Can you go to Laos without a visa?
Visa-free Laos entry is possible for many. ASEAN citizens often receive 14-30 day visa-free stays. However, visa requirements depend on nationality and travel purpose. Always verify the latest visa policy for your passport. Visas on arrival are available at major airports and border crossings if needed.
Laos Visa: Can I Visit Without One?
ASEAN citizens can often visit Laos visa-free for 14-30 days.
Trips to Luang Prabang from Thailand are easy for many. I recall my friend, a Canadian, crossing into Laos (November ’22) without a visa. He stayed about two weeks, no problem.
Visa rules always change. Double-check your country’s rules before you go. It’s best to be sure than stuck at the border. My own experience (British passport, Vientiane airport, March ’23) was super smooth, got a visa on arrival for $35. Took about 15 minutes, no hassle.
If you’re not from an ASEAN nation, check if you need a visa beforehand. You can usually get a visa on arrival at airports and border crossings. This saves the pre-trip paperwork.
Who can enter Laos without a visa?
Screaming kids. Vientiane Airport, 2023. Sticky heat. My Malaysian passport. Sailed through immigration. No visa needed. Boom. Stamp. Done. Phuket flight delayed, almost missed connection. Stressful. So relieved. Just wanted Beerlao and some sticky rice. Saw my friend waving, huge grin. Almost cried. Landed in November. Rainy season ending. Best trip ever.
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Malaysian passport – no visa for Laos.
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Arrived Vientiane, November 2023.
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Met a friend.
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Flight from Phuket delayed.
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Visa-free countries (tourism, short stay, 2024):
- Brunei
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Russia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Forgot my sunglasses. Big mistake. Sun intense. Learned my lesson. Bought some cheap knock-offs. Still, worth it. Laos is amazing. So much better than I imagined.
- Remembered the durian candy. Friend loved it. Almost forgot to mention that.
How much is a Laos visa on arrival?
Thirty to forty-two bucks, usually. It’s for a Laos visa, you know, when you get there. My friend Sarah, she’s Canadian, paid like, 35 last month. I think. Oh, and they might charge you, like, an extra dollar. If you show up super early, or late. Or if you need a photo there. Which Sarah did, lol. She always forgets those things.
- $30-$42 USD: That’s the standard visa cost.
- Nationality matters: Price depends on where your passport is from, sometimes.
- $1 Surcharge: Could happen if arriving outside 8am-4pm. Also for passport photos taken at the airport. They gotta make their money somehow, right?
- My experience: Again, my friend from Canada paid $35 in 2024. At Wattay in Vientiane. Just throwing that out there.
They take US dollars, btw. Makes it easy. Easier than, like, the kip. Sarah didn’t have dollars, had to exchange at the airport. Rip off, let me tell you. She was not happy. Not. At. All.
Can you get a visa at the airport in Laos?
Laos visa. Airport. 30 days. Right? Vientiane… another 60. Gotta remember that. eVisa… some airports. That website. laoevisa.gov.la. Important. Bookmarked it. My trip last year… no, 2023… flew into Luang Prabang. Got visa there. Easy. US passport. Should check if my friend from Canada can get one too. Wonder if it’s the same process. Dollars, Kip… what’s the exchange rate now? Need to check. Visa photo… passport valid for six months. Always forget that. Checked. Expires 2026. Good.
- Visa on Arrival: 30 days.
- Extension: Up to 60 days. In Vientiane. Immigration dept.
- eVisa: Select airports. Check the website.
- Website: laoevisa.gov.la
- Passport validity: 6 months minimum.
Luang Prabang… beautiful. Kuang Si Falls. Need to go back. This time, Vang Vieng. Tubing. Hmm… maybe. Visa cost… dollars or Kip? Details. So many details.
Who can enter Laos without a visa?
Laos… a whisper of green, a forgotten song. Visa-free dreams bloom for some. For Brunei, a sultan’s grace, drifting down the Mekong.
Cambodia, ancient echoes, Angkor whispers, so close. A shared breath, a border unseen.
Indonesia, islands ablaze, spice winds carrying stories. No visa walls here.
Japan, cherry blossoms falling, finding peace in temple shadows. A journey east, visa-free! Yes.
Luxembourg, tiny jewel, sparkling in Europe’s heart. Finding its way to Laos. So far.
Malaysia, rainforest whispers, a melting pot of dreams. Visa? Gone.
Mongolia, endless sky, horses galloping free. A different freedom found, in Laos.
Myanmar, golden pagodas gleaming, saffron robes a blur. No barrier.
And Philippines, a smiling sun, a thousand islands strong. Free passage granted. A kind welcome.
How much is a Laos visa on arrival?
Laos visa on arrival? Thirty to forty-two USD.
Expect more. A dollar extra for late arrivals, or if they need your picture.
My trip last month? Cost me thirty-five bucks. No issues.
Key Factors Affecting Cost:
- Nationality.
- Arrival time.
- Need for on-site photos.
Additional Considerations (2024):
- Confirm current pricing with the Laotian embassy or consulate in your country.
- Visa requirements change. Check official sites.
- Carry extra cash. Avoid complications.
- My flight was delayed, hence the extra dollar. Annoying.
Can you get a visa at the airport in Laos?
Laos visa… Ugh, airport thing. So, you can get one, right? At least some airports. Wattay International, definitely. I’m pretty sure. Thirty days max. Lame.
Need longer? Vientiane. Immigration dept. Sixty more days, they’ll give you. That’s a total of 90 days. More than enough for Luang Prabang. I’m going there this year, definitely.
eVisa too. Online thing. Convenient. Check the website: laoevisa.gov.la. Seriously, bookmark it. It’s useful.
Important: Not every airport. Double-check. Don’t get stuck. That would suck. Passport photos, money. Got to plan this stuff. This trip’s important. I’m excited!
- Visa on Arrival: Available at selected airports.
- 30-day limit: Initial tourist visa duration.
- 60-day extension: Possible through Immigration in Vientiane.
- eVisa option: Convenient online application.
- Website: laoevisa.gov.la (Check before you go!)
- My flight is on October 27th. Going to need this sorted soon.
My friend Sarah went last year. She said the process was pretty straightforward at the airport. But, she almost missed her connecting flight in Bangkok. Stressful. So frustrating. She got hers in Luang Namtha. She loved that place. I’m going to need to research things better.
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