Laos tourist visa (T-B3)

Citizens of countries on the Lao exemption list, mostly ASEAN and East Asian states plus a few European countries, can visit without a visa for a fixed number of days. Everyone else needs a T-B3 tourist visa. The Department of Immigration defines this visa simply as the one issued to foreigners and stateless people whose purpose is tourism; visiting family or friends falls under the NI-B3 short-term visa.

The eVisa on laoevisa.gov.la costs the amount shown for your nationality, takes up to three working days and is used at nine designated ports. A visa on arrival is issued at the main airports and several land crossings. A visa from a Lao embassy suits travellers who want more flexibility; the Lao Embassy in Washington, for example, asks for a form, two 2 x 2 inch photos taken within six months, the original passport valid for six months and a passport copy, takes ten business days, and issues single-entry visas to be used within two months.

Laos has embassies in a limited number of countries, and some ambassadors cover several states from another capital. If there is no Lao mission where you live, contact the mission accredited to your country, or use the eVisa or a visa on arrival.

Your stay is 30 days from the date of entry. Before arriving, complete the free digital arrival form on the Department of Immigration website; it has been mandatory for all international travellers since 1 September 2025. Keep your passport with you: lost or stolen passports must be reported to the local police, the district police and the Department of Immigration, which issues a certificate of loss in about three days that you need for an exit visa.

Extensions are requested at the Department of Immigration in Vientiane or a provincial immigration office during office hours, at least three days before your permitted stay ends. A stay can be extended no more than twice per arrival, except in emergencies backed by documents. The charge is 20,000 kip per day plus 40,000 kip for the service and form, you need a 3 x 4 cm photo, and a decision takes one to two business days. Visitors who entered visa-free cannot normally extend.