Simplify Your Journey to Laos
In this Laos Tourist Visa Guide, we’ll give you different ways to obtain a tourist vis for entering Laos, depending on your nationality. Getting a visa to visit Laos is straightforward and nothing to worry about.
For most visitors the Laos Tourist Visa on Arrival is an easy option to stay in Laos as a tourist. The official Visa type for tourists in Laos is “T-B3”, it’s available at several entry points into Laos and you can stay for 30 days in that country, Once you arrive at the border, there are signs pointing you in the right direction, where to fill out some paperwork necessary for VOA. You will receive a form from the immigration Officer, which you will have to fill out (Your Name, Passport number, Hotel Address, Phone Number, etc.) If you want to save some time.
You can also fill out the form before arriving.
🛂 Types of Visas for Laos
1. Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- Arrival & Go to the Visa on Arrival Counter: Before immigration, follow the sign to the Visa on Arrival counter.
- Fill out form: You will be handed or can pick up the Visa on Arrival Form and Arrival/Departure Card (often given on the plane already).
- Submit the Following: completed form, Passport (valid at least 6 months with one blank page), 1 Passport sized picture (if you don’t have a picture, Immigration will charge a small extra fee of $ 2-3 USD), Visa fee in Cash
- Wait for your name to be called. Wait nearby until they return your passport with the visa sticker inside.
- Proceed to Immigration Checkpoint. The Visa is a sticker, wich fills out a whole page of your passport + you will get an entry stamp for 30 days.
If you don’t have US Dollars, paying in Thai Baht is usually also possible. But then you have to accept the bad exchange rate, set by the Lao Immigration. If you are paying in THB, the price will be between 1800 – 2000 THB (~ $ 53 – $ 59), which is noticeably higher than the official $ 40. If you are coming from a land border with Vietnam (via Lao Bao border), the visa fee can also be paid in Vietnamese Dong (VND), but same here: they will set the price and you will overpay.
Visa on Arrival has 3 international Airports in Laos and 10 Land Borders:
Wattay International Airport Vienttiane VTE
Luang Prabang International Airport Luang Prabang LPQ
Pakse International Airport Pakse PKZ
Land Borders Thailand – Laos
- Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane – Nong Khai): One of the most popular crossings into the Lao Capital
- Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet – Mukdahan): Convenient for travelers heading to central Laos.
- Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge III (Thakhek – Nakhon Phanom): Gateway to the Khammouane province, Thakek Loop
- Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge IV (Houayxay – Chiang Khong): Popular among travelers heading to northern Laos.
- Chong Mek – Vang Tao (Champasak, Pakse – Ubon Ratchathani): Access point to southern Laos, near Pakse.
Land Border Cambodia – Laos:
- Nong Nok Khiene (Veun Kham, Laos) – border crossing from/to Cambodia near the 4000 Islands in Southern Laos
Land Border Vietnam – Laos:
- Lao Bao, Vietnam – Dansavanh, Laos. Only land border crossing with Vietnam, where VOA is available.
Land Border China – Laos:
- Boten, Laos – Mohan, China: Primary overland crossing between China and Laos (Yunnan Province, Luang Namtha)
👉 We can help confirm your eligibility and prepare your documents for faster entry. Contact us →
2. eVisa for Tourist – An Online alternate to Visas
Laos eVisa is an official electronic travel authorization that allows eligible travelers to apply for a tourist visa online before arriving in the country, it is a way more convenient and faster way to the Visa on Arrival (VOA) with getting approved usually taking 3 business days.
What’s even better is that all this can be done online on your own mobile devices, so its easily done on the go!
Procedure for Laos tourist eVisa
The procedure is easier than it would be easier than VOA, just make sure you apply for it early enough due to the processing time to be about 3 working days (Weekends excluded)
- Visit the official Laos eVisa Website https://www.laoevisa.gov.la/index
- Click on “Apply eVisa” and fill out everything necessary (personal details, travel date, purpose of visit, etc.)
- Upload Required Documents: A scanned of photographed copy of your passport, a passport-sized picture (jpg or png). Passport must be valid at least 6 months or more
- Pay the Visa Fee Online: Fees vary by nationality but are generally $50–$60 USD. Accepted payment methods: Credit/Debit Card
- Receive Confirmation & Processing Time: You’ll receive an application ID via email, Processing usually takes 3 business days, During peak times, allow for up to 5 days
- Once approved, download and Print Your eVisa Approval Letter.
Fees for the eVisa:
The fee calculation is based on your nationality, it can be between $35 – $50. For most countries it will be $50 though. So the eVisa option is slightly more expensive compared to obtaining a Visa on Arrival (VOA). The eVisa fee can also be calculated on the Offical Visa Calculator
With eVisa you wont be needing to wait in line to fill out paper work which would save you alot of time.
Queues are not long but waiting can be longer during the traveling season (October – January)
Which nationalities cannot get an eVisa?
Unfortunately not every people can get the eVisa, this list applies for both Visa on Arrival and eVisa. If you’re country is on the following list, you cannot apply for an eVisa:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
3. Laos Embassy or Consulate Visa
Obtaining a tourist visa from a Lao Embassy or consulate abroad is a reliable option for travelers who prefer to have their visa secure before departure. The process usually takes 3 to 5 working days, depending on the location and how busy the embassy is. At Consulates in Vietnam, you can get your visa within 24 hours.
The requirements needed for the application form would be, passport-sized photo, a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity) and sometimes proof of travel or accommodation, but this is very unlikely in Laos.
While not universally mandated, some Lao embassies may require applicants from the aforementioned countries who are not eligible for VOA or eVisa to provide an invitation or sponsorship letter from a contact or organization in Laos.
Visa-free entry to Laos for some nationalities:
As Laos is part of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), citizen from other ASEAN countries do not need any visa to enter Laos for a period of 30 or 15 days
List of countries who can enter Laos without Visa-free for a period of 30 Days:
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Russia
List of countries that can enter Laos Visa-free for a period of 15 Days:
Japan, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Myanmar
🌍 Visa Extension in Laos
The Visa on Arrival or eVisa can be extended at any Immigration office in Laos, which is usally located at the provincal police station. The process of the Lao Tourist Visa Extension is straight forward:
- Go to your nearest provincial Immigration Office at least 2-3 days before your current Visa expires. Immigration Offices are closed on the weekends and Holidays. Open from Monday – Friday 08:30 – 15:30, They are also closed for their lunch breaks during 11:30 – 13:30.
- Submit Passport and Extension Form (available at the Immigration Office.) Sometimes the Immigration officer will fill out the form for you, but will ask about your current stay and Phone number
- Pay the Visa Extension Fee of 20,000 per day + 40,000 Lak service fee. After paying you will get a slip (Please DO NOT throw away the slip
- The time it will take to process will usually be 1-2 Days. But sometimes it can take longer, depending on where you apply. They will notify you when you have to return to pick up your passport. This process would be much smoother and faster compared to Thailand, where you sometimes waste hours on hours hanging around the Immigration Office
- Official Immigration Wbesite with detailed information about the Visa Extension: HERE!
Renewing a Tourist Visa by doing a Visa run
If you don’t want to extend your visa at an immigration office (not highly recommended), you can also just cross over into one of the neighbouring countries and come back to Laos (example Thailand) Do keep in mind that you have to pay for the Visa again once arriving to Laos (40 USD, and all the requirements needed) This is also possible when you reach the maximum 90 days and want to start over again.
Overstaying a Visa in Laos.
If you happen to overstay your Visa, as much as this should be avoided for any trouble it might get you into, it won’t be a big deal. The fine for overstaying a Lao Tourist Visa is $10/ Day, which is much more expensive than extending the Visa at your nearest Immigration Police Office. Overstaying a Visa to many times can raise questions and extra money could be demanded. So try to follow the rules and Laws in Laos and everything will be fine.
