Laos Business Visa

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Do I Need a Business Visa for Laos?

A business visa for Laos is issued to a foreign citizen who wishes to work or invest in Laos. Laos Business visas are granted to foreign investors, stockholders, enterprise directors, deputy directors, technical officers, volunteers for non-governmental organizations, staff members of Diplomatic Missions, General Consulates, the United Nations Agencies and other international organizations.

Based on the type of employment and projects, Laos issues different types of visas for foreign workers who wish to further their career or seek employment in the country. Some of the Laos work visas available include:

  • Expert Visas (E-B2) for foreign workers employed in international organizations or non-government organizations.
  • Investor Visas (NI-B2) for foreign nationals investing in an enterprise registered in Laos.
  • Labor Visas (LA-B2) for foreign nationals working in Laos on a fixed employment contract.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is responsible for approving business visas to Laos.

However, those interested in traveling to Laos for business purposes should know that there are many more visa types available for Laos:

  • Diplomatic visa: D-A1
  • Official visa: S-A2
  • Courtesy visa: C-B1
  • Tourist visa: T-B3
  • Short-term visa: NI-B3
  • Long-term visa: I-B3
  • Permanent visa: P-B3
  • Expert visa: E-B2
  • Transit visa: TR-B3
  • Student visa: ST-B2
  • Media visa: M-B2
  • Business visa for foreign investors: NI-B2 or I-B2
  • Technical visa for a foreign employee LA-B2

In July 2019, the Lao People's Democratic Republic introduced an electronic visa to simplify the process of obtaining a visa to visit the country. The eVisa for Laos is a move to attract more visitors to the country to enjoy its growing tourism industry.

Currently, the online visa for Laos is available for those traveling for tourism purposes only. The government of Laos will consider whether the electronic visa system should be extended to business travelers. It is possible that at a later stage, there will be a Laos business eVisa available for those who wish to travel to Laos for commercial purposes.

At this point, travelers who wish to invest or carry out a business transaction in Laos are required to obtain a Laos work visa or a Laos business visa through a Laos consulate or embassy.