Visas and entry
Three routes to a Lao visa and one of them is right for almost everybody. What to bring, what it costs, and the two mistakes that cause trouble at the border.
The three routes, compared
| Route | Where | Cost | Use it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | Major airports and main land borders | Around USD 30 - 50 depending on nationality | You are arriving at a main entry point - this is what most people do |
| e-Visa | Applied for online before travel | Similar, plus a processing fee | You want the queue done in advance, or you are entering at a border where visa on arrival is not offered |
| Embassy visa | A Lao embassy or consulate before travel | Varies | You need a longer stay, a business visa, or multiple entries |
Visa rules, fees and the list of eligible nationalities change, and some nationalities are exempt from a visa entirely for short stays. Treat everything on this page as a guide and confirm on the official Lao immigration site or with your nearest Lao embassy before you fly. We will tell you what applies to your passport when we quote.
What to have with you at the border
- A passport with at least six months of validity and two clear pages.
- Two passport photographs. If you do not have them there is usually a charge instead, and having them is easier.
- The fee in USD cash, in clean notes. Torn or heavily marked notes are refused with some regularity.
- The address of your first night's accommodation, which the form asks for.
- A printed itinerary if you are leaving overland, since airlines occasionally ask for proof of onward travel.
Where our guide meets you at a land border, we handle the form, the queue and the change, and you pay only the official fee.
Length of stay, extensions and overstays
The standard tourist visa is 30 days. Extensions are possible through the immigration office in Vientiane or through an agent, usually for a month at a time, and take a few working days.
Overstaying carries a per-day fine payable on exit. It is a straightforward, unemotional process at the border, and it is charged for every day including the day you leave. The mistake people make is assuming a day or two will be waved through; it will not, and it is collected in cash.
Entry points, and the ones that catch people out
Visa on arrival is available at the international airports and at the main land borders, but not at every crossing. Small remote borders are the ones that cause problems.
| Entry point | Visa on arrival | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wattay airport, Vientiane | Yes | Straightforward, allow 30 minutes |
| Luang Prabang airport | Yes | Small and quick |
| Pakse airport | Yes | Quiet |
| Huay Xai, from Chiang Khong | Yes | Also where the slow boat starts. Allow an hour |
| Nong Khai bridge, to Vientiane | Yes | Busy at weekends |
| Chong Mek, to Pakse | Yes | Simple |
| Nong Nok Khiene, from Cambodia | Yes | Expect informal charges of a dollar or two |
| Small northern and eastern borders | Often not | Get an e-Visa or embassy visa in advance |
Money, and what to carry
The currency is the kip. It has moved a long way against the dollar in recent years, which is why tour prices in Laos, including ours, are quoted and held in USD.
- Cash. USD and Thai baht are accepted widely for larger payments; kip for everyday spending. Bring clean USD notes for visa fees.
- ATMs. Present in all the towns on our itineraries, with per-transaction limits that are low enough to be annoying and a fee on each withdrawal.
- Cards. Accepted at hotels and better restaurants in Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Pakse, and almost nowhere else. Assume cash outside those three.
- Changing money. Bank branches and licensed exchange counters give better rates than hotels. Keep receipts if you plan to change kip back.
Health and insurance
No vaccinations are required for entry from most countries, though a travel clinic will usually suggest the standard set for the region. Malaria risk exists in rural areas and is low in the places our trips go; dengue is the more relevant mosquito-borne risk and there is no prophylaxis for it, so repellent is the answer.
Travel insurance is not optional in our booking terms. Medical facilities outside Vientiane are limited, and anything serious means an evacuation flight to Thailand, which costs many thousands of dollars uninsured. Check that your policy covers trekking if you are booking the northern trek, and read the motorbike exclusion carefully.
Questions travellers ask most
Can I get a visa at the border?
At the international airports and the main land crossings, yes, for most nationalities. At small remote borders, often not.
Confirm your own nationality's position on the official immigration site before you travel, because the eligible list changes.
How much does it cost?
Broadly USD 30 to 50 depending on nationality, paid in cash at the border, plus a small charge if you do not have photographs.
The e-Visa adds a processing fee on top of the same visa cost.
What happens if I overstay?
A fine per day of overstay, collected in cash when you leave. It is applied consistently and there is no discretion at the counter.
Extensions are simple to arrange in Vientiane if you know in advance that you will need one.
Do I need insurance to book with you?
Yes. Our booking terms require it, and for the trekking itineraries it has to cover walking at altitude and remote evacuation.
We do not sell insurance and are not authorised to. Buy it at home, where the policies are better.
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