Lao Visa Requirement Exemption and Visa Fee Exemptions

Visa Exemption
Lao Visa Requirement Exemption and Visa Fee Exemptions

Laos has entered into mutual agreements with all ASEAN member countries as well as some non-ASEAN nations to exempt visitors from visas requirements.

In addition, it grants visa exemption to some other countries even if they have not granted the same privileges in return.

The country extends privileges to Lao individuals living abroad by NOT charging them a visa fee and allowing them to extend the length of their stay. Read on for more details.

For some countries the visa free scheme applies to all type of passports (Diplomatic, Official and Ordinary passport), while for others it only applicable to certain type of passports. The length of stay ranges from 14-90 days depending on the countries.
Passports

Here are lists of countries with which Laos has reached mutual agreements on visa exemption. (Lao passport holders can enter these countries visa-free. The same conditions apply)

ASEAN Member Countries

Country		Passport Type	Days of stay (Max)
1	Brunei	Diplomatic/Official	14
		Ordinary	14
2	Cambodia	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	30
3	Indonesia	Diplomatic/Official	14
		Ordinary	30
4	Laos	-	-
5	Malaysia	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30
6	Myanmar	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	14
7	Philippines	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30
8	Singapore	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30
9	Thailand	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30
10	Vietnam	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30

Non-ASEAN Member Countries

Country		Passport Type	Days of stay (Max)
1	Bangladesh (effective 6-Jan-2013)	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
2	Brazil	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
3	China	Diplomatic/Official	*Not set
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
4	Cuba	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
5	DPR Korea	Diplomatic/Official	*Not set
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
6	Hungary	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
7	India	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
8	Japan**	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	15
9	Mongolia	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	30
10	Peru	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
11	Poland	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)
13	Russia**	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	15
12	South Korea**	Diplomatic/Official	90
		Ordinary	15
14	Timor Leste	Diplomatic/Official	30
		Ordinary	N/A (Visa required)

^*The length of stay can be as long as the length of an assignment
^**Ordinary passport holders of these countries can enter Laos without a visa, but Lao ordinary passport holders don’t get the same privilege in return (they still need to get a visa to enter those countries).

In addition, Laos grants visa-free to some former USSR countries without having the same privilege in exchange.

Here is the list of the countries to which Laos gives visa exemption

Country		Applicable Passport Type	Days of stay (Max)
1	Armenia	Diplomatic/Official	30
2	Azerbaijan
3	Belarus
4	Estonia
5	Georgia
6	Kazakhstan
7	Kyrgyzstan
8	Latvia
9	Lithuania
10	Moldova
11	Tajikistan
12	Turkmenistan
13	Ukraine
14	Uzbekistan
15	Luxembourg	Ordinary	15
16	Switzerland

If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed above and hold a passport type as listed, you can enter Laos without having to obtain a visa. The length of stay varies (as listed above)

Be reminded that your passport must not expire within the next six months from the date you enter Laos.

Apart from the lists above, Laos also grants visa fee exemption to individual Lao natives holding passport of foreign countries.

Starting from 1 January 2011, as a Lao native you can have a Lao visa stamped on your passport FREE of charge as described below.

1. 90-day visit visa - FREE of charge (you still need to apply for the visa, but you are not charged for a visa fee), provided that you are:

a. 65⁺ years of age, or

b. under 15 years of age, or

c. monk/priest (all ages), or

d. Physically and/or mentally disabled (all ages)

If you are a Lao native falling into one of the groups (a-d) above, you can apply for a FREE visa either at Lao embassies/consulates outside Laos or at Lao international airports, or Lao border crossing points (known as visa-on-arrival).

Furthermore you can get your visa extended at immigration office in Laos FREE OF CHARGE when your 90-day visa expires should you want to stay longer.

2. 60-day visa (apply at embassy/consulate) - FREE of charge for ALL Lao natives, no age constrain.
All Lao natives who obtain a Lao visa at the Lao embassies or consulates oversea are entitled to a FREE 60-day visa.
The holders of this visa will also pay NO fee for a visa extension (at the immigration offices in Laos).
3. 60-day visa (on arrival) - NOT FREE
   If you are a Lao native but not in any of the groups (a-d) above, you'll be given 60 days permit (not the usual 30 days) when applying for a visa-on-arrival. Though you still need to pay the usual fee. This ranges from $20-$42 depending on your current citizenship.
However, if/when you get your visa extended at the immigration offices in Laos you will only be charged half of the fee ($1/day). The full fee is $2/day.

For official notice (in Lao) please visit Lao embassy's website, here (http://www.laoembassy.com/visa&applications.html) and look for "Visa fee exemption for Lao origin"

Whether you have the Lao visa exemption or the visa fee exemption, you need to hold a valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity. For visa fee exemption applicants, two passport-type photos are required for visa processing.

Have an enjoyable trip. I hope you enjoy your privilege.