Quick answer
Apply only on the official site, laoevisa.gov.la. The Lao tourist e-visa is single entry, allows a 30-day stay, must be used within 60 days of approval and takes about three working days. Apply at least five days before you arrive, with a passport valid for more than 180 days and a 4×6 cm photo. The site shows the fee for your nationality before you pay.
The catch: it is accepted at only nine entry points – the main airports (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse), three Thai Friendship Bridges and the Boten road and rail crossings from China. None of the Vietnam or Cambodia land borders accepts it, so if you cross overland from Vietnam, get a Lao visa from an embassy before you go.
Citizens of most countries, including the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada and the EU, need a visa for Laos. This guide sets out the e-visa rules published by the Lao government and the UK Foreign Office, checked on 26 October 2026, and explains which option suits each way into the country.
Lao e-visa: the rules in brief
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | laoevisa.gov.la only (look-alike sites charge extra) |
| Entries and stay | Single entry, 30 days from arrival; can be extended in Laos |
| Validity | Use it within 60 days of the approval letter |
| When to apply | At least 5 days before arrival; processing about 3 working days |
| Passport | Ordinary passport valid for more than 180 days, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Photo | 4×6 cm, colour, taken in the last 6 months, plain white background |
| Fee | Set by nationality and shown on the official site before payment; non-refundable |
| On arrival | Print the approval letter (the QR code must be readable) and use the e-visa lane |
The nine entry points that accept the e-visa
- Wattay International Airport, Vientiane
- Luang Prabang International Airport
- Pakse International Airport
- Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane – Nong Khai)
- Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet – Mukdahan)
- Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Huay Xai – Chiang Khong)
- Boten international road checkpoint (from China)
- Boten railway station (Laos–China Railway)
- Khamsavath railway station, Vientiane
If you enter anywhere else, you will need a visa on arrival or an embassy visa, and the e-visa fee is not refunded. That rule catches travellers on overland routes from Vietnam (for example Lao Bao, Cau Treo or Tay Trang) and from northern Cambodia.
Planning a trip? Get a private, tailor-made itinerary within 24 hours: Laos tours: Luang Prabang & Vientiane, 4–11 days from US$560 →
e-Visa, visa on arrival or embassy visa?
| How you arrive | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flight to Luang Prabang, Vientiane or Pakse | e-visa or visa on arrival | Both work at these airports; the e-visa saves queueing |
| Overland from Thailand by a Friendship Bridge | e-visa or visa on arrival | Bridges I, II and IV accept the e-visa |
| Laos–China Railway via Boten | e-visa | Boten station is on the official list |
| Overland from Vietnam | Embassy visa before travel | No Vietnam–Laos border accepts the e-visa, and visa on arrival has been reported as withdrawn at several of these checkpoints |
| Overland from Cambodia (Trapaing Kreal / Nong Nok Khiene) | Embassy visa or confirm visa on arrival | Not an e-visa port |
Visa on arrival is a single-entry visa paid in cash, in US dollars, with a passport photo. The fee depends on your nationality and is not published in one official table, so carry spare US dollars. Laos is also rolling out a digital arrival form (the Lao Digital Immigration Form, at immigration.gov.la), first at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports and Friendship Bridge I from September 2025; complete it within three days before arrival if your entry point uses it.
Laos on a three-country trip
Most of our guests fly into Laos rather than cross by road: Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Luang Prabang or Vientiane, then on to Siem Reap. Flying keeps the e-visa option open and saves a long day on mountain roads. For Vietnam, check whether you need a visa at all (British citizens and many Europeans have 45 days visa-free) and, if your route returns to Vietnam, apply for a multiple-entry e-visa. For Cambodia, see our Cambodia visa guide.
Planning how long to stay? Read how many days you need in Laos, or see the trips we run as a private Laos tour operator.
Frequently asked questions
Can US citizens get a Laos e-visa?
Yes. US passport holders can apply on laoevisa.gov.la for a single-entry tourist e-visa with a 30-day stay. Apply at least five days before arrival and enter through one of the nine e-visa ports.
How much does the Laos e-visa cost?
The fee depends on your nationality and is shown on the official site before you pay. It is non-refundable, including if you enter through a checkpoint that does not accept the e-visa.
Can I use the Laos e-visa when crossing from Vietnam by land?
No. None of the Vietnam–Laos border crossings is on the e-visa list. Get a Lao visa from an embassy before travelling overland, or fly into Luang Prabang or Vientiane instead.
How long can I stay in Laos?
Thirty days from arrival on a tourist visa. It can be extended twice inside Laos, up to 60 more days in total, through the immigration department.
Do I need to print the Laos e-visa?
Yes. Print the approval letter (black and white is fine if the QR code is legible) and show it with the passport you used to apply.
Official sources
Written by the Metta Voyage travel team in Hanoi. Last checked 26 October 2026. Visa rules and fees can change at short notice; always confirm on the official sites before you travel.
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