Laos eVisa is an alternative to the Laos Visa on Arrival. All foreign citizens eligible for Visa on Arrival (VOA) are also eligible to apply for eVisa. Laos eVisa is also referred to as Laos electronic visa, Laos visa online or Laos online visa.
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Eligibility: 163 nationalities are eligible for Laos eVisa
- Ports of entry: Allowed to enter only at 8 designated checkpoints
- Validity: eVisa is single-entry, valid for 60 days with an allowed stay of 30 days
- Fee: eVisa application fee is $51.75 and the processing time is 3 working days
If you haven’t already, read the Laos visa guide to familiarize yourself with Laos visa requirements, visa types, visa extension and entry-exit procedure at the airport and land borders.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Laos eVisa
eVisa validity
Laos eVisa is valid for 60 days from the day of approval. You must use the eVisa to travel to Laos within the 60-day validity period.
Duration of stay
You are allowed to stay 30 days in Laos with an eVisa.
Keep in mind that “duration to stay” and “visa validity” are two separate things. Your eVisa must be valid at the time of entering Laos. You can enter Laos even on the last of your eVisa validity and can still get 30 days of stay.
Allowed number of entries
Laos eVisa is single-entry only. You can only use your eVisa “once” to visit Laos. If you need to visit Laos again, you must apply for a fresh eVisa.
Allowed ports of entry
With an eVisa, you can enter Laos at the following checkpoints only.
International airports
- Wattay International Airport (Vientiane capital)
- Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang province)
- Pakse International Airport (Champasack province)
Land borders (Thailand)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I (Nong Khai – Vientiane)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II (Mukdahan – Savannakhet)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Chiangkhong – Houixay)
Land borders (China)
- Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha province)
- Boten Railway Station (Luang Namtha province)
When to apply
You can apply for Laos eVisa anytime between 5 days to 60 days before your trip. The eVisa application will not allow you to apply if your trip is within 5 days of application.
| When to apply | Days |
|---|---|
| Earliest | 60 days |
| Latest | 5 days |
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Laos eVisa Requirements
eVisa eligibility
The following countries are eligible to apply for Laos eVisa.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- 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
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirate
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
The above countries are also eligible for Laos Visa on Arrival (VOA). Nationalities not on the above list must obtain a Laos Tourist Visa from a nearby diplomatic mission before the trip.
Required documents
The following travel documents are needed for the Laos visa online.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended date of arrival in Laos
- A digital passport-size photo
- A scan of your passport ID/biodata page
- A credit or debit card for visa fee payment
Photo requirements
You would need a digital passport-size photo for eVisa application. The digital photo must conform to ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards and meet the following specifications.
- Photo must be in JPG, JPEG or PNG format only
- Photo must be less than 10MB in size
- Photo must be on a white background
- Face must be fully visible with a neutral expression
- Glasses should not have any reflection or tint
The photo must preferably be a square such as 2inchx2inch. However, the eVisa application allows you to crop the photo during upload.
eVisa fee
Laos eVisa fee is $51.75 USD. Below is the breakdown of the eVisa fee.
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| eVisa fee | $35 |
| Service fee | $15 |
| Bank charge | $1.75 |
| Total | $51.75 |
The eVisa fee is subject to change. You can check the most up-to-date fee for your nationality on the official eVisa fee calculator.
Processing time
Laos eVisa processing time is 3 working days, excluding the day of the application.
For example, if you applied on a Monday, you will receive your eVisa on Thursday, provided there are no Lao government holidays in between.
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eVisa Application Process
How to apply for Laos eVisa
The Laos eVisa application takes about 15 minutes to fill out. The entire process typically consists of 3 steps.
- Fill out the online visa application form
- Review and pay for the eVisa
- Download your approved eVisa
Follow this step-by-step guide to apply your Laos eVisa. There are instructions and screenshots in the guide that will guide you through the entire application process.
How to track eVisa status
You can track your eVisa status on the official portal. You need the following information to track your visa status online.
- Application ID
- Passport number
Your application can be in any of the below two statuses.
| Status | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Pending | Your application is still in process |
| Approved | Your application has been approved |
How to download approved eVisa
Once your eVisa is approved, you will receive an email with your eVisa approval letter as an attachment.
You can also download the eVisa from the official portal by entering your Application ID and passport number.
Make sure to print your approved eVisa on a letter or A4 size sheet. An eVisa print is necessary to pass the immigration at the port of entry in Laos. Immigration officers do not accept electronic copies on the phone.
How to contact eVisa customer service
For any eVisa queries, you can contact their customer service via the contact form or email
Web: Support contact form
Email: support@laoevisa.gov.la
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Entry Procedure at the Border
Airport
When you arrive at the airport, head straight to immigration. The immigration desks equipped to scan the eVisa are marked with an eVisa sign on them. You must approach only these immigration desks. If you approach a non-eVisa immigration desk, you will be asked to go to the desk with the eVisa sign on it.
At the immigration counter (with an eVisa sign on it), you must present your passport and the print of your Laos e-Visa. The immigration officer will scan your eVisa and place a small sticker in your passport containing details of your eVisa.
Land border
Similar to airports, there are immigration counters designated specifically for eVisas. When you arrive at the land border, approach only those immigration countries that have an eVisa sign on them. The officer will scan your eVisa, place a sticker and stamp your passport.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I extend Laos eVisa?
Yes. You can extend your Laos eVisa. You can extend it twice for up to 30 days each time. The visa extension fee is $2 per day.
Do I need to print Laos eVisa when I travel?
Yes. You must print your Laos visa approval letter when you travel. The immigration officers insist on seeing an eVisa print, so convincing them with a copy on your phone is not worth the hassle.
Is Laos eVisa multiple-entry?
No. Laos eVisa is single-entry only. Once you use your eVisa, you must apply for a new one to travel to Laos again.
What if there is a mistake in my Laos eVisa?
If there was a mistake in your eVisa, you will have to apply for a new one. Unfortunately, errors in the approved eVisa cannot be corrected or fixed. Applying for a new eVisa is the only option.
What if my Laos eVisa is refused?
Your eVisa can be refused if the information is incorrect or your passport scan is not readable. In case of refusal, you will have to apply for a new one. You cannot appeal.
