e-Visa service. Tourists can apply the e-Visa through website www.laoevisa.gov.la, the official online platform for foreigners to apply for Lao visa online prior to arriving in the country.

Document Information

If you are applying for the eVisa, you have to upload the following documents:

• Photograph size 4x6 cm (have been taken no longer than 6 months).
• Passport cover page.
• Passport bio page.

Note: Please upload the photo of your passport that covers the whole bio page including its MRZ (two lines at the bottom of the page)

Please note that:

• An eVisa is valid for a maximum of 60 days after receiving the Approval Letter.
• The Stay Permit of eVisa is 30 days.
• The eVisa is valid for Single Entry only.

Processing Time

The processing time of the eVisa is usually 3 working days after submitting the application and paying the visa fee, provided that all information supplied by applicants meets the criteria and accepted by the Lao Government Authorities, otherwise the processing time could be longer. 

And please note that the processing time may take longer during the break(public holidays of Laos).

Port of Entry

The eVisa service is opening for 8 international ports namely(travelers can enter Laos through the following ports by using e-Visa):

Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)

Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang Province)

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)

Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province)

Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province)

Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha Province)

Boten Railway Station (Luang Namtha Province)

The system will continue to expand to other international ports in the near future.

At the Arrival Port

As soon as you arrive in Laos with the eVisa approval letter, follow the steps mentioned below:

Go to the Immigration area and enter the dedicated eVisa lane.

Present your passport and eVisa Approval Letter to the Immigration officer. 

Get the final Immigration approval and enter Laos.

Visa Extension

Overstaying is a punishable offence in Laos. If you want to stay beyond the period of stay granted, you can apply for an extension go to the Visitor Services Centre at Department of Immigration before your length of stay valid.

Passport Loss

If you lose your passport during your travel in Laos, you can:

1. Report to local police to get a certificate of loss

2. Report to district police office

3. Report to Department of Immigration (two photos of 3 by 4 size) the process take 3 days to get a certificate of loss

4. Then go to your own Embassy or Consular to get emergency passport

5. Eventually, please bring your emergency passport and a certificate of loss which issued by the Department of Immigration to Consulate Department of Laos to get exit visa.

If you want to plan a trip to Lao, feel free to contact us for a free consultation or get our latest information. You can also submit your request directly to create your own Laos tour.