Laos Travel and Visa Restrictions in 2022 (Updated on March 14, 2022)

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. 

Laos partially reopened to foreign visitors on January 1, 2022. Fully vaccinated foreign visitors on pre-booked tours can enter Laos to visit some specified locations.

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.

 

 

Content Preview

>Is Laos Open to Tourists

>Laos's Current Entry Policy

>Laos Visa Application

>Documents to prepare before entry Laos

>Laos Quarantine Measure

>Laos Travel Restrictions in 2022

 

When will the Laos border reopen to tourists --- Is Laos Open to Tourists

Currently Laos has already been open to some tourists. Laos reopened its border to some international tourists on January 1, 2022. It plans to partially open to international tourists. It is now on the reopening phase 01. Please find the below timeline for reopening,

• Phase 1: January 1 to March 30, 2022
• Phase 2: April 1 to June 30, 2022
• Phase 3: July 1 onwards

 

Currently it will allow fully vaccinated individuals from some countries to visit specified areas of Laos.

 

The ports of entry opened in 2022

During the phase 1 of reopening, tourists must entry to Laos from the following ports of entry in Laos:

• Wattay International Airport (VTE), Vientiane
• First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane

 

Additional international borders will be opened on Phase 2, including Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ) and the Second Friendship Bridge in Savannakhet.

 

 

Laos Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails in 2022

Only some specified areas are reopened to international tourists in January 2022. Foreigners are allowed to visit Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails.

Green Travel Zones are the provinces of Laos where at least 70% of the adult population have got vaccinated. Green Travel Trails refers to the area where the vaccination rates have not yet reached 70%.

 

The following popular destinations are considered Green Travel Zones on the Phase 1:

• Luang Prabang
• Vientiane
• Vang Vieng

 

Green travel trails for the first phase of reopening are as below:

• Oudomxay
• Xayaboury
• Xieng Khouang
• Khammouane
• Champasak

 

Further destinations will reopen in April and July once vaccination rates across the country have increased.

 

Who Can Travel to Laos– Current Laos Entry Policy 2022

Tourists from 17 countries in the below table can travel to Laos from January 2022, should they have already got fully vaccinated. They are mostly Southeast Asian and European countries, in addition to Australia, Canada, China, and the United States.

 

Australia	Germany	The Philippines
Austria	Hungary	Poland
Belgium	Indonesia	Singapore
Brunei	Israel	Spain
Cambodia	Italy	South Korea
Canada	Japan	Switzerland
China	Malaysia	Thailand
Denmark	The Netherlands	United Kingdom
Finland	New Zealand	United States
France	Norway	Vietnam

 

More countries could be added to the list later in the year. Tourists from these nations must meet all the COVID-19 requirements to enter Laos.

 

 

How to Get a Laos Visa – Laos Visa Application

Foreign tourists may need a visa to enter Laos from 2022.

Currently, only visas with written authorization from the Task Force Committed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are considered valid. However, online tourist visa applications may reopen soon.

All visas for Laos have been suspended. Only visas with written authorization from the Task Force Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are considered valid.

 

Who can enter Laos?

To protect its population from the coronavirus, Laos only grants entry to the following:

• Diplomats
• Essential workers
• Officials
• Technical experts
• Tourists from low-risk locations

 

Applying for a tourist visa to Laos in 2022

Applying for an electronic Laos visa takes only a few minutes to complete. This streamlined process saves applicants the hassle of going to an embassy or consulate or queuing upon arrival for a Laos visa. The Laos eVisa application form is straightforward and simply requires travelers to provide a few essential personal details.

• Full Name
• Address
• Age
• Gender
• Nationality

 

Applicants must ensure a valid passport. The Laos eVisa form requires the applicant to provide their passport details. Tourists can apply for an eVisa at the official online visa website: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

 

What documents do I need to apply for a Laos eVisa?

• Passport personal information, with at least 6 months of validity.
• A recently taken passport-size photo.
• An e-mail address.
• A payment method, you can use a credit or debit card.

 

Note：If the eVisa application for your country has been suspended due to the COVID-19 spread, please contact with the local embassy or consulates in your country to apply for a paper visa.

 

 

Do I need a negative COVID test for entry Laos – Documents to prepare before entry Laos

International tourists must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued no more than 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.

 

The documents or conditions for tourists entering Laos :

1. Need to go through the travel company

2. Fully vaccinated 14 days or more

3. Negative result (PRC) no more than 72 hours before reaching Laos

4. Need to download LAO STAY SAFE app

5. Lowest value insurance available 50,000 USD

6. PRC test at airport and waiting for results no more than 24 hours at tourists own expense

7. Valid passport and visa

8. Complete a Health Declaration Form. (The application form for the Health Declaration is available on the official MFA website here.)

 

Do I need quarantine after entry- Laos Quarantine Measure

Travelers from the green zone plan: quarantine on arrival until receiving arrival test results.

All other travelers: 48 hours quarantine at an approved quarantine location. If they receive a negative result on arrival, they must follow a 7-day home quarantine.

 

 

Can I travel around Laos freely after entry – Laos Travel Restrictions in 2022

The rules and regulations below are only meant to serve as a guide and the situation is prone to change rapidly without warning. For more information on local rules and restrictions visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR (http://www.mofa.gov.la/).

FACE COVERINGS – Compulsory in all public places. It is best to face masks for travel.

SOCIAL DISTANCING – In force across the country.

CURFEWS – Curfews may be introduced without notice due to the epidemic changes. Keep an eye on local media.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT – Masks must be worn.

VENUES AND GATHERINGS – Hotels and guesthouses are open in Laos. However, many have closed due to low tourist numbers. Reservations should be made directly with the accommodation before the tour. Many businesses are closed, including gymnasiums, spas, markets, cinemas, theatres and other tourist attractions. In businesses that are open, COVID-19 preventative measures are in place, social distancing, face coverings, temperature checks, and hand hygiene.

MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE – Officially, travel restrictions in Laos have ended for fully vaccinated travelers. However, individual provinces also issue their own travel restrictions. It's better to get more information about the places you will visit before traveling.

 

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.