Laos Visa Extension: Where and How to Extend Laos Visa?

It is difficult to visit all that Laos has to offer within just 30 days. Luckily, you can extend Laos visa from within the country. All tourist visas are extendable including eVisa, VOA and visa from the embassy, except Visa-Exemption. 

The Laos visa extension process is streamlined and simple enough. There is no need for a visa agent or another intermediary. Extension can be done from any provincial immigration office.

If you are not in Laos yet, you should read the Laos Visa Guide for available visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.

How many days can you extend?

You can choose the days to extend, from 1 to 30 days. The fee is calculated per day. These days are added to the last day you were originally allowed to stay in Laos.

How many extensions are permitted

You can go through the extension process 2 times. Assuming you extend for 30 days each time, the maximum you can stay in Laos on a tourist visa is 90 days.

How much is the Laos visa extension fee?

The fee is 20,000 LAK per day of extension (around 1$). You will also pay a service charge of 40,000 LAK (which may be lower or higher in some cities).

For example, if you extend for 30 days, you will pay 640,000 LAK.

That means it’s cheaper to extend your visa within the country than opting for a visa run!

Where can you extend your visa?

Any provincial immigration office can extend your tourist visa. Here are the locations of the Immigration offices that do visa extensions in some of the more popular cities in Laos:

1. Vientiane (the main one for Laos)
2. Luang Prabang
3. Thakhek
4. Pakse
5. Luang Namtha
6. Phonsavan

When to apply for your extension?

You must apply for your extension before your current visa expires. If you are certain that you want to stay longer than 30 days in Laos, you can extend as soon as you enter the country. The duration is added on top of the original 30 days, so you will not “lose” any days. 

Here is an example: 

• You entered Laos on 01 Nov 2024
• Your last day of allowed to stay is 30 Nov 2024
• You apply for your visa extension on 20 Nov 2024
• Your visa is extended until 30 Dec 2024

How to extend Laos visa in Vientiane?

The Immigration Office in Vientiane is about 5km away from the town. There is no public transportation going to the immigration office. You will need to hire a tuk-tuk or get a taxi. You can use inDrive (Android App / iPhone App) or Xanh SM (Android App / iPhone App) to book a ride. A one-way ride costs around 70,000-100,000 LAK.

Since the immigration office is away from the town, finding a ride back to the town is almost impossible. Have your tuk-tuk or taxi wait for you while you apply for your visa extension. The application process usually takes about 10-15 minutes. 

The immigration office is open from 8 am to 4 pm. 

When you enter the main building, take the lift to 1st floor (Level 2). In Laos, Level 1 is the ground floor and Level 2 is the 1st floor. 

Take a blank form from Counter 2, fill it in, then approach Counter 1.

Hand your passport together with the form. They will give you a signed photocopy of your passport biodata page as an acknowledgment. You may have to present this photocopy to pick up your passport

Pay according to the number of days you extend plus the 40,000 LAK processing fee.

You will pay 20,000 LAK per day of extension. If you extend the full 30 days, it would be 640,000 LAK including the processing fee. 

Your extension will be ready the following day. Go to collect your passport before 4 pm. 

If you prefer to pick up your passport the same day, you will have to pay an additional 100,000 LAK express fee. In such a case, you can pick up your passport after 3 pm the same day. 

How to extend Laos visa in Luang Prabang?

The Immigration Office in Luang Prabang is also a bit away from the town. You will need to arrange your own transportation. A tuk-tuk from the Old Town and back will cost you around 100,000 LAK. You can also go by bicycle as it’s not too far to cycle – only around 4 km from the Night Market area.

The immigration office is open from 8 am to 4 pm. Lunch break is from 11.30 am to 2 pm. 

When you arrive at the building, go to the left wing and look for the sign “Visa Extension”. 

Find the desk with the visa extension forms. Grab one and fill it out. Again, just the basic details and hotel information are sufficient. 

You will need two passport-size photos.

Hand in your passport, completed form and two photos. Pay for your extension. 

The fee is 20,000 LAK per day of extension plus 50,000 LAK processing fee. 

If you visit early in the morning, you may be able to get your passport back the same day. Otherwise, go back the next day to pick it up.

Do you need a photo for the visa extension?

Officially, yes, you do need to bring 2 passport-size photos for the extension application form.

In practice, immigration sometimes does not require the photos. Other times, they need it but are happy to just scan the picture from your passport for a fee.

It is best to go prepared with 2 passport-sized photos but if you don’t have any on you, no need to go out of your way to get them.

Can you pay the extension fee in US dollars?

Immigration will accept other currencies like US dollars and Thai Baht but will exchange at a rate worse than in the city.

It’s better to go prepared with Lao Kip in cash.