Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Visas and entry · Laos
Laos: e-visa ports and visa on arrival
Laos has a working e-visa, but it is only accepted at airports and at crossings from Thailand and China. Travellers coming overland from Vietnam or Cambodia need a visa on arrival where one is issued, or a visa from an embassy before they set out.
Contents
The rules in brief
Sources: Lao eVisa official portal — FAQ; Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry; UK Foreign Office — Laos entry requirements; Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide) · last checked .
Where the e-visa works, and where it does not
The official Lao portal lists nine designated ports for e-visa holders:
| Port | Type | Arriving from |
|---|---|---|
| Wattay International Airport, Vientiane | Airport | Any flight |
| Luang Prabang International Airport | Airport | Any flight |
| Pakse International Airport, Champasak | Airport | Any flight |
| Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge I, Vientiane | Road bridge | Thailand |
| Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge II, Savannakhet | Road bridge | Thailand |
| Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge IV, Bokeo | Road bridge | Thailand |
| Boten International Checkpoint, Luang Namtha | Road | China |
| Boten Railway Station | Rail | China |
| Khamsavath Railway Station, Vientiane | Rail | China |
Not one of them is on the border with Vietnam or Cambodia. That matters for the classic overland routes: Hue to Savannakhet through Lao Bao, Vinh to Lak Sao through Cau Treo, Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua through Tay Trang, and Stung Treng to the Four Thousand Islands through Trapeang Kriel. On all of these, a Lao e-visa does not help.
Sources: Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry · last checked .
Visa on arrival overland
The UK Foreign Office lists visa on arrival at the three international airports. On land, independent reports are mixed. A guide updated in October 2025 says that, of the ten crossings with Vietnam, only Dansavanh, opposite Lao Bao, issues a visa on arrival, and that the single crossing with Cambodia, Nong Nok Khiene opposite Trapeang Kriel, now issues one in both directions. Older reports describe visas on arrival at other Vietnamese crossings as well.
We cannot confirm those older reports, so this guide treats them as unreliable. If you plan to enter Laos from Vietnam anywhere other than Lao Bao, get a Lao visa from an embassy or consulate first. If you enter at Lao Bao or from Cambodia, carry the fee in US dollars, a passport photo, and a margin for small overtime charges that remote posts sometimes ask for outside office hours.
Visa on arrival costs vary by nationality, reported at roughly USD 35 to 50. The exact fee is set by the Lao authorities and posted at the counter.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Laos entry requirements; Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide) · last checked .
The online arrival form
Laos has an electronic arrival and departure form, which the UK Foreign Office refers to as the LDIF. It must be completed within the three days before arrival and the three days before departure. When we checked, it applied at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports and at the first Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge. Keep a screenshot of the confirmation; phone signal in arrival halls is not something to rely on.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Laos entry requirements · last checked .
Extensions and overstays
A tourist visa can be extended twice inside Laos, for up to 60 more days in total, through the immigration office. Overstaying is expensive. According to the UK Foreign Office, staying beyond 90 days without an extension brings a fine of the equivalent of USD 2,000 in kip, deportation and a ban on returning.
The stay length itself has changed recently: Laos briefly allowed longer tourist stays and returned to 30 days on 1 January 2025. Check the current figure on the official portal before you plan a long stay.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Laos entry requirements · last checked .
Who should get a visa before travelling
- Anyone entering from Vietnam at a crossing other than Lao Bao.
- Anyone whose nationality is not eligible for visa on arrival; the portal lists eligible countries.
- Travellers who cannot risk a refusal at a remote border with no onward transport on the far side.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Can I use the Lao e-visa on the bus from Hanoi to Vientiane?
No. That bus crosses a land border with Vietnam, and none of those crossings is a Lao e-visa port. Use a visa from an embassy, or fly into Vientiane where the e-visa is accepted.
How long is the Lao e-visa approval letter valid?
Up to 60 days after you receive it, according to the official portal. You must enter within that time and can then stay 30 days.
What photo does the e-visa need?
A photo sized 4 x 6 cm, taken within the last six months, on a plain white background. Check the upload rules on the portal before you scan it.
Do I pay the visa on arrival in kip?
Bring US dollars. The fee is quoted in dollars at the counter, even though payments inside Laos must be in kip.
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