Requirement, where and how to apply for

You can apply tourist visas before you arrive to Laos at Laos embassies in oversea country. You can do this by yourself or demand a travel agents to do it for you. However, if the city where you are staying not near any Lao embassy or Laos consulates then you can obtain your visa on arrival at Laos International airports or Laos checkpoints.

Requirements (application for a tourist visa from Lao embassy)

Your passport with at least 6 months of validity and a blank page for a visa stamp, 02 visa application forms, filled and signed by the applicant (available at Lao consulates). 03 photo size 3cm x 4cm or 4cm x 6cm

Visa Fee

Visa Fees are vary from embassy to embassy please check with Lao embassy near your stay

VISA ON ARRIVAL

A Visa on Arrival is also a tourist visa (30 days stay). There is no different between the visa on arrive and the visa getting at embassy except It is more convenient for those who are tight on time, resources, energy or who cannot go to the Lao embassy/consulate to get the visa.

The visa on arrival available at: All Laos international airports, Many border crossing or check point between Laos and Vietnam, Thailand, China and Cambodia. Click here for a complete list of Lao border check points that issue Visa on Arrival.

If you intend to enter Laos as a tourist, this will be the most convenient option. Just make sure you have a valid passport and plan to arrive at one of the International Crossing  where the visa is issued.

Who can get Laos Visas on Arrival?

Everyone can get visa on arrival except following passport holder are not eligible for Laos Visa on Arrival.

Afghanistan Algeria Bangladesh Burundi Cameroon Congo Cote d’Ivoire Ghana Guinea Guinea Bissau Jordan Lesotho Liberia Libya ( Libyan Arab Jamahiriya ) Mozambique

Nauru Niger Nigeria Pakistan Senegal Sierra Leone Sri Lanka Suriname Suriname Syria ( Syrian Arab republic) Swaziland Tonga Turkey Zambia and 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 who hold a guarantee letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos.

Requirements (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, A Visa application form, filled and signed by the applicant (available at Lao check point or download it here (in the box). Two(2) recent photo size 3x 4 cm or 4 x 6 cm, Visa fee ( in 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.

VISA ON ARRIVAL FEE

Fee of a tourist visa 30 days normally it cost 30usd but it also different with some nationality. Below is a list of visa fee for some different countries.

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 for your visa fee in US dollars unless you really run out of it. If you chose Thai Baht option it will cost you 1,500 Baht (minimum) which is around US$46 ( it would lots more expensive compare to paying in USD)

Note: On weekends and Lao public holidays there is a $1 surcharge.

Procedures
In most ports of entry including the Lao International Airports (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet) the Visa on Arrival gate is located at the arrival gate (before the immigration gate). You should line up at the visa gate, get the visa application form and fill it out, If you are arrive by air plain you should request your Air Hottest give you the form before landing. Then hand it in together with your passport, 2 photographs and the Visa fee to the officer.

The visa processing time varies from this to that but normally it takes around 10-15 minutes. Delays are possible in late afternoons, weekends and public holidays.