Visa Extension

Getting into Laos is getting easier, and travelers from many countries can get 30-day tourist visas.

Tourist Visa on Arrival

The Lao government has recently changed where 30-day tourist visas on arrival are issued.

Visas on arrival (VOA) are available at the following airports:

• Wattay/Vientiane International Airport

• Pakse/Champassak International Airport

• Luang Prabang International Airport

Visas on arrival (VOA) are available at the following land borders:

• Trapaingkriel - Veun Kham, Stung Treng Province to Champasack Province (Cambodia)

• Mohan-Boten, Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province (China)— This is not the LCR railway crossing

• Chiangkhong-Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province (Thailand)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I, Nong Khai-Vientiane Capital (Thailand)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II, Moukdahan-Savannakhet Province (Thailand)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge III, Nakorn Phanom-Thakhek/Khammouane Province (Thailand)

• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV, Chiang-Khong - Houay Xai (Thailand)

• Chongmek-Vangtao, Ubol Ratchathani to Champasack Province (Thailand)

• Thanaleng Railway Station (Thailand)

• Lao Bao - Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province (Vietnam)

You need between US$ 40 (all nationalities except Chinese or Vietnamese citizens US$ 20)*, one passport-size photo (4 x 6 cm), the name of a hotel or guesthouse and phone number. Those without a photo will have to pay an additional fee of about US$ 2. On weekends there is an additional $1 service fee. It is recommended to pay in US$. No other foreign currencies are accepted at Airports (you may be lucky to have Thai Baht accepted sometimes). At the Lao-Thai land border crossings you can use Thai Baht, but the Visa fee becomes about 1,500 THB which is approx. $48.

Travellers holding passports from the following countries are not eligible for Laos Visas on Arrival: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Swaziland, Tonga, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe.