Laos visa policy

The Laos visa policy is a set of regulations imposed by the Government of Laos on foreign travelers. These rules refer to visas available for international visitors, differentiating between a regular visa, a visa on arrival, and an online visa. They also provide more information on mandatory documentation.

Interestingly, there are 15 countries from all around the world whose citizens are allowed to enter Laos visa-free. All they need for travel is a valid passport and an ID card. Depending on the traveler’s nationality, a guaranteed period of stay varies between 14 days and 30 days.

A Laos eVisa has been available since 2019. Complete an online application form and cover the fee payment. When your Laos visa is authorized, it will be delivered to your e-mail address. Once approved, it remains valid for 60 days, allowing for a 30-day stay. Keep in mind that eVisa is accepted only by the selected ports of entry to Laos.

A visa on arrival for Laos, also known as VOA, may be easily obtained while entering the country. As soon as you arrive in Laos, you can visit the immigration office and ask for your visa to be issued. Remember that a visa on arrival cannot be requested at every port of entry. A single visit to Laos can last up to 30 days.

You can apply for a standard Laos visa at the Embassy if you are not eligible for an online visa or a visa on arrival. A regular visa may also be issued for long-term travels related to permanent employment or temporary residence. Depending on the selected visa type, it will remain valid for respective time periods.

Do not forget to check the current travel requirements before leaving for a journey to Laos. It is essential to have a valid passport and an approved visa if you plan on visiting Laos. However, supporting documents could also be requested.

Who can enter Laos?

Laos is open to all travelers who meet the basic entry rules and comply with the visa policy of Laos. All the visitors should apply for a suitable Laos Tourist Visa prior to the journey – depending on their country of origin, they may request a visa on arrival or an online visa. In the case of long-term tours, it is advised to apply in person for a regular visa.

A visa to Laos is not required from nationals of 15 countries. These travelers can visit Laos only with a valid passport and a national ID card. Visa-free travel can last up to 30 days.

Entry requirements for Laos

Each traveler must ensure they have prepared all the essential documents prior to the planned journey. Apart from the authorized Lao visa, you may need to have some supporting papers.

Documents checklist for entering Laos

While planning to travel to Laos, you should remember to collect the mandatory entry requirements. Do not forget the following:

• passport that will stay valid for at least 6 months from the planned travel date
• approved Laos visa
• Lao Green Pass

You should keep in mind that although the presented information is regularly updated, it is always recommended to verify the provided data on the official government website. Laos entry requirements are subject to change, so they should be checked before the journey.

Methods of getting a visa to Laos

The Government of Laos offers international travelers three types of visa applications.

Electronic visa (eVisa)

The Laos eVisa is a type of visa for which you can apply online. To obtain the visa, complete the application form and pay for the processing of your inquiry. It allows eligible travelers to visit Laos for purposes including tourism, leisure, and business.

Once approved, your Laos eVisa will be delivered to your e-mail address. It remains valid for 60 days from the issuing date, allowing you to visit Laos once for a time period of 30 days.

Visa on arrival (VOA)

A Lao visa on arrival is a Laos Tourist Visa that may be obtained at the selected entry ports. To apply for the VOA, there is no need to complete any registration procedure prior to the trip – participate in an application procedure on arrival and pay for the visa processing.

The visa on arrival allows you to spend 30 daysin Laos. You can request a visa extension.

Regular visa

A Laos regular visa is a type of visa that is issued at the Embassy. The application procedure is generally considered rather complicated, as it requires you to schedule a visit to the office in person. Moreover, you may be asked to participate in a consular interview.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Laos

Laos is a country open to travelers from all around the world. The following list describes which nationals should apply for a visa prior to visiting Laos.

Electronic visa (e-Visa)

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Albania
• Armenia
• Angola
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Burkina Faso
• Bulgaria
• Bahrain
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Bahamas
• Bhutan
• Botswana
• Belarus
• Belize
• Canada
• Central African Republic
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Djibouti
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Spain
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• Fiji
• France
• Gabon
• United Kingdom
• Grenada
• Georgia
• Gambia
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Haiti
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Israel
• India
• Iceland
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Kiribati
• Comoros
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• North Korea
• Kuwait
• Kazakhstan
• Saint Lucia
• Liechtenstein
• Sri Lanka
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Morocco
• Monaco
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Madagascar
• Marshall Islands
• Mali
• Macau
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Malawi
• Mexico
• Namibia
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• New Guinea
• Poland
• San Marino
• Somalia
• Sao Tome
• El Salvador
• Chad
• Togo
• Tajikistan
• Timor Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Tuvalu
• Taiwan
• Tanzania
• Ukraine
• Uganda
• United States
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Venezuela
• Vanuatu
• Samoa
• Yemen
• South Africa
• Qatar
• Seychelles
• Palau
• Rwanda
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Saudi Arabia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Romania
• Paraguay
• Solomon Islands
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Cape Verde
• Antigua and Barbuda

Visa on arrival (VOA)

• Estonia
• Macedonia
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Vatican City
• South Sudan
• Palestine

Keep in mind a great part of the countries whose citizens are eligible for an online visa to Laos (Laos eVisa) may also apply for the visa on arrival. For further details, visit the official website of the Lao Government.
Regular visa

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Burundi
• Congo
• Republic of the Congo
• Ivory Coast
• Cameroon
• Algeria
• Ghana
• Guinea Bissau
• Iraq
• Iran
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Nauru
• Pakistan
• Sierra Leone
• Senegal
• Suriname
• Syria
• Tonga
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Sudan
• South Sudan
• Eswatini

Visa-free entry

• Brunei
• Switzerland
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Cambodia
• South Korea
• Luxembourg
• Myanmar
• Mongolia
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Singapore
• Russia

Entry requirements for children

According to the visa policy of Laos, every person entering the country must have a valid visa. This rule applies to both adults and minors. The only exception is granted to those with visa-free access to Laos.

Transit information

The Government of Laos does issue a separate Transit Visa online. If you need to cross the borders of Laos while traveling to another destination, you must apply for a suitable visa.

Important information

• The Laos visa policy is a set of entry and visa requirements that should be respected by every visitor. Currently, travelers from all around the world may apply for an online visa, visa on arrival, or regular visa to Laos. The rules depend on the applicant’s nationality.
• Nationals from 15 countries are granted visa-free entry to Laos. It means that their journey will be hassle-free as long as they have a valid passport and an ID card. Depending on their country of origin, they will be allowed to spend up to 30 days in Laos.
• The Laos eVisa is an online visa issued for eligible travelers visiting Laos for purposes of tourism and leisure. You may obtain it electronically in an online application procedure. Approved Laos eVisa remains valid for 60 days, granting you a single 30-day visit.
• The Laos visa on arrival, also called VOA, is a type of visa issued at the immigration office on arrival. Although the visa application is convenient and effortless, it cannot be completed at every port of entry. Once approved, it will stay valid for 30 days.
• If you are not eligible for an online visa, nor for a visa on arrival, you can still visit Laos. In order to do that, schedule a visit to the Embassy and apply for a regular visa. It may be issued for tourism purposes, but you can also request a Work Visa or Study Visa.