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Lao tourist Visa Fee

All tourist visa fees are for single entry visas

US$50 and $57 - a single entry visa for US and Canada citizens respectively (for other countries please check with Lao embassy near you)

If applying by mail, enclose prepaid envelope for return of passport

Other service fee (if you apply through travel agent or specialist provider)

Note: All efforts are made to keep information on this page up-to-date, however, it is recommended that you contact the Lao embassy or consulate near you for the most current visa information.


Laos Tourist Visa Requirements

Your original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and a blank page for a visa stamp

Two(2) Visa application forms, filled and signed by the applicant (available at Lao consulates or travel agents).

Three (3) passport-type photographs

Tourist Visa for Laos

Note: Citizens of Japan, The Republic of Korea, Russia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and ASEAN member countries (with valid passports) are exempted from Lao visa. The citizens of these countries can enter Laos and stay for 15-30 days without a visa. For longer stay, a visa is required.
Tourist Visas for Laos are available at Lao embassies or consulates abroad and at most Laos ports of entry (known as Visa on arrival).

Regardless of where you obtain them, tourist visas are for a single entry and must be used within 2 months from the date of issue. It allows you to stay in Laos for up to 30 days, and can be extended for up to 60 days (two 30-day). Follow the link for more info on Laos visa extension.

If you plan to travel to Laos, and would like to get everything in order before you start your journey, then you might as well want to have the Lao visa stamped on your passport before heading out. You can apply to Lao embassy or consulate near you. Allow 3-5 working days to have the visa issued.
If you want to apply for the visa yourself check out Lao embassies page to see if there is a Lao embassy in your country and for contact information.

If you are in the USA and chose to travel to the embassy and submit your application yourself, below is the map of location of Lao embassy in Washington DC. You may as well want to download the visa application form below (for USA, Canada and Australia only, for other countries please contact the embassy near you for details).

You can also fill out the form and mail it to Lao embassy or consulate near you (see requirements below).

Another way to get your Lao visa before arriving in Laos is to get it at the Lao embassies in its neighbor countries; Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Myanmar depending where you travel through.
Whichever your choice is, I'd recommend you further check with the embassy before you proceed to avoid frustration and time wasting.

But if you can't be bothered going through all that, you can order online with just a few clicks. Although it costs you more money this way, it saves you time and frustrations. There are several companies that offer passport and visa services (for USA, Canada, and Mexico).

If you have a time constrain or it's too much hassle arranging all this, there is a more convenient (and probably cheaper) way to get your Lao visa. Just arrive at one of International airports in Laos or one of International border crossing points and get a Visa on Arrival there.


Note: If you'd prefer to get Lao visa on arrival, you should check to see if you're eligible. Check out "Who can get Laos Visa on arrival?" section for details.


Laos visa on arrival procedures

In most ports of entry including the Lao international border crossing points and Lao International Airports (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet) the Visa on Arrival window is located at the arrival channel (before the immigration window).

Line up at the visa window (don't waste your time lining up at the immigration window if you don't have the visa yet), get the visa application form at the window and fill it out (if you arrive by plane, the form should be given to you before landing). Then hand it in together with your passport, 2 photographs and the Visa fee to the officer, and wait to be called.

The visa processing time varies between ports of entry. At major airports or at Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge in Vientiane it takes around 10-15 minutes. Delays are possible in late afternoons, weekends and public holidays at both Visa window and immigration windows at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridges.

Step to get Visa on arrival at Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge#1

It's pretty easy to get the Lao visa on arrival at the Friendship bridge.

If you arrive by bus, the visa booth is just a few foot steps from where the bus drops you off. It is the first booth before the immigration windows.

If you arrive by private car, the visa on arrival booth is on your left as all private cars are directed to the right arriving channels.

Windows are numbered so just go in sequential order 1-2-3.

Step 1: Get Visa application form at window #1, and fill it out.

Step 2: Return the completed form with 1 or 2 passport type photos and visa fee, plus over time if you arrive outside working hours, on weekend or Lao public holidays, to the official at window #1 or window #2 if it is active, and wait to be called.

Remember, the visa fee is best paid in US dollars. Paying in Thai Baht is more expensive.

No photos? No problems. If you don't have photos you will be asked to pay a small fee (few dollars) for scanning your photograph from your passport, and placing it onto your visa application form.

Step 3: When you're called, collect your passport with the visa, at window #3 around the corner.
Usually you will get immigration stamp on your passport already when you get the visa, so.... no need to stand in line again at the immigration windows. However, it is a good practice to always check to make sure everything is in order before leaving.


Note: Tourist Visa holders are prohibited from obtaining employment in Laos.

Laos Visa on Arrival Fee

Below is a list of visa fee for different countries. If your country is not on the list, it probably costs you $US30 to get the visa or you're not eligible for getting Laos visa on arrival. Click here to check if you are in the "NOT eligible" list.

Country                Price (US Dollar)
Australia              30
Canada                42
China                  20
India                   40
Sweden               31
USA                   35
UK                     35
Others                30

Although Thai Baht is also accepted I'd recommend paying your visa fee in US dollars unless you really run out of them. If you chose to pay in Thai Baht it will cost you around 1,500 Baht which is roughly US$46 (I don't know how they come to this figure).

One thing to remember when in Laos is, if you want to save, it is better to pay in the currency quoted whether it is US dollars, Lao Kip or Thai Baht to avoid converting from one currency to another. You might want to apply this strategy when paying your hotels, restaurant and shopping bills especially if it is a large sum of money.


Note: On weekends, Lao public holidays and from 6 - 8am and after 4pm weekdays, there is a $1 over time fee, in addition an entry fee (2500 Kip or so) may be charged.

Requirements for getting visa on arrival Laos

Requirements for getting visa on arrival Laos (application for a tourist visa on arrival)

Your original passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and a blank page for a visa stamp
Download Lao visa on arrival application form

  • A Visa application form, filled and signed by the applicant (available at visa booth at Lao ports of entry or download it here (in the box).
  • Two(2) recent passport-type photographs.
  • Visa fee (cash)


Note: If you don't have photos you will be asked to pay a small fee (few dollars) for scanning your photograph from your passport, and placing it onto your visa application form.

Who CAN get Laos Visas on Arrival?

Everyone except for citizens of the countries listed under "Who CANNOT get Lao Visa on Arrival?" below.

Who CANNOT get Laos Visas on Arrival?

Effective from 15 October, 2009, travelers holding passports from the following countries are not eligible for Laos Visas on Arrival.

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Algeria
  3. Bangladesh
  4. Burundi
  5. Cameroon
  6. Congo
  7. Cote d’Ivoire
  8. Ghana
  9. Guinea
  10.  Guinea Bissau
  11. Jordan
  12. Lesotho
  13. Liberia
  14. Libya ( Libyan Arab Jamahiriya )
  15. Mozambique
  16. Nauru
  17. Niger
  18. Nigeria
  19. Pakistan
  20. Senegal
  21. Sierra Leone
  22. Sri Lanka
  23. Suriname
  24. Syria ( Syrian Arab republic)
  25. Swaziland
  26. Tonga
  27. Turkey
  28. Zambia
  29. Zimbabwe

According to notice No. 1232 issued on 1 October 2009, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR, nationals on the list above must obtain their visas at Lao Embassies or Lao Consulates abroad before entering Laos.


However, there is an exception for those nationals who are on official visits and holding a guarantee letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos.