Visa policy of Laos

Policy on permits required to enter Laos

Politics of Laos

Constitution

* Marxism–Leninism
* Kaysone Phomvihane Thought

People's Revolutionary Party

National Congress (11th)

* Rules
* Central Committee (11th)
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* Thongloun Sisoulith
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* Standing Member
* Bounthong Chitmany
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* Chairman
* Khamphan Phommathat
* Vice Chairman
* Vilayvanh Boudakham
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* Chairman
* Thongloun Sisoulith

National Assembly

9th term

* President
* Saysomphone Phomvihane
* Standing Committee (9th)
* President
* Saysomphone Phomvihane
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* President
* Thongloun Sisoulith
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* Pany Yathotou
* Bounthong Chitmany
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* Prime Minister
* Phankham Viphavanh
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* Chansamone Chanyalath
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* State Audit Organisation (9th)
* President
* Malaythong Kommasith
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* President
* Khamphan Phommathat
* Judiciary
* People's Supreme Court (9th)
* President
* Viengthong Siphandone
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* Supreme Prosecutor
* Xaysana Khotphouthone

Mass organisations

* Front for National Development
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* President
* Saysomphone Phomvihane
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*         * President
* Inlavanh Keobounphanh
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*         * General Secretary
* Alounxay Sounnalath

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* Lao People's Armed Forces

Head: Thongloun Sisoulith
* Ministry of Defense

Minister: C. Chanyalath

List

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister: Saleumxay Kommasith

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Laos

* * *

* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Related topics

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* (provinces
* districts)

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Democracy (CIDL)

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Laos portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

Visa sticker Entry and exit stamps

Visitors to Laos must obtain a visa from 1 of the Laotian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of 1 of the visa-exempt countries or citizens eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.[1]

## Visa policy map

[edit]

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Visa not required (30 days)

Visa not required (15 days) or eVisa (30 days)

Visa not required (14 days) or eVisa (30 days)

Visa on arrival or eVisa (30 days)

Visa required in advance

## Visa exemption

[edit]

### Ordinary passports

[edit]

According to the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, holders of ordinary passports of the following countries (including all ASEAN member states) may enter Laos without a visa for stays up to the duration listed below:[2]

30 days

* Brunei
* Cambodia
* Indonesia
* Malaysia

* Mongolia
* Philippines
* Russia
* Singapore[3]

* South Korea
* Thailand
* Vietnam

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|
|

15 days

* Japan

* Luxembourg

*  Switzerland

|
|
|

14 days

* Myanmar

|

Date of visa changes

* 2004: Vietnam[4][5]
* 2004: Cambodia[6]
* 2004: Singapore[7]
* 2004: Malaysia[7]
* 2004: Thailand[8]
* 2005: Brunei[9]
* 12 July 2005: Philippines[10]
* 1 January 2007: Japan
* 1 September 2007: Russia
* 14 October 2007: Mongolia[11]
* 1 September 2008: South Korea
* 7 July 2009: Luxembourg and Switzerland
* 2009: Myanmar[12]
* 2011: Indonesia[13]
* 1 August 2018: Sri Lanka (visa on arrival)

Cancelled:

* 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
* 1 July 2024 - 31 December 2024: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain and Sweden[14]

Visa waiver agreement was signed with  Belarus.[15][16][17][18]

### Non-ordinary passports

[edit]

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports issued by following countries may enter Laos without a visa for up to 30 days (unless otherwise noted):[2]

* ASEAN member states (except Indonesia)

* Azerbaijan
* Bangladesh
* Belarus1
* Brazil
* China
* Hong Kong2
* Cuba1
* Czech Republic1
* Ecuador
* Hungary1

* India
* Indonesia2
* Japan1
* Kyrgyzstan
* Kuwait
* Mexico1
* Mongolia
* North Korea
* NorwayD
* Pakistan1

* Peru1
* Poland1
* Russia
* Serbia1
* South Korea1
* Slovakia1
*  Switzerland
* Timor-Leste
* TurkeyD 1

|
|
|

D – Diplomatic passports only.
1 – 90 days
2 – 14 days

Laos signed a visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan for holders of diplomatic and official passports in July 2024.[19]

## Visa on arrival / Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

[edit]

External image

Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility
The official Lao e-Visa logo e-Visa Approval Letter Visa on arrival for Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

The duration of stay of a visa obtained upon arrival in Laos is 30 days, and can be extended twice, for a maximum stay of 90 days. Visa extensions are handled by the province immigration office inside Laos for a fee.[20][21]

The Laos e-Visa service was launched in July 2019.[22][23] It is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and its holders may stay for up to 30 days in Laos.[24]

Travellers eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa can enter Laos through 1 of the following ports of entry:[25][26]

Port of entry | Opposite side | VoA | eVisa

|
|
|

Luang Prabang International Airport | — |  |
Pakse International Airport | — |  |
Wattay International Airport (Vientiane) | — |  |
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane) | Nong Khai, Thailand |  |
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet) | Mukdahan, Thailand |  |
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge III (Thakhek) | Nakhon Phanom province, Thailand |  |
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge IV (Houayxay) | Chiang Khong district, Thailand |  |
Samliemkham | Thailand and Myanmar |  |
Khamsavath railway station (Vientiane) | Nong Khai railway station, Thailand |  |
Daensavan | Lao Bảo, Vietnam |  |
Veunkham | Nong nok khian, Cambodia |  |
Vang tao | Chong Mek, Thailand |  |
Boten (road checkpoint) | Mohan, China |  |
Boten railway station | Mohan railway station, China |  |

## Visa required in advance

[edit]

Citizens of the following countries are ineligible to obtain a visa on arrival or an e-Visa. They must obtain a visa from 1 of the Laotian diplomatic missions in advance. If they are traveling on an official visit, they may still obtain a visa on arrival, provided they are holding an official letter of guarantee issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos:[1][27]

* Afghanistan
* Algeria
* Bangladesh
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Congo
* DR Congo
* Eswatini

* Ghana
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Iran
* Iraq
* Jordan
* Lebanon
* Lesotho

* Liberia
* Libya
* Mozambique
* Nauru
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Pakistan
* Senegal

* Sierra Leone
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Suriname
* Syria
* Tonga
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

|
|
|
|

## Visitor statistics

[edit]

Most visitors arriving in Laos were from the following countries of nationality:[28]

Country  | 2017  | 2016  | 2015  | 2014  | 2013  | 2012  | 2011

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Thailand | 1,797,803 | 2,009,605 | 2,321,352 | 2,043,761 | 2,059,434 | 1,937,612 | 1,579,941
Vietnam | 891,643 | 998,400 | 1,187,954 | 1,108,332 | 910,164 | 705,596 | 561,586
China | 639,185 | 545,493 | 511,436 | 422,440 | 245,033 | 199,857 | 150,791
South Korea | 170,571 | 173,260 | 165,328 | 96,085 | 81,799 | 53,829 | 34,707
United States | 38,765 | 58,094 | 63,058 | 61,460 | 61,608 | 53,380 | 50,092
France | 36,760 | 54,953 | 55,151 | 52,146 | 52,411 | 46,903 | 44,399
Japan | 32,064 | 49,191 | 43,826 | 44,877 | 48,644 | 42,026 | 37,883
United Kingdom | 27,723 | 39,170 | 41,508 | 39,061 | 41,741 | 35,964 | 35,622
Germany | 23,776 | 34,018 | 31,897 | 29,800 | 29,250 | 23,417 | 21,280
Australia | 20,886 | 33,077 | 34,655 | 44,964 | 35,441 | 33,878 | 31,874
Total | 3,868,838 | 4,239,047 | 4,684,429 | 4,158,719 | 3,779,490 | 3,330,072 | 3,330,072

## See also

[edit]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Laos.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
2. ^ a b "Visa exemption – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ". The Department of Immigration of Lao PDR. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
3. ^ "Laos - Travel Page". www.mfa.gov.sg. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore). 12 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
4. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 05 March 2004
5. ^ "Lao Airlines". www.laoairlines.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
6. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 10 May 2004
7. ^ a b Under the Visa Agreement on 1 July 2004
8. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 28 October 2004
9. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 1 April 2005
10. ^ "Under the Visa Agreement on 10 April 2005" (PDF).
11. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 14 September 2007
12. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 20 November 2009
13. ^ Under the Visa Agreement on 23 September 2011
14. ^ Implementation of Visa exemption policy and determination of length of stay in Lao PDR for target country tourists during the Visit Laos Year 2024 - Reg. No. 2520/IMM - Ministry of Public Security General Department of Public Security Department of Immigration
15. ^ https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/mfa-belarus-laos-visa-waiver-agreement-awaits-ratification-169792-2025/
16. ^ https://tvbrics.com/en/news/belarus-and-laos-sign-visa-exemption-agreement-for-holders-of-national-passports/
17. ^ https://blog.gettransfer.com/news/laos-belarus-visa-exemption-agreement/
18. ^ https://diplomaticwatch.com/laos-and-belarus-agree-on-visa-waiver-deepening-bilateral-ties/
19. ^ Laos, Kazakhstan sign deal for visa exemption
20. ^ "How to apply the visa extension". immigration.gov.la. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
21. ^ "Law On EntryExit, And the Management of Foreigners in the Lao PDR Article 41 Section 5". Laoservicesportal.gov.la. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
22. ^ "Laos launches e-Visa service in Vientiane". 9 July 2019.
23. ^ "Lao E-visa launched for foreigners". Archived from the original on 2019-07-09.
24. ^ eVisa Laos
25. ^ "Checkpoints – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ". immigration.gov.la. Department of Immigration of Lao PDR. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
26. ^ PDR, Consular Department-Ministry of Foreign Affairs LAO. "Lao e-Visa / Faq". laoevisa.gov.la. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
27. ^ Who can Apply for Lao e-Visa
28. ^ "Statistical Reports on Tourism in Laos".

## External links

[edit]

* Lao PDR Immigration Department
* Lao eVisa

* v
* t
* e

Visa policy by country

* Visa
* Passport
* Travel document

Africa|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* DR Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt6
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* R Congo
* Rwanda
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha1
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* Somaliland3
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

Americas|

* Anguilla1
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentina
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Bermuda1
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* British Virgin Islands1
* Canada
* Cayman Islands1
* Chile
* Colombia
* Costa Rica
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Caribbean Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten)
* Ecuador
* El Salvador
* Falkland Islands1
* Greenland5
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Mexico
* Montserrat1
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Paraguay
* Peru
* St. Kitts and Nevis
* St. Lucia
* St. Vincent and the Grenadines
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands1
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Turks and Caicos Islands1
* United States
* Puerto Rico4
* Virgin Islands4
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Asia|

* Abkhazia2 3
* Afghanistan
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia1 2
* Armenia2
* Azerbaijan2
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Hong Kong
* Macau
* Cyprus2
* Egypt6
* Georgia2
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan2
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Northern Cyprus2 3
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine3
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia2
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* South Ossetia2
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Taiwan (Republic of China)3
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Timor-Leste
* Turkey2
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

Europe|

* Abkhazia2 3
* Akrotiri and Dhekelia1 2
* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia2
* Austria
* Azerbaijan2
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Cyprus2
* Denmark
* Faroe Islands
* Greenland
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Overseas
* Georgia2
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kazakhstan2
* Kosovo3
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Overseas
* North Macedonia
* Northern Cyprus2 3
* Norway
* Svalbard
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia2
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* South Ossetia2 3
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Transnistria3
* Turkey2
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Overseas
* Vatican City

Oceania|

* American Samoa4
* Australia
* Cook Islands
* Fiji
* Guam4
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Niue
* Northern Mariana Islands4
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Pitcairn Islands1
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tokelau
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

Historical|

* Artsakh2
* Russia2

1 British Overseas Territories. 2 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Partially recognized. 4 Unincorporated territory of the United States. 5 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 6 Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia.

* v
* t
* e

Visa requirements by citizenship

* Visa
* Passport
* Travel document

Africa|

* Algerian
* Angolan
* Beninese
* Botswana
* Burkinabe
* Burundian
* Cameroonian
* Cape Verdean
* Central African
* Chadian
* Comorian
* Congolese (Democratic Republic)
* Congolese (Republic)
* Djiboutian
* Egyptian4
* Equatorial Guinean
* Eritrean
* Ethiopian
* Gabonese
* Gambian
* Ghanaian
* Guinea-Bissauan
* Guinean
* Ivorian
* Kenyan
* Lesothan
* Liberian
* Libyan
* Malagasy
* Malawian
* Malian
* Mauritanian
* Mauritian
* Moroccan
* Mozambican
* Namibian
* Nigerian
* Nigerien
* Rwandan
* Saint Helena1
* Santomean
* Senegalese
* Seychellois
* Sierra Leonean
* Somali (Somaliland)
* South African
* South Sudanese
* Sudanese
* Swazi
* Tanzanian
* Togolese
* Tunisian
* Ugandan
* Zambian
* Zimbabwean

Americas|

* Anguillan1
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Argentine
* Bahamian
* Barbadian
* Belizean
* Bermudian1
* Bolivian
* Brazilian
* British Virgin Islands1
* Canadian
* Caymanian1
* Chilean
* Colombian
* Costa Rican
* Cuban
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic
* Ecuadorian
* Greenlandic
* Grenadian
* Guatemalan
* Guyanese
* Haitian
* Honduran
* Jamaican
* Mexican
* Montserratian1
* Nicaraguan
* Panamanian
* Paraguayan
* Peruvian
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucian
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Salvadoran
* Surinamese
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Turks and Caicos Islands1
* United States
* Uruguayan
* Venezuelan

Asia|

* Abkhaz2 5
* Afghan
* Armenian3
* Azerbaijani2
* Bahraini
* Bangladeshi
* Bhutanese
* Bruneian
* Cambodian
* Chinese
* Hong Kong
* Macau
* Cypriot3
* East Timorese
* Egyptian4
* Emirati
* Georgian2
* Indian
* Indonesian
* Iranian
* Iraqi
* Israeli
* Japanese
* Jordanian
* Kazakhstani2
* Kuwaiti
* Kyrgyzstani
* Laotian
* Lebanese
* Malaysian
* Maldivian
* Mongolian
* Myanmar
* Nepalese
* North Korean
* Northern Cypriot3 5
* Omani
* Pakistani
* Palestinian
* Philippine
* Qatari
* Russian2
* Saudi
* Singaporean
* South Korean
* South Ossetian2 5
* Sri Lankan
* Syrian
* Taiwanese5
* Tajikistani
* Thai
* Turkish2
* Turkmen
* Uzbekistani
* Vietnamese
* Yemeni

Europe|

* Abkhaz2 5
* Albanian
* Andorran
* Armenian3
* Austrian
* Azerbaijani2
* Belarusian
* Belgian
* Bosnian and Herzegovinian
* British (BOTC · BN(O) · BOC)
* Bulgarian
* Croatian
* Cypriot3
* Czech
* Danish
* Faroese
* Greenlandic
* Dutch
* Estonian (Non-citizens)
* EU
* Finnish
* French
* Georgian2
* German
* Greek
* Hungarian
* Icelandic
* Irish
* Italian
* Kazakhstani2
* Kosovar5
* Latvian (Non-citizens)
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuanian
* Luxembourg
* Maltese
* Moldovan
* Montenegrin
* Monégasque
* North Macedonian
* Northern Cypriot3 5
* Norwegian
* Polish
* Portuguese
* Romanian
* Russian2
* San Marino
* Serbian
* Slovak
* Slovenian
* South Ossetian2 5
* Spanish
* Swedish
* Swiss
* Transnistrian5
* Turkish2
* Ukrainian
* Vatican City

Oceania|

* Australian
* Fijian
* Kiribati
* Marshallese
* Micronesian
* Nauruan
* New Zealand
* Palauan
* Papua New Guinean
* Pitcairn Islands1
* Samoan
* Solomon Islands
* Tongan
* Tuvaluan
* Vanuatuan

Other|

* Crew members
* Sovereign Military Order of Malta
* Green card

1 British Overseas Territories. 2 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Russia and the partially recognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 3 Cyprus, Armenia, and the partially recognised republic of Northern Cyprus are entirely in Western Asia but have socio-political connections with Europe. 4 Egypt spans the boundary between Africa and Asia. 5 Partially recognized.

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