Laos Visa Requirements

"Laos visa requirements" was last updated on April 23, 2013
All information below is subject to change

So, how do you get a tourist visa for Laos?

You can either apply for a Lao visa in advance before departure, at the Lao embassy in the neighboring countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and China) or get a visa at one of the border crossings.

Getting a visa at the border crossings gives you flexibility, and in many cases it's hassle-free.

Lao Tourist Visa on Arrival

All visitors (except Thais) must have a visa for Laos. Thailand is listed in the Lao Visa Exemption List, but this list is subject to change.

You can obtain visa on arrival for a period of 30 days at the three international airports (Wattay airport in Vientiane and Luang Prabang airport), and at the border crossings.

These are the border crossings where you can get Lao visa on arrival:

Thailand-Laos:

1. Chong Mek/Vang Tao
2. Savannakhet/Mukdahan
3. Nakaxeng - Kaenthao
   
4. Tha Khaek/Nakhon Phanom 
5. Vientiane/Nong Khai
6. Huay Xai/Chiang Khong

Cambodia-Laos:

1. Voen Kham/Dom Kralor

Vietnam-Laos:

1. Nam Kan-Nam Can
2. Lao Bao-Dansavanh
3. Nameo-Banteui
4. Taytrang-Sobboun
5. BoY-Phukeua
6. Keoneua-Namphao
   

China-Laos:

1. Mohan/Boten
   

The tourist visa you'll get at the border crossings and elsewhere is a single-entry visa.

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How much does a
Laotian tourist visa cost?

Visa cost depends on which country you come from or the passport you hold. The price ranges from $ 20-58.

Price list (picked up from the site of Lao embassy in Bangkok):

Australia, Central America, France, Germany: 1,200 B

Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy: 1,400 B

Canada: 1,680 B

China: 600 B

Korea, Hungary, Georgia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Belarus: 800 B

Hong Kong: 1,000 B

India: 1,600 B

The visa fee for UK citizens is $ 35. According to the Lao embassy in Hanoi, the visa fee for US citizens is $ 45. 

Currency converter

To apply, you will need:

• Visa application form

• 2 recent passport photos (I've only been asked for one photo at the Lao immigration, but it's handy to bring two passport photos)

• Valid passport

• Visa fee (in cash) You can pay in Thai baht, Lao kip or US dollars at the embassies and border crossings. But usually the exchange rate is better with $ than baht and kip.

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Visa Run

If you want to save time at the border, you can also apply for a Laos tourist visa in:

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Laos Tourist Visa Extension

If you want to extend your visa, you can apply at the Immigration office in Vientiane. You have to apply before the visa expires.

Price: $ 2 per day of extension

Other costs: 2,000 kip for the form, and $ 3 working fee

You can apply in the morning and get the visa in the afternoon. If you apply in the afternoon, you get the visa the next working day.

Maximum length of extension: two additional months (three months in total)

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Overstaying your Lao Visa

If you overstay your visa, it will cost you $10 per day! OUCH!

Just go to the border check point and pay for the overstay and exit Laos. The $10-per-day-policy applies for all border crossings in Laos. Have in mind that some border check points have charged more than $10 per day.

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