France visa for Lao citizens

France’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

France has 1 mission in Laos, with its embassy in Vientiane.

In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Laos (Vientiane) received 2,312 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 2,098. The refusal rate was 8.2%. The refusal rate fell by 9.3 points from 17.5% in 2024, a clear improvement for applicants. Applications fell by 5% compared with 2024 (2,432).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 8.0% of the applications lodged in Laos that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the most applied-for Schengen state in Laos.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Laos, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

Lao citizens planning a trip to France can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.

How long Lao citizens can stay in France

How long Lao citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How Lao citizens apply

In Laos, applications go to the French embassy in Vientiane, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.

France and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by France lets Lao citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.

France’s neighbours for Lao citizens

Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Lao citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

French citizens travelling to Laos

French citizens can get a visa on arrival in Laos, valid for stays of up to 30 days.