Laosportal |
Visitors to Laos must obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one 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]
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 15 days
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Date of visa changes |
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Cancelled:
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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]
|
D - Diplomatic passports only.
1 - 90 days
2 - 14 days
External image | |
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Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility |
Most nationals of other countries may obtain a visa on arrival in Laos or an e-Visa online for a fee, except those who are ineligible for either facility.
The duration of stay of a visa obtained upon arrival in Laos is 30 days, but 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. [13] [14]
The Laos e-Visa service was launched in July 2019. [15] [16] It is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and its holders may stay for up to 30 days in Laos. [17] e-Visa can be issued within 3 business days.
Travellers eligible for a visa on arrival or an e-Visa can enter Laos through one of the following ports of entry: [18] [19]
Port of entry | Opposite side | VoA | eVisa |
---|---|---|---|
Luang Prabang International Airport | — | ||
Pakse International Airport | — | ||
Wattay International Airport | — | ||
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane) | Nong Khai province, 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 | ||
Thanaleng railway station | 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 |
All other ports of entry not listed above neither accept visa on arrival nor e-Visa. Some of them are closed to third-country visitors, while others require visitors from non-visa-exempt countries to present visas obtained in advance from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions around the world.
Nationals of the following countries are ineligible to obtain a visa on arrival nor an e-Visa. They must thus obtain a visa from one of the Laotian diplomatic missions in advance. However, 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] [20]
Most visitors arriving to Laos were from the following countries of nationality: [21]
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 |
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