Laos visa on arrival

Both lead to a 30-day stay. The eVisa fixes the cost in advance and is checked against your approval letter at a dedicated line, but it is limited to nine ports. The visa on arrival is available at more land crossings, such as Vangtao, Dansavan and Nong Nok Khiene, where the eVisa is not accepted. If you hold an eVisa approval but arrive without the letter, you will have to buy a visa on arrival and lose the eVisa fee.

The Department of Immigration's checkpoint directory marks visa-on-arrival service at Wattay (Vientiane), Luang Prabang and Pakse international airports; at Lao-Thai Friendship Bridges I to IV, the Golden Triangle checkpoint, Nam Heuang Friendship Bridge and Vangtao on the Thai border; at Boten on the Chinese border; at Dansavan on the Vietnamese border; at Nong Nok Khiene on the Cambodian border; and at Khamsavath railway station in Vientiane. Many smaller crossings, including most on the Vietnamese border, do not issue visas, so check before choosing an overland route.

Go to the visa counter before immigration control, fill in the arrival visa form, attach a passport photo and hand in your passport, which must be valid for at least six months. The fee is paid at the counter and depends on nationality; the Department of Immigration does not publish the current amounts on its website, so carry enough US dollars in cash. Since 1 September 2025 complete the digital arrival form online before you travel.

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.