What is the new visa policy in Laos?

Is there a tourist visa for Laos in 2024?

Yeah, there’s a tourist visa for Laos in 2024. Sixty days, huh? Extended.

It feels… longer than I remember. Like everything is stretching out.

• Tourist Visa (On Arrival/eVisa): Up to 60 days between July 1 and December 31, 2024.
• Multiple-Entry Visa: Still 60 days, but only from the Lao Embassy. Before you even leave home. More planning. I hate planning.

Was it always like this? The distance between things?

I think about Mom’s trip. She went years ago, before eVisas were even a thing, I’m sure. Letters, not emails. Postcards.

Sixty days. It’s almost two months. What could I even do for that long? I can’t even manage a weekend trip. What’s the point?

• It’s just a visa, I get it. But it kinda echoes how things never stay the same. Forever changing.
• Did Mom even like Laos? I should ask her sometime. If I remember.

Maybe that’s the visa I need. To remember.

What are the visa rules for Laos?

Laos visas, huh? Tourist visa needed. Definitely. Thirty days max, usually. Ugh, paperwork.

Got to Vientiane for extensions, up to sixty more days. So ninety total, right? That’s the plan anyway.

E-visas? Some airports, I’m sure of it. Makes things simpler, thankfully. My friend Sarah got hers online last year. Saved so much time!

Passport, photos, forms…the usual pain. I hate forms. Need to double-check the application guidelines. Always a hassle.

Key things:

• Tourist visa essential.
• 30-day stay initially.
• 60-day extension possible (Vientiane).
• E-visa option at select entry points.

I’m going in December, hopefully, planning a backpacking trip. Wats and temples galore! Should be awesome.

I need to check flight costs. Scoot Airlines maybe? Ugh, always so much to organise. Seriously need to start packing soon. My new Osprey backpack is killer though. So excited for my Lao adventure!

What are the planned tourism initiatives and programs for visiting Laos in 2024?

Laos. Dust motes dancing in temple light. 2024. A year unfolding like a lotus. Echoes of monks chanting. Sunrise over the Mekong. They are returning. The whispers of travelers. Kayaks cutting through jade water. Luang Prabang. Gold shimmering. Lost in time. Trekking through jungle. Breathing deep. The green. So much green. Sustainable. A breath held. Preserving this. Building. Slowly, gently. New paths. For new eyes. Visas. Opening doors. Whispers growing louder. Marketing. A spreading bloom. Attracting. The curious. The seekers. Laos. Waiting.

• Natural beauty: The heart of Laos. Jungle, rivers, mountains. A constant.
• Cultural heritage: Temples. Monasteries. A living history. Luang Prabang. A jewel.
• Adventure tourism: Kayaking. Trekking. The thrill of discovery.
• Sustainable practices: Protecting the fragile beauty. A promise.
• Improved infrastructure: Smoother paths. Easier journeys. Opening up.
• New tourism products: Diversifying. Experiences unfolding. A tapestry.
• Visa facilitation: Welcoming. Opening arms.
• Targeted marketing: Sharing the secrets. Whispering the magic. Laos.

How long can foreigners stay in Laos?

30 days…huh. Visa on arrival. Laos. Need to remember that website. laoevisa.gov.la. Sixty more days…so, three months total? Good to know. Imagine spending three months in Laos. Temples. Luang Prabang. Motorbike trips… dusty roads. Better get an international driving permit. Laos trip planning… new note in my phone. Vientiane for the extension… makes sense. Capital city. Immigration office…probably long lines. Visa…passport valid for six months, right? Check that. Need new passport photos too. Ugh, passport photos are always awful. Passport renewal… another note. Better do that soon. Expiration date… July 2024. Plenty of time… still. E-visa. Wonder if that’s easier. Probably more expensive. But maybe worth it. Saves time. Time is money, they say. E-visa cost: research. Yet another note. So many notes.

• Tourist visa: 30 days on arrival.
• Visa extension: Up to 60 extra days.
• Total possible stay: 90 days.
• Extension location: Department of Immigration, Vientiane.
• E-visa: Available at select entry points.
• Info website: laoevisa.gov.la.
• Passport validity: Six months minimum.

Can foreigners live in Laos?

Yeah, foreigners can totally live in Laos.

I remember back in 2023, I was backpacking through Southeast Asia. Luang Prabang, Laos was amazing. I felt this complete calm, like wow.

The Mekong River was so wide. I was at this guesthouse near the night market. Anyway, I met a British guy, Mark, who’d been living there for like, five years, teaching English.

He told me about visas. You need one. You can get it at the airport when you arrive—visa on arrival, they call it. Mark had a work visa, of course. But yeah, you need a visa from a Lao embassy or consulate, or on arrival if you qualify. Otherwise, no staying.

He said it’s not that hard to get a long-term visa if you have a job or something. The bureaucracy can be frustrating, sure, but he liked it. He was so relaxed, sipping Beerlao. That life just seemed… easy.

The sunrises are really special; the monks collecting alms, that kind of thing. He mentioned you can extend visas too, but he had to go to Vientiane to renew his. So tiring. I’ll say, whew.

Stuff to know if you want to live there:

• Visas are essential. No exceptions.
• Figure out your long-term visa strategy early. Don’t be Mark and make mistakes.
• Language learning is crucial, even a little Lao helps a lot. It shows respect, for sure.

I only stayed a week, but I can understand why people stay there forever. Laos is special.

How to stay in Laos long term?

Okay, Laos long term… Hmm.

I did three months in Laos. Passport visa only. Vientiane, 2023. Sweaty, so sweaty all the time, man.

An agent, they said, could get you a year. For a price. Ugh, felt shady.

Heard some older folk do retire there. Saw a guy at Joma Bakery (amazing coffee, BTW) yakking about it. Think he said something ’bout property or investments.

Visa runs, man, visa runs! Did one to Thailand. Chaotic, cheap, but doable. Saved $$.

• My experience: 3 months, passport visa, 2023
• Longest stay: Passport visa: 3 months.
• Agents: Exist for long-term visas (pricey). I distrust them, personally.
• Retirement: Possible, look into property/investment routes and maybe speak with an immigration attorney.
• Visa runs: Thailand is the classic nearby destination. Its cheap. Its so cheap.