Laos Entry Requirements
Apply for eVisaIf you wish to visit Laos you first need to meet the entry requirements for the country. For many travelers, this also involves fulfilling certain visa requirements.
The online visa for Laos makes it easier for foreign travelers to visit the country.
The Laos online visa requirements include a valid passport, an email address, and a debit card. Applicants will also need a recent photo that follow the eVisa photo guidelines.
Which Countries Need a Visa for Laos?
If you are a national of any of these countries, you can apply for a eVisa prior to your trip to Laos:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalem
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Moldova, Republic of
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Korea
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St Vincent & the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Citizens of the following countries can travel to Laos without a visa for stays under 30 days. If nationals of these countries wish to stay in the country for a period longer than 30 days they should apply for the regular visa to the embassy or consulate.
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Additionally, citizens of Japan, Luxembourg, and Switzerland can stay 15 days visa-free. Nationals of Myanmar are visa-exempt for 14 days.
If a national of these visa-free countries wishes to stay longer, they must apply for an eVisa or a visa from an embassy or consulate.
Citizens of some African and Middle Eastern countries are required to apply for a tourist visa to Laos in advance at a Laos embassy or consulate.
EU citizens, North Americans, and Australians can also get their Laos visa upon arrival in the country.
Travel Documents Required to Enter Lao PDR
The travel documents required to enter Laos with the Approval Letter or eVisa include the following:
- A valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of arrival
- Digital copy of the passport biographical page
- A printed copy of the Laos eVisa Approval Letter
- Recent passport-style color photo that follow the evisa photo guidelines
- Additional documents may be required depending on nationality
Note: These additional documents can be submitted later if you do not have them at the moment of application. By accessing the link in your confirmation email, you can return to your application and provide the additional documents required.
Dual nationals need to keep in mind that the passport used to apply for a Laos visa must be the same one they use to enter the country. If the passport is close to expiring and does not have at least 6 months validity remaining, renew the document before you apply for your visa.
Laos Entry Points
Once an electronic Laos visa is approved, the holder will be able to enter Laos through one of the following entry ports:
- Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)
- Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang Province)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)
- Pakse International Airport (Champasak Province)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province)
- Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha)
As the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, it is not possible to enter Laos by sea. It is bordered on all sides by neighboring countries Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Note that you are able to leave Laos with your visa though any border crossing point/airports.