Visas
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A passport and visa are required. Visas are issued upon arrival in Laos to foreign tourists and business persons at most border crossings.
You will need two passport size photographs and $30 at Wattay Airport, Vientiane; Friendship Bridge,
Vientiane; and Luang Prabang Airport. Visas on Arrival are not available at the Chong Mek border crossing.
Foreign tourists are generally admitted to Laos for 15 days with a visa on arrival or for 30 days with a visa issued at a Lao
embassy. The Department of Immigration in Vientiane will only extend tourist visas for one day. It is sometimes possible
to get an extension for an additional 15 days by submitting an application through a tour agency. Foreigners who
overstay in Laos risk arrest, and they will be fined $5 for each day upon departure.
Foreign tourists planning on entering Laos at any international checkpoint where Visas on Arrival are not available must
obtain a visa in advance. Check with your nearest Lao Embassy as these are subject to change at short notice.
Immigration offices at some of the less used border-crossing points are net well marked. Travelers should make sure that
they complete immigration and customs formalities when they enter Laos. Travelers who enter Laos without completing
these formalities may be subject to fine, detention, imprisonment, and/or deportation.
VISA NOTES
A Laos TOURIST visa is usually issued for a SINGLE entry within
three months from the date of issue for a period of stay not to exceed 30 days. The visa may be extended in Laos for a further 15 days.
A Laos BUSINESS visa is usually issued for a SINGLE entry within
three months from the date of issue for a period of stay not to exceed 30 days. The visa may be extended in Laos for a further 30 days.
A multi-entry business visa can only be issued after a business joint- venture has been established. Higher consular fees apply.
Passport must have at least six months validity remaining, and one
blank visa page in order for the visa to be issued. TDS can assist
with expediting U.S. Passports whether new issue, renewal, and
adding visa pages.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. Do I need to get a visa before visiting Laos?
A. Not if you enter via the Friendship Bridge, Wattay (Vientiane) International Airport or Luang Prabang International Airport. You can also get a visa at Ban Muang Kao / Chong Mek
Q. I have heard that it is cheaper to get a Lao visa in Bangkok - how do I do this?
A. The cost of a visa in Bangkok is about $10 cheaper in Bangkok - but by the time you get to our embassy (which is situated right out of town) and back, and then return to pick up your visa, you will have wasted a lot of time and money. The cheapest, fastest and easiest option is to get a visa on arrival at Vientiane Airport, Luang Prabang Airport or at the Friendship bridge.
Q. I heard that you can get Visa on Arrival at the border with Thailand at Chong Mek - is this true.
A. There was a time when you could do this, but this is no longer the case.
Q. How long is a tourist visa valid for?
A. 14 days, but you may extend it for $US3 a day, at any travel agent in in Vientiane.
Lao Embassies can be found in the following countries:
| Australia |
Indonesia |
Russia |
Embassy of Lao PDR
1 Dalman Crescent
O'Malley
Canberra, ACT |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Jalan Kintamani Raya
c15 No 33
Kuningan Timur, Jakarta |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Moscow 121069
UL
Katchalova 18 |
| Cambodia |
Japan |
Singapore |
Embassy of Lao PDR
15-17 Mao TseTung Blvd
PO Box 19
Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
Embassy of Lao PDR
3-3-22 Nishi-Azabu
Minato-Ku
Tokyo |
Embassy of Lao PDR
179-B Goldhill Centre
Thomson Road
Singapore |
| China |
Malaysia |
Sweden |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Sanlitum Dongsie jie
Beijing 100600
|
Embassy of Lao PDR
1 Loront Damai Tiga
Kuala Lumpur 55000
|
Embassy of Lao PDR
Badstrandvagen 11
11265 Stockholm
|
| Cuba |
Mongolia |
Thailand |
Embassy of Lao PDR
7 Are calle 36A
505 Miramar
Havana, CUBA |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Ikh Toiruu
PO Box 1030
Ulan Bator |
Embassy of Lao PDR
520.502/1-3
Soiramkhamhaeng 39
Bangkapi, Bangkok |
| France |
Myanmar |
USA |
Embassy of Lao PDR
74, Av. Raymond Poincare
75011 Paris |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Na 1 Diplomatic
Quarters
France Road, Yangon |
Permanent Mission of Lao PDR
317 East 51 Street
New York |
| Germany |
Philippines |
USA |
Embassy of Lao PDR
Am Lessing 6
53639 Koenigswinter 1
Bonn |
Embassy of Lao PDR
34 Lapu-Lapu Street
Magallaness Village
Manila |
Embassy of Lao PDR
2222 S Street NW
Washington DC |
| India |
Poland |
Vietnam |
Embassy of Lao PDR
E53 Panchsheel Park
New Delhi - 17 |
Embassy of Lao PDR
UL Rejtana 15/26
02-516 Warsaw |
Embassy of Lao PDR
22 Rue Tran Binh Trong
Hanoi
SR of Vietnam |
More Information : www.visit-laos.com
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Visa Information:
Visas can be obtained in advance at a Lao, P.D.R. embassy or at most entry points. You may contact the Lao embassy in your country (I have compiled a list in this section) for the latest procedures. Note, the availability of visas at the border changes from time-to-time. Generally, it is easier to get the visa at the entry point rather than the embassy. Embassy may save you a few dollars, but it will take time and at least two trips (unless you use a service or agent).
You can get your visa on arrival at the following entry points: Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Friendship Bridge, Luang Prabang Airport, Ban Muang Kao / Chong Mek. Visa on arrival requires a valid passport (make certain you have six months of life on your passport and some blank pages), one photograph and US$30.
Stories and rumors circulate throughout the tourist grapevine about where one can enter Lao and where visas are available. Be careful and plan ahead by doing research. As of this time, if you plan on entering Laos through any other international checkpoints, you will need to obtain a visa in advance of your arrival. This can be done in two ways - either through a tour company, or from a Lao P.D.R. embassy overseas.
TIP 1: At entry points to Lao, be careful of those trying to take you to 'visa offices.' These tend to be for profit agencies that will help you fill out the visa form and help process the application. This will likely cost you another US$15-20/application on top of the official US$30.. Skip this and head directly to the border crossing and the official immigration office for an application. These 'visa offices' may save you 20-30 minutes of time queuing up to get the applications at the border and filling them out and submitting, but I did not feel their services were worth the US$15-20 per person. The forms are in English and quite easy to understand.
TIP 2: Contrary to the L.P. and some other guides, the visa office at the Vientiane/Friendship Bridge border post only requires ONE passport size photo for the visa.
Lao P.D.R. Embassies Abroad
I have assembled a partial list of Lao P.D.R. embassies abroad that we found when considering getting our visas in advance of our trip. You might want to contact them directly for the most up-to-date information re. border crossing points and/or visas in advance.
Medicine and Emergencies:
Make certain you are in good shape before setting out for Lao. In terms of international standards, medical facilities are limited in Lao. Basic medical care is available in Vientiane at one or more internationally staffed private clinics. As you will read in the guide books, the blood supply is not screened for HIV or AIDS. In case of a serious medical emergency while in Lao, contacting your embassy or that of a 'friendly' nation to your homeland would be recommended.
TIP 1: Remember to see your physician prior to leaving for Lao and get some Cipro or other broad spectrum antibiotics just in case. If you know what you need (not recommending this) you can purchase most common antibiotics etc. in the local pharmacies - but age and purity of what you get may be questionable.
TIP 2: Recommend you bring your own mini pharmacy/good supply with you in terms of plasters, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, etc. Wounds go septic twice as fast as in temperate climates. Things such as contact lens solutions which are readily available in Thailand are very difficult to find - so rely on glasses or bring your own supply.
TIP 3: Recommend you get medical evacuation insurance prior to leaving for Lao. It is relatively inexpensive and most policies generally cover doctors bills, hospital charges, provide air evacuation for serious injuries that cannot be treated in country, translators via phone, medical consultations via phone etc. We have taken out medical evacuation insurance from time-to-time through American Express Travel Medical Protection - but thankfully have not had to call on their services. S.O.S. and Liaison Traveler are other popular insurers.
Foreign Embassies in Lao, P.D.R. (click on link below)
I have assembled a partial list of foreign embassies in Lao. We found this useful when looking to contact our embassy to get some new pages inserted into our passports. Your embassy will also likely have the latest travel bulletins for the region as well. Some countries recommend you register with the embassy if staying in the country more than a month or so.
More information : tapa-king.tripod.com |
Laos - Vientiane
Australian Embassy in Vientiane, which also provides a limited range of emergency consular services to British, Canadian and New Zealand citizens in Laos.
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