View source for Visa policy of Laos

{{short description|Policy on permits required to enter Laos}}
{{Politics of Laos|expanded=Foreign}}
[[File:Lao Visa.jpg|thumbnail|Lao visa sticker]]
[[File:Laos entry and exit stamps.jpg|thumb|Lao entry and exit stamps]]

Visitors to '''[[Laos]]''' must obtain a [[visa (document)|visa]] from one of the [[List of diplomatic missions of Laos|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.<ref name="tim">{{Timatic Visa Policy|country=LA|access-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

==Visa policy map==
[[File:Visa policy of Laos.svg|678px|thumbnail|none|
{{legend|#ee161f|Lao People's Democratic Republic}}
{{legend|#1cb34b|Visa not required (30 days)}}
{{legend|#00a4e9|Visa not required (15 days) or eVisa (30 days)}}
{{legend|#a447a5|Visa not required (14 days) or eVisa (30 days)}}
{{legend|#ffca06|Visa on arrival or eVisa (30 days)}}
{{legend|#c4c4c4|Visa required in advance}}]]

==Visa exemption==
===Ordinary passports===
According to the [[Ministry of Public Security (Laos)|Ministry of Public Security of Laos]], holders of ordinary passports of the following countries (including all [[Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations|ASEAN member states]]) may enter Laos without a visa for stays up to the duration listed below:<ref name="visa">{{cite web | title=Visa exemption – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ | url=https://immigration.gov.la/visa-exemption/ | publisher=[[Ministry of Public Security (Laos)|The Department of Immigration of Lao PDR]] | access-date=10 August 2023 | language=en}}</ref>

{|style=" border-radius:1em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); background-color: white; border: 1px solid white; padding: 5px;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
'''30 days'''
{|
|
*{{flag|Brunei}}
*{{flag|Cambodia}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|Mongolia}}
*{{flag|Philippines}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Singapore}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Laos - Travel Page |url=https://www.mfa.gov.sg/countries-regions/l/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/travel-page |website=www.mfa.gov.sg |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)]] |access-date=20 July 2024 |language=en |date=12 July 2024}}</ref>
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|South Korea}}
*{{flag|Thailand}} 
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
|}

'''15 days'''
{|
|
*{{flag|Austria}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Belgium}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Denmark}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Finland}}<sup>#</sup>
|valign=top|
*{{flag|Greece}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Japan}}
*{{flag|Luxembourg}}
*{{flag|Norway}}<sup>#</sup>
|valign=top|
*{{flag|Spain}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Sweden}}<sup>#</sup>
*{{flag|Switzerland}}
|
|}

{|
|
'''14 days'''
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
|
|}
|
|}

<sub># - Temporary visa exemption policy from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024.</sub>

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
!style="width:100%;";"|Date of visa changes
|-
| 
* 2004: Vietnam<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 05 March 2004</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.laoairlines.com/?contentkey=pages&id=67 | title=Lao Airlines | website=www.laoairlines.com | access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref>
* 2004: Cambodia<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 10 May 2004</ref>
* 2004: Singapore<ref name="ReferenceA">Under the Visa Agreement on 1 July 2004</ref>
* 2004: Malaysia<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* 2004: Thailand<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 28 October 2004</ref>
* 2005: Brunei<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 1 April 2005</ref>
* 12 July 2005: Philippines<ref>{{cite web | url=http://210.5.104.56/treaty/scanneddocs/403.pdf | title=Under the Visa Agreement on 10 April 2005}}</ref>
* 1 January 2007: Japan
* 1 September 2007: Russia
* 14 October 2007: Mongolia<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 14 September 2007</ref>
* 1 September 2008: South Korea
* 7 July 2009: Luxembourg and Switzerland
* 2009: Myanmar<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 20 November 2009</ref>
* 2011: Indonesia<ref>Under the Visa Agreement on 23 September 2011</ref>
* 1 August 2018: Sri Lanka (visa on arrival)
* 1 July 2024 - 31 December 2024: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Spain and Sweden<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1biBWE9Y026IOQDWpBybsjvPQIo5yrLPr/view Implementation of Visa exemption policy and determination of length of stay in Lao PDR for target country tourists during the Visit Laos Year 2024 - Reg. No. 2520/IMM - Ministry of Public Security General Department of Public Security Department of Immigration]</ref>

'''Cancelled''':
* 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
|-
|}

===Tour groups===
From 1 July to 31 December 2024, Laos is implementing a 15-day visa-free policy for visitors with documents of following jurisdictions who are visiting Laos through approved tour groups:<ref>[https://agbrief.com/news/laos/27/06/2024/laos-to-grant-visa-free-entry-for-chinese-tourists-starting-in-july/ Laos to grant visa-free entry for Chinese tourists starting in July]</ref>
{|style=" border-radius:1em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); background-color: white; border: 1px solid white; padding: 5px;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
*{{CHN}}
*{{HKG}}
*{{MAC}}
*{{TWN}}
|
|}

===Non-Ordinary passports===
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):<ref name="visa" />

{|style=" border-radius:1em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); background-color: white; border: 1px solid white; padding: 5px;
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
* {{flagdeco|ASEAN}} [[Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations|ASEAN member states]] (except Indonesia)
{|
|
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
*{{flag|Bangladesh}}
*{{flag|Belarus}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Brazil}}
*{{flag|China}} 
*{{flag|Hong Kong}}<sup>2</sup>
*{{flag|Cuba}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Ecuador}}
*{{flag|Hungary}}<sup>1</sup>
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|India}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}<sup>2</sup>
*{{flag|Japan}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
*{{flag|Kuwait}}
*{{flag|Mexico}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Mongolia}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Norway}}<sup>D</sup>
*{{flag|Pakistan}}<sup>1</sup>
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|Peru}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Poland}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Serbia}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|South Korea}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Slovakia}}<sup>1</sup>
*{{flag|Switzerland}}
*{{flag|Timor-Leste}}
*{{flag|Turkey}}<sup>D 1</sup>
|
|}
|
|}

<sub>D – Diplomatic passports only.</sub><br/>
<sub>1 – 90 days</sub><br/>
<sub>2 – 14 days</sub>

Laos signed a visa-free agreement with [[Kazakhstan]] for holders of diplomatic and official passports in July 2024 and it is yet to come into force.<ref>[https://english.news.cn/20240705/e50fb348dd1e4647bd96fd5ad12d80cc/c.html Laos, Kazakhstan sign deal for visa exemption]</ref>

==Visa on arrival and e-Visa==
{{ external media
| float  = right
| width  = 250px
| image1 = [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zn2lpfogc40k.k929iGe3IEIk Map of entry points with Visa on Arrival facility]
}}

[[File:Lao-eVisa-Official-Logo.png|thumb|200px|The official [https://laoevisa.gov.la Lao e-Visa] logo]]
[[File:Lao eVisa Approval Letter.jpg|thumb|e-Visa Approval Letter]]
[[File:金三角老挝岛屿落地签证.jpg|thumb|Visa on arrival for [[Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone]]]]

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.<ref>{{cite web | title=How to apply the visa extension | url=http://immigration.gov.la/d2.html | website=immigration.gov.la | access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Law On EntryExit, And the Management of Foreigners in the Lao PDR Article 41 Section 5 | url=http://www.laoservicesportal.gov.la/index.php?r=site%2Fdisplaylegal&id=259#a41 | website=Laoservicesportal.gov.la | access-date=17 July 2019}}</ref>

The Laos e-Visa service was launched in July 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.vietnamplus.vn/laos-launches-evisa-service-in-vientiane/155812.vnp | title=Laos launches e-Visa service in Vientiane| date=9 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/09/c_138212654.htm | title=Lao E-visa launched for foreigners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709162016/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/09/c_138212654.htm| archive-date=2019-07-09}}</ref> It is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and its holders may stay for up to 30 days in Laos.<ref>[https://laoevisa.gov.la/faq eVisa Laos]</ref> 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:<ref name="Checkpoints">{{cite web | title=Checkpoints – ກົມຕຳຫຼວດກວດຄົນເຂົ້າ-ອອກເມືອງ | url=https://immigration.gov.la/checkpoints/|access-date=2023-04-29 |website=immigration.gov.la | publisher=Department of Immigration of Lao PDR}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=PDR | first1=Consular Department-Ministry of Foreign Affairs LAO |title=Lao e-Visa / Faq | url=https://laoevisa.gov.la/faq |website=laoevisa.gov.la | access-date=2023-04-16 | language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Port of entry !! Opposite side !! VoA !! eVisa
|-
| [[Luang Prabang International Airport]] || {{n/a}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Pakse International Airport]] || {{n/a}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Wattay International Airport]] ([[Vientiane]]) || {{n/a}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge|Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge I]] ([[Vientiane]]) || [[Nong Khai]], [[Thailand]] || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge|Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge II]] ([[Savannakhet]]) || [[Mukdahan]], Thailand || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge|Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge III]] ([[Thakhek]]) || [[Nakhon Phanom province]], Thailand || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| [[Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge|Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge IV]] ([[Houayxay]]) || [[Chiang Khong district]], Thailand || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Samliemkham]] || Thailand and [[Myanmar]] || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| [[Khamsavath railway station]] ([[Vientiane]]) || [[Nong Khai railway station]], Thailand || {{ya}} || {{na}} 
|-
| [[Daensavan]] || [[Lao Bảo]], [[Vietnam]] || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| [[Veunkham]] || [[Nong nok khian]], [[Cambodia]] || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| [[Vang tao]] || [[Chong Mek]], Thailand || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| [[Boten]] (road checkpoint) || [[Mohan, Yunnan|Mohan]], [[China]] || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| [[Boten railway station]] || [[Mohan railway station]], China || {{na}} || {{ya}}
|}

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 [[List of diplomatic missions of Laos|Laotian diplomatic missions around the world]].

==Visa required in advance==
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 [[List of diplomatic missions of Laos|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 (Laos)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos]]:<ref name="tim" /><ref>[https://laoevisa.gov.la/article/Who%20can%20Apply%20for%20Lao%20eVisa  Who can Apply for Lao e-Visa]</ref>

{|style=" border-radius:1em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); background-color: white; border: 1px solid white; padding: 5px;"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
*{{flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{flag|Algeria}}
*{{flag|Bangladesh}}
*{{flag|Burundi}}
*{{flag|Cameroon}}
*{{flag|Congo}}
*{{flag|DR Congo}}
*{{flag|Eswatini}}
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|Ghana}}
*{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
*{{flag|Ivory Coast}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Jordan}}
*{{flag|Lebanon}}
*{{flag|Lesotho}}
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|Liberia}}
*{{Flag|Libya}}
*{{flag|Mozambique}}
*{{flag|Nauru}}
*{{flag|Niger}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Senegal}}
|valign="top"|
*{{flag|Sierra Leone}}
*{{flag|South Sudan}}
*{{flag|Sudan}}
*{{flag|Suriname}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tonga}}
*{{flag|Zambia}}
*{{flag|Zimbabwe}}
|
|}

==Statistics==
Most visitors arriving to Laos were from the following countries of nationality:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tourismlaos.org/show.php?Cont_ID=43 | title=Statistical Reports on Tourism in Laos}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed"
|-
|- style="color:white;"
! Country
! 2017
! 2016
! 2015
! 2014
! 2013
! 2012
! 2011
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}} || 1,797,803 || 2,009,605 || 2,321,352 || 2,043,761 || 2,059,434 || 1,937,612 || 1,579,941
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}} || 891,643 || 998,400 || 1,187,954 || 1,108,332 || 910,164 || 705,596 || 561,586
|-
| {{flag|China}} || 639,185 || 545,493 || 511,436 || 422,440 || 245,033 || 199,857 || 150,791
|-
| {{flag|South Korea}} || 170,571 || 173,260 || 165,328 || 96,085 || 81,799 || 53,829 || 34,707
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || 38,765 || 58,094 || 63,058 || 61,460 || 61,608 || 53,380 || 50,092
|-
| {{flag|France}} || 36,760 || 54,953 || 55,151 || 52,146 || 52,411 || 46,903 || 44,399
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || 32,064 || 49,191 || 43,826 || 44,877 || 48,644 || 42,026 || 37,883
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 27,723 || 39,170 || 41,508 || 39,061 || 41,741 || 35,964 || 35,622
|-
| {{flag|Germany}} || 23,776 || 34,018 || 31,897 || 29,800 || 29,250 || 23,417 || 21,280
|-
| {{flag|Australia}} || 20,886 || 33,077 || 34,655 || 44,964 || 35,441 || 33,878 || 31,874
|-style="border-top:3px solid #002868;"
| Total || 3,868,838 || 4,239,047 || 4,684,429 || 4,158,719 || 3,779,490 || 3,330,072 || 3,330,072
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Laos}}
{{Wikivoyage|Laos}}

* [[Visa requirements for Laotian citizens]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
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* [http://www.immigration.gov.la Lao PDR Immigration Department]
* [https://laoevisa.gov.la Lao eVisa]

{{Visa policy by country}}
{{Visa Requirements}}

[[Category:Visa policy by country|Laos]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Laos]]