Fortunately, citizens of most countries can get a tourist visa on arrival in Laos. I actually recommend going this route instead of going through the hassle of applying at a consulate or embassy.
The Laos tourist visa is good for a stay of up to 30 days (extendable).
IMPORTANT: Make sure to bring 2 passport photos with you for the visa on arrival.
Go to my Laos visa page for information on other types of visas for Laos.
I’ll break everything down for you below about how to go about getting the Laos Tourist Visa if you want to apply the old-fashioned way at a consulate or embassy before you go.
Visa required for U.S. citizens before you go to Laos: No
- U.S. citizens can get a visa on arrival at the airport (for tourist purposes) good for a stay of 30 days (extendable for an additional 60 days through the Department of Immigration in Vientiane).
- Business visas must be arranged for in advance. This process usually takes one to three months. After you arrive, business visas can generally be extended for one month.
Visa required for non-U.S. citizens before you go to Laos:
- If you are on this list you need to arrange to get a visa before you come to Laos. Otherwise, you can get a visa on arrival.
- The Embassy of Sweden website shows which ports of entry enable you to get a visa on arrival.
If you’re inside the U.S.:
Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
If you’re outside of the U.S.: Click here
The best list of required documents is at the Laos Embassy website here.
Contact your embassy or consulate from Step 1 in order to get the latest visa fees.
- Submit your required materials from Step 2 and visa fee from Step 3 to the embassy or consulate you found in Step 1.
- Your embassy or consulate should have detailed visa application submission instructions. If not, call them up.
Congratulations! The Embassy or Consulate of Laos will give to you your brand new Laos visa.
Don’t get sick! Check vaccination requirements here.
Further Reading
Want Professional Visa Help? If you are a U.S. citizen and want professional help with getting a visa, check out my post on the 4 Best Travel Visa Services in the United States.
Worldwide Moving Guide: Everything you need to know in order to plan your move to 65+ countries around the world.
Find an Embassy or Consulate: Check my Worldwide Embassy and Consulate Finder to find the diplomatic representation nearest you.
Worldwide Jobs Guide: Be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in any country in the world.
Worldwide Dating Guide: Also, check out my posts on the best online dating sites in 60+ countries around the world.
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