UPDATED: AUGUST 2019 | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: OCT 2017
Part of the well-known banana pancake trail for the backpackers, Laos welcome millions of millions of travellers every year. If this route is on your radar but not quite decided if you should go, check these facts about Laos to help you decide.
Their visa policy makes travelling in Southeast Asia for backpackers makes a life a lot easier. Laos offers to more than half of the world a visa on arrival policy both for landing by air or crossing a land border.
Find out in this Laos visa guide which countries have visa-free, countries that have visa on arrival, and how to apply for Laos evisa online.
If you are still unsure if Laos is worth a trip, enjoy these Luang Prabang travel photos and check out this thorough and complete backpacking in Laos guide or this itinerary for Luang Prabang in Spanish from our friends at Universo Viajero.
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FREE VISA
Here is the complete list of visa-free countries to enter and travel in Laos. Travellers can enter airports, seaports, and land border crossing.
30 days
15 days
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Russia
- South Korea
- Switzerland
14 days
- Brunei
- Myanmar
VISA ON ARRIVAL
Most nationalities from the West and Europeans are welcome in Laos under visa on arrival (VOA) for 30 days. To check if your country is eligible for VOA click here. Visa on arrival is available for a fee and is valid for 30 days, note that this is a single entry.
- Australia
- some Africa
- some Asia
- entire European
- Canada
- Central America
- New Zealand
- South America
- United States
Laos Visa On Arrival Cost
When I crossed the border from Vietnam to Laos, other travellers needed to pay US$40. I’m not sure if this is the fixed visa cost.
Ports That Doesn’t Accept Visa On Arrival
- Napao-Chalo (Vietnam)
- Subhun (China)
- Pakxan-Bueng Kan (Thailand)
- Xieng Kok river port (Myanmar)
LAOS EVISA
Starting July 2019, Laos immigration department launched an evisa which you can get online but only a few entry ports. Only nationalities who are eligible for visa on arrival can apply for an evisa.
- Valid for 60 days but you can only stay for 30 days
- The cost is $55 – you can apply here
Ports To Enter Using Evisa
EXTEND YOUR LAOS VISA
If you wish to stay longer in Laos, you can easily extend your visa. Visa can be extended at the immigration office in Vientiane, which costs US$2 per day if you apply before the expiry date. If you wait until your visa expires, you have to pay US$10 per days for the days you overstayed.
Where To Extend Your Laos Visa
In Vientiane, you can extend your Lao visa at the Immigration office of the Joint Development Bank (JDB) at Lane Xang Avenue, just opposite of the Morning Market. The Immigration office is open from Mondays to Fridays from 8.00 am-16.00, the office is closed for a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00. and Friday afternoon.
Laos Visa Requirements And Cost
- passport
- two passport photo
- a service fee of US$3
- an application fee is 3,000 kip
- visa extension fee is US$2 per day if you have a valid visa, US$10 per day if your visa is expired
The process is quite easy and straightforward. Fill out the application form then submit it together with your passport and pay the fees. Most of the time, you get your visa extension ready the same day.
You can also get a travel agent to help you for a small fee. The price varies from agencies to agencies. Walk around to find the best deal.
VISA RUN
It’s a normal practice for travellers to do a visa run in Laos, it’s rare that an official will question you from exiting Laos and entering Laos again. If you are in Vientiane, you can easily take a public bus and pay 10,000 Kip for the ticket to Lao-Thailand friendship bridge.
After completing the exit procedure of Lao, take the shuttle bus to Thai immigration point for 5,000 Kip then enter Thailand. If you want to come back to Laos right away, you can simply have to cross the Thai Immigration to exit the country. Again, take the shuttle bus to arrive at Laos Immigration where you can obtain a Laos visa on arrival.
I really hope this article guide about Laos visa, visa on arrival, and Laos evisa has been helpful. Drop me a line if you have any other questions.
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