Laos Travel Guide

Laos – Luscious landscapes, winding rivers, beautiful people. With an experience to offer everyone, a visit to Laos will leave you with long-lasting and treasured memories. Here is some travel information about getting around Laos.

Visa

Updated 7 Jan 2025

Getting into Laos is getting easier and travellers from many countries can get 30-day tourist visas.

Tourist Visa on Arrival

The Lao government has recently changed where 30--day tourist visas on arrival are issued.

Visas on arrival (VOA) are available at the following airports:

• Wattay/Vientiane International Airport
• Pakse/Champassak International Airport
• Luang Prabang International Airport

Visas on arrival (VOA) are available at the following land borders:

• Trapaingkriel - Veun Kham, Stung Treng Province to Champasack Province (Cambodia)
• Mohan - Boten , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province (China) - This is not the LCR railway crossing
• Chiangkhong - Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nong Khai-Vientiane Capital (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Moukdahan-Savannakhet Province (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III, Nakorn Phanom-Thakhek/Khammouane Province (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV, Chiang-Khong - Houay Xai (Thailand)
• Chongmek - Vangtao, Ubol Ratchathani to Champasack Province (Thailand)
• Thanaleng Railway Station (Thailand)
• Lao Bao - Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province (Vietnam)

You need between US$ 40 (all nationalities except Chinese or Vietnamese citizens US$ 20)*, one passport-size photo (4 x 6 cm), the name of a hotel or guesthouse and phone number. Those without a photo will have to pay an additional fee of about US$ 2. On weekends there is an additional $1 service fee. It is recommended to pay in US$. No other foreign currencies are accepted at Airports (you may be lucky to have Thai Baht accepted sometimes). At the Lao-Thai land border crossings you can use Thai Baht, but the Visa fee becomes about 1,500 THB which is approx. $48.

Travellers holding passports from the following countries are not eligible for Laos Visas on Arrival: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote 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, Zimbabwe.

Laos E-visa

On 9th July 2019 the Lao eVisa service was launched. The website www.laoevisa.gov.la is the official online platform for foreigners to apply for Lao visa online prior to arriving in Laos.

The eVisa service is open for 8 international ports:

• Wattay International Airport
• Luang Prabang International Airport
• Pakse/Champassak International Airport
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nong Khai - Vientiane Capital (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Moukdahan - Savannakhet Province (Thailand)
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV, Chiang-Khong - Houay Xai (Thailand)
• Mohan - Boten , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province (China)
• Lao China Railway: Mohan - Boten , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province (China)

The system will continue to expand to other international ports in the near future.

Tourist Visa from Lao embassies and consulates

You can get a tourist visa in advance from the Lao embassy in your country, usually at most 50 days before your planned arrival. The process involves approximately the same cost and documentation as described above and generally takes three working days. In Bangkok and Hanoi, you can get your visa within 24h or on the same day for an additional express fee.

Visa Free Policy

Visitors of the following countries may enter visa-free for up to 15 days:

Japan, Luxembourg, Myanmar and Switzerland.

Passportholders of the following countries may enter visa-free for up to 30 days:

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Visa exemption rules granted during the Visit Laos Year 2024 have been revoked for the time being. The Lao government will review the policy’s outcomes and continue to explore ways to enhance tourism. Tourists planning to visit Laos in 2025 should check standard visa requirements and entry regulations in advance as they are subject to change.

Visa Extensions

The 30-day tourist visa is extendable for an additional 30 days at a cost of US$ 2 per day. Tourist visas can be extended for 30 days, two times, to the maximum stay duration of 3 months without leaving the country. Visa extensions are available at the Immigration Department in Vientiane, Immigration Office in Luang Prabang, the Police station in Pakse, and the Police Station opposite the Lao-Mongolian Hospital in Phonsavan. Visa extensions are not possible in Savannakhet; however, you can do a visa run by crossing the border to Thailand.

Overstaying on a Visa

Overstaying a visa is not a major crime, but it is expensive. It costs US$ 10 for each day overstayed, paid at the immigration checkpoint on departure.

Customs Regulations

Customs inspections at ports of entry are lax as long as you're not bringing in more than a moderate amount of luggage. You're not supposed to enter the country with more than 500 cigarettes or 1 litre of distilled spirits. All the usual prohibitions on drugs, weapons, and pornography apply.

Entering with an own Vehicle

When entering with your own or a rented car or motorbike which is not registered in Laos, you will only get 15 days on your Temporary Import Permit (TIP). Meaning, the vehicle has to exit Laos after a maximum of 15 days.