People of most nationalities require a visa to enter Laos.
Loss of your visa/passport could result in a fine and curtailment of your travel plans. Asia Highlights recommends that our customers keep a photocopy of their passport and visa somewhere separate and/or keep electronic versions on an accessible device.
Passport holders from the following countries do not require a visa to visit Laos for the following periods:
Tourist visas can be extended before the expiry date at the cost of $2 per day , in the immigration offices in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The extension process is straightforward: complete an application form, submit your passport and pay the fees. Usually your extension can be picked up the same day if you submit your application in the morning.
If you want to stay for more than a few days and are near the border anyway, you could cross the border then return to Laos with a new 30-day visa.
Most travel agencies provide a visa extension service with some processing fees. This option is better for those who hold non-tourist visas, since these are more complicated to extend and involve more paperwork.
Overstaying a visa in Laos costs $10 per day; if you overstay, you will be fined accordingly at the immigration checkpoint on departure.
Types of visa:Tourist (T) visa / Business (B2) visa / Courtesy（B1） visa / Visit (B3) visa / Diplomatic (A1) visa / Official (A2) visa / Transit (Tr.) visa
A visa can be obtained on arrival at the international airports and most international border crossings, or via a Laos embassy or consulate.
A Laos visa is available to citizens of most nationalities on arrival. You can obtain your visa, usually a tourist visa but sometimes a different type of visa, upon arrival at the following international airports, bridges and border crossings, as detailed below:
Airpots
Bridges
Border crossings
The tourist visa processing time depends to some extent on the port of entry. It takes around 15 minutes at the major airports and the Friendship Bridge, and might be a bit longer at the border crossings. To save time, line up at the visa window and prepare the following papers in advance:
Anyone without passport-sized photographs will be charged a few dollars as the administration fee to have some photos taken.
A visa on arrival is NOT permitted for holders of passports from the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Visas can be obtained in advance from a Laos embassy or consulate. The visa fees and processing time vary according to nationality of applicant and issuing office. If you need detailed information please contact the relevant office directly.
Each applicant must complete a visa application form and submit it to the embassy or consulate together with:
Asia Highlights is committed to responsible travel. We cooperate with local guides to let our clients have a genuine and unique experience in the location of their choice. We know how precious your time is, so we are here to answer all your questions and to help your travel dreams become a reality.
Take a look at our tours below, during which we show you as many hidden-gems as we can, while giving you a personalized travel experience.
You might like:
14- Day Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Tour: Sync with Indochina's Heartbeat
