LaosDo You Need a Visa for Laos: Visa Regime and Entry Rules in 2026
Citizens of Russia, Belarus, and 13 other countries don't need a visa for short trips – at the border, they simply get a stamp and pay a symbolic border fee for the stamp and document processing. Tourists from most other countries can get a visa on arrival right at the border. And only for a small number of countries must the visa be arranged in advance – at the embassy or online via eVisa.
| Visa regime | List of countries | Cost and where to apply / Specifics |
| Visa-free for 30 days | Belarus, Russia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, East Timor, Vietnam | Stamp at the border. Border stamp fee (about 20 baht) + increased fee on weekends and non-working hours (about 1 USD) |
| Visa-free for 15 days | Luxembourg, Switzerland | Stamp at the border. Same fees as for other visa-free travelers |
| Visa-free for 14 days | Myanmar | Stamp at the border. Same fees |
| Visa on Arrival (VOA) for 30 days | Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and all other countries except those listed in this table | 40 USD in cash + border fees. Issued at all border crossings except Boten Railway Station (China) – there, eVisa only |
| Visa in advance (embassy or eVisa) | Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe | In advance only: consulate or eVisa (~50 USD). Entry via VOA is not possible |
Visa for Citizens of CIS and Former USSR Countries
Among the CIS and former USSR countries, visa-free entry to Laos for up to 30 days is available to citizens of Belarus and Russia. On entry, you'll need a passport valid for at least 6 months (for Belarusian citizens – at least 180 days), a return ticket or a ticket to a third country, and the electronic migration card LDIF. Belarusian citizens should keep in mind that the total visa-free stay in Laos cannot exceed 90 days within a calendar year.
Citizens of the remaining CIS and former USSR countries need a visa. It can be obtained on arrival (Visa on Arrival, VOA) for 30 days for 40 US dollars, or online – an electronic visa (eVisa) for 50 dollars.
Electronic Migration Card LDIF and Document Requirements
- To enter and exit Laos through the four main border points, an electronic migration card (LDIF) is filled out. For now, it's only required at the international checkpoints at Vientiane, Pakse, and Savannakhet airports, as well as at the Friendship Bridge 1 (from Thailand to Vientiane). It must be filled out online no earlier than 3 days before entry or exit on the official website immigration.gov.la. When filling it out, you'll need to upload a photo of your passport and a selfie with your passport, after which a QR code will be generated to present at the border. At other border crossings, the paper card is still in use for now, but before your trip, check on the website whether your entry point has been added to the list available when filling out the form.
- Passport validity requirement. The passport must be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of entry.
- Photo. Only needed for the visa on arrival – 2 photos 4×6 cm.
- Proof of financial means. Theoretically, to enter Laos, you need to have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay in the country, but this is rarely checked.
- Return ticket or ticket to a third country. This rule is especially often asked about on arrival at the airport or when boarding a flight at the departure airport. If you have a return ticket from a neighboring country (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia) and plan to get there from Laos by land, you can show it and explain your route.
- Hotel booking and insurance are not mandatory, but it's better to have them in case of additional questions.
Attention! When entering Laos, carefully make sure that the border guards put a stamp in your passport, since there have been cases when they forgot to do so. In that case, when leaving, you'll have to pay a fine for illegal stay in the country.
Entry Rules for Laos and Border Crossing Procedure: Fees and Stamps
Even if you don't need a visa for Laos, you'll still have to pay some fees at the border. The payment procedure may vary depending on the crossing point, but generally these are small fees for document checks, stamping, a fee for crossing the border on weekends and outside working hours. They may even charge for a temperature check (the so-called sanitary control). At each border point, everything is different, and they come up with various ways to charge tourists something extra, but you'll have to put up with it.
Fees can be paid in Laos currency, US dollars, or the currency of the country you're entering from by land (Thai baht or Vietnamese dong). From our experience, it's more profitable to pay right away in dollars or the currency of the country you're entering from. If you decide to buy Laos kip, you can easily do so at any border crossing from private money changers at land crossings, or at exchange offices at the airport. But the rate there is extremely unfavorable, so it's better to exchange a minimum, just for the first time or only to pay the fees.
For reference, here are the fee amounts at land border crossings:
- Border fee ("land-stepping fee") – 20 baht (0.59 USD) at most crossings
- At the Chong Mek crossing in Pakse – 100 baht (2.96 USD) per person
- Additional fee for working on a weekend or after 16:00 on weekdays – about 1 US dollar (1 USD)
Also, at some crossings, an additional fee may be charged for processing documents on weekends or outside working hours before 08:00 and after 16:00, about 1-2 US dollars.
Land border crossings officially operate only during the daytime, each on its own schedule, on average from 07:00 to 18:00, but the busiest ones work until late. The most popular land crossing on the border with Thailand, Nong Khai–Vientiane (First Friendship Bridge), operates daily from 06:00 to 22:00.
Visa-Free Entry for Russians: 30 Days, Conditions and Extension
Russian citizens don't need a visa for a stay in Laos of up to 30 days; at border control, only a stamp is placed in the passport. You can get it at border control at the airport, as well as at any land crossing.
For visa-free entry to Laos, you need a passport valid for at least 6 months, as well as return tickets or tickets to a third country (a printout of an electronic ticket will do). The latter rule is rarely checked. There are no requirements for a tourist to have a booked hotel and insurance on entry.
To extend the stamp for a 30-day stay, you can leave the country to any neighboring country and immediately return and get a new 30-day stamp. This method is often called a border run – it's specifically about getting a new stamp. If you leave to get a new visa, that's already a visa run.
Visa on Arrival in Laos: Cost, Documents and Border Crossings
A visa on arrival can be obtained at the airports of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse, and Savannakhet; at land border crossings from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. It gives the right to stay for up to 30 days and can be extended in Laos twice. However, it should be noted that a visa on arrival can be obtained not at all, but only at certain border crossings (list below).
The cost of a visa on arrival is 40 US dollars (40 USD), paid in cash in dollars.
To apply for it, you need to provide:
- passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- completed application form and migration card (issued on the spot)
- 2 photos, black-and-white or color, 4×6 cm
If you don't have photos, they'll photograph you or scan a photo from your passport for 1 dollar (1 USD).
Border Crossings Where Visa on Arrival Is Available*:
-
On the Border with Thailand
- Nong Khai–Vientiane – "Friendship Bridge No. 1" border crossing (Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge No. 1)
- Mukdahan–Savannakhet – "Friendship Bridge No. 2" border crossing (Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge No. 2)
- Chiang Khong–Houay Xai – border crossing from Chiang Rai Province
- Nakaxeng–Kaenthao
- Nakhon Phanom–Thakhek
- Chong Mek–Vangtao – from Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse.
-
On the Border with Vietnam
- Tay Trang–Sop Boum – border crossing from Dien Bien Phu, route from Sapa
- Lao Bao–Dansavanh – route from Da Nang, Hue, Vinh
- Nameo–Banteui
- Keoneua–Namphao
- Bo Y–Phukeua
-
On the Border with Cambodia
- Stung Treng–Veun Kham and Pakse
On the Border with China
- Mohan–Boten
* – information is provided for reference. Check the information about the border crossing you need before your trip.
Applying for a Visa at the Embassy or Online: Terms, Cost and Documents
Where to Apply for a Visa to Laos?
For a standard trip of up to 30 days, Russians don't need a visa, so it's usually not applied for in Moscow. If you need a visa in advance – for example, for a long stay or with a different passport – check the possibility of applying at the consular section of the Laos Embassy in Moscow. You can also apply for a visa to Laos in advance at the consular sections of the embassies of countries neighboring Laos: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China – as well as at the embassy in Laos itself.
The visa processing time is 2-3 business days, but for an additional 5-10 dollars (5–10 USD) there's urgent processing within an hour.
Electronic Visa (eVisa) to Laos
Alternatively, a visa to Laos can be obtained online – an electronic visa (eVisa) is available on the official website laoevisa.gov.la (Russian cards are not accepted). The cost is about 50 US dollars (50 USD). It's suitable for those who want to sort things out in advance and not stand in line for a visa on arrival at the border.
Important! The Laos electronic visa is valid not at all checkpoints. With it, you can only enter through 9 international ports. If you plan to cross the border elsewhere, apply for a visa on arrival (VOA) or at the embassy.
| No. | Checkpoint | Province / region |
| 1 | Wattay International Airport | Vientiane (capital) |
| 2 | Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I | Vientiane (capital) |
| 3 | Luang Prabang International Airport | Luang Prabang |
| 4 | Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II | Savannakhet |
| 5 | Pakse International Airport | Champasak |
| 6 | Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV | Bokeo |
| 7 | Boten International Checkpoint | Luang Namtha |
| 8 | Boten Railway Station | Luang Namtha |
| 9 | Khamsavath Railway Station | Vientiane (capital) |
- The eVisa fee is not refundable, even if the visa wasn't approved or you didn't use it.
- The standard application processing time is 3 business days, provided all data is entered correctly and meets the requirements. If the information is incomplete or raises questions, the time may increase.
- The electronic visa is issued only for a regular passport.
- On entry to Laos, you must present the same passport that was used when applying for the eVisa. If the passport was replaced after submitting the application, entry will be denied.
Cost of a Visa to Laos
For processing a visa at the consulate, a fee of from 30 US dollars (30 USD) is charged, depending on the country of application. In Kuala Lumpur, for example, a visa will cost 63 dollars (63 USD); in Bangkok – 45 dollars (45 USD).
Validity and Length of Stay on a Laos Visa
On a tourist or business visa, you can stay in Laos for 30 days after entry. The visa validity after issuance (i.e., the period during which it can be used to enter the country, if the visa was obtained in advance) is three months.
Required Documents
To apply for a visa to Laos, you need to present a minimal set of documents:
- passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- 2 completed application forms
- 2 photos, black-and-white or color, 4×6 cm
Visa Extension in Laos and Visa Run: Terms, Cost and Where to Do It
The visa can be extended while already in Laos, twice. The extension cost is 20,000 kip for each day of extension (0.89 USD) plus a one-time form processing fee (5,000 kip / 0.22 USD) and a service fee (25,000 kip / 1.11 USD). You need to contact the immigration department in Vientiane or authorized travel agencies.
An alternative way is a visa run: leaving to a neighboring country (most often Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia) for a new visa. Don't confuse it with a border run – that's the name for leaving and re-entering just for a new stamp, without applying for a visa.
Embassies and Contacts
Laos Embassy in Moscow: Address, Phone and Contacts
- Address: 121069, Moscow, Malaya Nikitskaya Street, 18
- Consular section (visa matters): Moscow, Malaya Nikitskaya Street, 18
- Tel: (495) 203-01-58, (495) 690-25-60
- Website: www.laoembassy.ru
- E-mail: post@laoembassy.ru
Official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos: www.mofa.gov.la – here you can check the current information about the visa regime and entry rules.
Russian Embassy in Laos: Address and Contacts
- Address: Sisattanak Distr., Thaphalanxay quarter, km 4, Thadeua str., Vientiane, P.O. Box 490, Vientiane, Laos.
- Tel: (856) 21-31-22-19, (856) 21-31-22-22, Fax: (856) 21-31-22-10
- Website: http://www.laos.mid.ru