If you’re planning to travel to Laos, you’re going to need a visa. The good thing is, that in most cases you’re eligible for a visa on arrival and therefore don’t need to apply in advance. However, some things you should know if you want to apply for a visa on arrival in Laos. In this post, we want to inform you about the situation in 2025. One thing in advance: The visa on arrival only allows for a single entry. There are also multiple entry visas, but those need to be applied for prior to arrival.
Requirements for a visa on arrival
Regardless of your country of origin, there are some requirements that you need to meet. If they’re not fulfilled, entry might be denied. Not all of these requirements are equally important. For example: Usually, no one is going to check if you have a confirmed return ticket. Especially not, if you entered the country via land. The main requirements for a visa on arrival are:
- Filled out application form
- Passport photo (can be taken on site)
- Passport with at least six month validity
- Sufficient funds for your stay
- Visa fee in USD or Thai Baht
As you can see, the requirements aren’t too strict, but there’s one thing you should know. It’s not allowed to import nor export the local currency kip. We don’t know why exactly this is the case. We also never experienced anyone checking for this. Still, it’s better to be cautious. Another important note: If you’re bringing more than 2.500 USD in cash with you, it needs to be declared.
Countries eligible for a visa on arrival
Most countries can either enter without a visa or are eligible for a visa on arrival valid for 30 days. If you don’t know about the situation in your country, just take a look at that overview. On the colored map you can see very well, what countries are eligible. Just check the different colors and their meanings to find out more.
“Visa policy of Laos” by Numberguy6, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Countries that require a visa in advance
The requirements aren’t too strict, but there are a few countries that can’t enter with a visa on arrival. Citizens from those countries must apply for a tourist visa in advance, if they want to enter Laos. Most countries with this restriction are either located in Africa or the Middle East. Here’s a list of the said countries:
- 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
If anyone from one of those countries arrives at the border without a valid visa, they’ll be denied entry, since they’re not eligible for a visa on arrival. Exceptions may apply in rare cases.
Is it possible to extend the visa on arrival for Laos?
Yes, if your country is eligible for a visa on arrival, you can extend it to stay longer in the country. Tourist visas on arrival can be extended for 60 extra days through the Department of Immigration in Vientiane. For a month more, you’ll have to pay at least what you paid initially, but we don’t know the exact amount
Where you can get a Visa on arrival for Laos
Technically, you can get a Visa on arrival at almost every border of the country, no matter if by land or by air. The main entry points for obtaining a visa are:
- Luang Prabang International Airport
- Pakse International Airport
- Vientiane International Airport
- Friendship Bridge Savannakhet
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge Vientiane
- Boten Border Crossing China
- Nam Phao Border Crossing Vietnam
While visa on arrival are possible on all of the major entry points, the also popular e-visas might not be accepted. Check in advance, to avoid any problems
Cost for a visa on arrival
How much you have to pay for a visa on arrival, depends on two factors. The first one is your nationality, the second one is the currency you’re going to pay with. Depending on your nationality you’ll have to pay between 30 USD and 42 USD. If you arrive outside of the normal hours before 8am or after 4pm you’ll have to pay a small surcharge too. That surcharge also applies in situations where you don’t have a passport photo and it has to be taken onsite. In both cases it should just be around a dollar, so it doesn’t make much of a difference. If you don’t have US Dollars you can also pay in Thai Baht. If you want to pay in Euro, it’s a bit more complicated. Normally Euro gets accepted too, but you might have to pay a bit more.
How long to get your visa on arrival
In the last years, Laos gained popularity as a tourist destination. Therefore, the number of visitors has increased significantly. Nonetheless, the waiting times at the borders are nowhere comparable to those in Thailand. At least not if you don’t end up in the middle of a visa run. Just don’t arrive at the land borders around morning time, and you’ll be done within 5 to 20 minutes.
Consequences for overstaying your visa
Like in any other country you shouldn’t overstay your visa. Laos isn’t too strict, but you’ll still have to pay 10 USD for every day you overstay. If you do this repeatedly or overstay a very long time, it might even get complicated at the border. So make sure to follow the rules.
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