Laos Tourist Visa is a temporary Lao immigration option that allows visitors to visit Laos for the purpose of tourism and leisure.
Laos visas are issued for a single entry and must be used within two months from the date of issue.
A single entry visa allows you to enter Laos just once. After you leave Laos, regardless of whether or not you have used up your allowed days, you will need a new visa if you want to enter Laos again.
The Laos tourist visa is an employment prohibited, that is for a stay of up to 30 days, and can be extended twice, 30 days each time. More on Laos visa extension.
1. Apply on paper – To apply on paper you need to do it at Lao embassy or consulate in your area.
However, if there is no Lao embassy/consulate in your country or region, you may want to plan to stop in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, or other countries in this region en route to Laos, so that you can apply for the Lao visa there. Many visitors got their Lao visa this way. Allow a couple of days for the visa processing.
2. Apply online – Online application is offered by a third party (private companies or service providers), and it is only available in the USA. The service providers simply lodge your application on your behalf for an overhead fee. The visa is just a normal visa, No e-visa is available for Laos to date.
3. Apply on arrival – Visa on arrival is issued at Lao international airports or international border checkpoints. Check Visa on arrival page for more information on how to apply, requirements, eligible nationalities, and fees.
My personal recommendation is, if you are eligible for Lao visa on arrival then take full advantage of it because it is the most convenient, easiest and cheapest of all.
Visa fees:
More information or to download the application form here http://www.laosembassy.net
Visa fees:
For more information please visit the embassy website, here www.laoembassy.com/visa&applications.html
Before deciding where to apply for your Laos tourist visa, you might want to check which option suites you best and if you are eligible. Follow steps below to check it out:
Step 1: Determine if you need a visa to travel to Laos
Check if your country of citizenship is in the list of Lao visa exemption, if it is, it means that you do not need a visa to enter Laos, you can stop here, otherwise see next step.
Step 2: Determine your options
Assuming you need to obtain a visa to travel to Laos.
Step 3: Apply for the Laos tourist visa
Apply on paper:
Apply Online:
Be reminded that entering and leaving Laos you have to obtain a correctly dated entry/exit stamp. Failure to do so may result in a fine or detention
As online application is only available through third party service providers you would better follow instructions on their websites (travisa.com, visahq.com to name a couple). The online option is only available for the USA and Canada at the moment.
Apply On Arrival:
Visit visa on arrival page for more details.
Even though your itinerary is required in some cases, Non-refundable tickets or reservations should not be purchased until your visa is secured.
For visa on arrival, no itinerary is required though you may need to indicate in the form your next destination.