Laos e-Visa application and photo

The Laos eVisa lets eligible ordinary-passport holders apply for a tourist visa online before traveling. It allows a single entry and a stay of up to 30 days, but you must arrive through a checkpoint that accepts eVisas.

This guide covers who can apply, the documents and photo you need, application steps, fees, processing time and visa validity. It also explains the accepted entry points, the separate Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) and application mistakes that can disrupt your trip.

Table of contents

• Laos eVisa explained
• Is the Laos eVisa the same as the Lao Digital Immigration Form?
• Who can apply for a Laos eVisa?
• Laos eVisa vs Visa-on-Arrival
• Laos eVisa requirements
• Get your Laos eVisa photo online
• How to apply for a Laos visa online
• How to check your Laos eVisa application status
• Laos eVisa processing time
• How much does a Laos eVisa cost?
• How long is a Laos eVisa valid?
• Where can you enter Laos with an eVisa?
• Lao Digital Immigration Form: do you need it?
• Common Laos eVisa application mistakes
• Laos eVisa FAQ

Laos eVisa explained

The Laos eVisa is an electronic tourist visa. You apply before your trip, upload your documents and pay online. If approved, you receive an approval letter by email to present at the border.

The main rules are:

• The visa is issued for tourism purposes.
• It permits one entry, not multiple entries.
• You can stay for up to 30 days after arrival.
• The approval letter is valid for entry for a maximum of 60 days after you receive it.

There are three different services to distinguish. An eVisa is a tourist visa arranged before travel. The LDIF records your arrival or departure details. A visa on arrival is obtained at an eligible checkpoint after you reach Laos, subject to your nationality and travel document qualifying for that option.

Is the Laos eVisa the same as the Lao Digital Immigration Form?

No. The eVisa is an entry permit; the Lao Digital Immigration Form is an immigration registration. Completing one does not automatically complete the other.

Where the LDIF requirement applies, an eVisa holder must still submit the immigration form. Travelers entering without a visa under an applicable exemption may also need the LDIF. A completed LDIF does not grant a visa or permission to work or stay longer.

Arrival and departure registrations are separate. Complete the relevant form within the three days before entering or leaving Laos, and save the confirmation QR code for immigration. The LDIF section below explains the checkpoints covered by the published guidance and the information to prepare.

Who can apply for a Laos eVisa?

Laos eVisa eligible countries and nationalities

The table below includes all 161 countries and territories on the official Lao eVisa eligibility list, checked on 5 October 2026. Eligibility is based on your passport nationality, not where you live or start your journey.

Country names use standard English spellings; the official list labels North Macedonia as "Macedonia." Being eligible for an eVisa does not necessarily mean you need one: some passport holders qualify for a separate visa exemption for their intended visit.

The eVisa route accepts ordinary passports only. The official terms exclude temporary, emergency and special passports, as well as other passport types. Do not assume that a refugee travel document or another substitute for an ordinary passport qualifies.

Laos eVisa passport requirements

Your passport must have at least six months' validity from arrival. The official FAQ specifies more than 180 days remaining, so renew first if your passport is close to that cutoff.

You also need at least one blank page for the entry sticker and immigration stamps, with enough space for the rest of your journey. Your airline or your home government's travel advice may require more blank pages, so check those requirements too.

Enter your passport number, name, nationality and dates exactly as they appear in your passport. Travel with the same passport you used for the application, including if you hold two nationalities. If you replace your passport after approval, contact the eVisa service before relying on the existing letter.

Who should use another Laos visa option?

Another route may be necessary if:

• Your nationality is not eligible for the eVisa.
• Your visit is for work, study or another non-tourist purpose.
• You hold a temporary, emergency or other non-qualifying travel document.
• Your planned checkpoint does not accept eVisas.

Contact a Lao embassy or consulate about the appropriate visa for your circumstances. Visa on arrival is an alternative only where both your travel document and the checkpoint qualify. A tourist eVisa does not authorize paid or unpaid work.

Laos eVisa vs Visa-on-Arrival

A Laos visa on arrival is a tourist visa you apply for at a participating airport or land checkpoint after reaching Laos. It normally allows a single entry and a stay of up to 30 days. Unlike the eVisa, it is not approved before departure: you submit the application and pay at the border.

Who can get a Laos visa on arrival?

To use this route, your passport nationality must qualify for visa on arrival, your travel document must meet the entry requirements, and your chosen checkpoint must issue that visa. Ordinary tourist passports are the usual route; do not assume an emergency passport, refugee travel document or other special document is accepted on the same terms.

Visa on arrival is available at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse international airports and selected land checkpoints. However, an international crossing is not automatically a visa-on-arrival checkpoint, and the eVisa entry-point list is not a visa-on-arrival list.

If you qualify for visa-free entry for your intended stay, you do not need to buy a visa on arrival. If your nationality requires an advance visa, arrange it through a Lao embassy or consulate instead of arriving without one.

Nationalities requiring an advance visa

The AirAsia entry requirements for Laos list the following 27 passport nationalities as requiring a visa before travel. These travelers should arrange a Lao embassy or consular visa, rather than rely on visa on arrival:

This is the airline's published advance-visa list, not a complete Lao government visa-on-arrival eligibility list. A passport's absence from this table does not guarantee boarding or admission. Confirm any special-document or nationality-specific conditions with a Lao mission and your airline before travel.

AirAsia also publishes additional document checks for these passports on its flights to Vientiane and Luang Prabang:

For these passengers, the airline lists a confirmed hotel booking, return or onward ticket, an official letter from a Lao travel agency and US$2,500 to US$3,000 in cash as proof of funds. These are carrier-published checks, not a universal checklist for every visitor. An eVisa approval alone does not remove them.

How to apply for a Laos visa on arrival

Bring your passport with at least six months' validity, a recent printed passport-style photograph and money for the visa fee. Allow at least two blank passport pages to meet stricter airline and government travel-advice requirements. Carry your accommodation details and return or onward itinerary too.

At the checkpoint, go to the visa-on-arrival counter, complete the application, present the requested documents and pay the applicable fee. After the visa is issued, proceed through immigration and check your entry stamp and permitted departure date. Complete the LDIF separately wherever required; submitting the LDIF does not apply for a visa on arrival.

Laos eVisa vs visa on arrival

Both routes can provide a single-entry tourist visa for up to 30 days. The practical difference is when you apply and pay, and which nationality and checkpoint rules apply.

Before relying on visa on arrival, confirm that it is available for your nationality, travel document and intended checkpoint. Do not assume that a crossing offers this service because it is an international border or accepts eVisas. Completing the LDIF online is not an online visa-on-arrival application.

Laos eVisa requirements

What documents do you need for a Laos eVisa?

Prepare these before opening the application:

• A valid ordinary passport.
• A clear color scan or photograph of the passport biographical page.
• A recent passport-style portrait photograph.
• An email address you can access throughout the process.
• An accepted online payment method.
• Your intended arrival date.
• Your planned entry checkpoint.
• Other personal, contact and travel details requested by the form.

The passport image must show the whole biographical page, including the machine-readable zone (MRZ), the two lines of letters, numbers and symbols at the bottom. Keep the page flat and avoid glare over your details. Check that the smallest characters remain readable when you open the file.

The passport image and portrait are separate uploads. Do not cut the existing photograph out of your passport scan and submit it as your new visa photo. The portal may request additional documents for an individual application.

Laos eVisa and visa-on-arrival photo requirements

The official Lao eVisa FAQ specifies a 4 × 6 cm color photo taken within the last six months. The required proportions are 40 mm wide by 60 mm high, not a square photograph.

• Size: 4 × 6 cm, or 40 × 60 mm
• Recency: Taken within the last six months
• Color and background: Color photograph with a plain white background
• Position: Facing the camera directly
• Expression: Neutral expression, with both eyes open
• Lighting: No shadows

Use a sharp image that clearly shows your face and eyes. Avoid glare, beauty filters and heavy retouching that changes your appearance. A correctly sized file cannot compensate for a blurred or obscured face.

For the online application, upload the digital portrait rather than a photograph of a printed photo. Check the upload field's current file-format and file-size instructions before submitting; physical dimensions alone do not establish the portal's technical limits.

The same format applies to the Laos visa-on-arrival photo requirements.

Get your Laos eVisa photo online

You can prepare your Laos e-visa or VoA photo at home with Visafoto, without finding a studio that offers the 4 × 6 cm format. Take a portrait with your phone or camera, upload it and select "Laos visa 4x6 cm."

Your starting background does not have to be white. Visafoto replaces it with the required white background, adjusts the crop and framing, and prepares the 40 × 60 mm photo format. The service can also improve lighting, contrast and image quality, so your source photo does not need to look like a finished visa photograph.

To get a suitable source image, look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and keep both eyes open. Include your entire head and shoulders, leaving room around your head for cropping. You can take several shots and choose the sharpest one. Our guide to taking a passport photo with your phone explains the setup.

Example of the photo you can upload to Visafoto:

The result after Visafoto editing:

The process is straightforward:

1. Take a new portrait with a phone or camera against any background.
2. Open the Laos visa photo maker and upload your image.
3. Let Visafoto adjust the background, dimensions and framing.
4. Check the preview and download your digital photo for the eVisa application.

You also receive a printable template if you need physical copies for another procedure. For the eVisa, use the individual digital portrait, not the template containing several photos. The photo-preparation price is $9, separate from the government visa fee.

Visafoto has a 99.7% acceptance rate across its passport, visa and ID photos. Its support team is available 24/7 to help with your order or a photo problem. If Lao officials reject a photo you purchased from Visafoto, you can request a free correction or a 100% refund. This guarantee covers the photo service, not the non-refundable eVisa application fee.

How to apply for a Laos visa online

Step 1: Go to the official Laos eVisa website

Use the government portal at laoevisa.gov.la. Check the domain before entering passport details or paying: a website that uses "Laos eVisa" in its name is not necessarily the official service.

You can apply directly without a visa agent. Use a third-party application service only if you deliberately want that service and understand its additional charges.

Step 2: Start your Laos eVisa application

Select "Apply Now," enter your email address and complete the security verification. The system sends a verification code to your email; use it to access the application form.

Check your spam folder if the message does not arrive. Keep access to this email account, as the approval letter and any requests for corrections will be sent there.

Step 3: Enter your personal and passport details

Have your passport beside you when completing the form. Be ready to provide:

• Full name.
• Date and place of birth.
• Nationality.
• Passport number.
• Passport issue and expiry dates.
• Contact details.

All personal and passport information must match your passport exactly. Complete the information in English, as required by the official terms. Copy the details carefully, and check letters and numbers that can look similar. Do not enter a nickname or shorten your name to fit your usual travel bookings.

Step 4: Enter your travel information

Enter your planned arrival date and intended port of entry. Provide your accommodation address or contact information in Laos if the application requests it.

Before proceeding, confirm that your selected checkpoint accepts Laos eVisas. Use the entry-point list below to check your flight, train or land-crossing route.

Step 5: Upload your documents and photo

Upload a clear color copy of your passport biographical page and a recent passport-style portrait in their separate fields. Use the file formats, dimensions and file sizes accepted by the current official upload instructions.

Open each preview to check that the complete passport biographical page and its MRZ are visible and readable. Make sure you have not swapped the files or uploaded a multi-photo printing template instead of the individual portrait.

Step 6: Review your Laos visa application and pay

Check your name, passport number, nationality, passport expiry date, arrival date and uploads before submitting. Then pay the fee shown for your nationality.

The official FAQ lists Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, WeChat Pay, Alipay and UnionPay as payment methods. Use an option available in the checkout and keep the payment confirmation.

Save your application reference number, also called the application ID, together with the payment record and confirmation email. You will need the ID to check your application status.

If money has left your account but the application still shows "Unpaid," do not pay again immediately. Contact the eVisa support team through the portal to check the transaction.

Step 7: Check your Laos eVisa application status

Use the official portal's "Status Enquiry" service to follow your application. The application-status section below explains what to enter and how to handle a correction request.

Check your email regularly, including spam or junk folders. Do not assume the application is approved simply because you have submitted it and paid.

Step 8: Download and print your Laos eVisa approval

Once approved, the eVisa letter is sent electronically to your email. Download it before traveling and check that your name, passport number and other passport details match the passport you will use. Check the letter's expiry date too.

Print one legible copy to carry with your passport and keep a digital backup on your phone. Black-and-white printing is acceptable if the text and QR code are clear; the digital backup does not replace the required printout.

At the accepted entry checkpoint, use the eVisa lane and present the letter with the same passport used in the application. Complete the LDIF separately where required.

How to check your Laos eVisa application status

Check your application through the official Laos eVisa status service at laoevisa.gov.la/checkstatus, accessible through "Status Enquiry" on the government portal. Enter your application ID and the passport number used in the application, then complete the security check displayed by the page.

Keep the reference number somewhere you can find it, rather than relying only on an open browser tab. If the service cannot retrieve your application, compare both entries with your confirmation and passport before contacting the portal's support team.

Monitor your email, including spam or junk folders, for the approval letter or requests to correct information and supply documents. The official terms give applicants 30 days to respond to a modification request before the application may be canceled.

If the application is still pending close to your travel date, contact the official eVisa support team. Lao embassies do not provide eVisa status checks; use the online service for this application route.

Laos eVisa processing time

The official FAQ gives a normal Laos eVisa processing time of three working days after receipt of a complete application and full payment. It also warns that processing can take longer, so three working days is not a guaranteed maximum.

An incomplete application, a replacement-photo request or unresolved payment can prevent processing from proceeding on the usual schedule. Weekends and public holidays are not normal processing days, and the portal warns of longer waits during holiday closures.

Apply at least five days before arrival and allow more time where possible. As a practical planning buffer, submit one or two weeks before travel once your itinerary is settled, within the portal's application window. Do not treat a weekend as two processing days.

Do not rely on a pending eVisa when making non-refundable travel arrangements. A payment receipt or application ID is not an approval letter; wait for approval before treating the visa as ready for travel.

How much does a Laos eVisa cost?

The fee depends on your nationality. These examples were verified with the official Lao eVisa fee calculator at laoevisa.gov.la/fee-calculator on 5 October 2026:

The calculator excludes bank charges, so check the final checkout total. Your bank may also apply its own foreign-transaction or currency-conversion charges. An agent's quote can include a separate service charge and should not be confused with the direct official application price.

Fees can change. Select your own passport nationality in the calculator rather than assuming a price listed for another country applies to you.

The government eVisa fee is non-refundable, including if the application is refused or you cannot use the visa. Check your passport, checkpoint and travel plans before paying.

How long is a Laos eVisa valid?

The approval letter provides an entry window of up to 60 days after receipt. Once admitted, the tourist stay is up to 30 days from arrival. Check the dates on both the letter and your immigration stamp.

Visa validity is not the same as permitted stay. The approval letter's validity determines when you can use it to enter Laos; the permitted stay determines how long you can remain after entering. Entering near the letter's expiry does not automatically shorten the permitted stay to the days remaining on that letter. It also does not turn the visa into permission to stay for 60 days.

The eVisa is single entry. If you leave Laos and want to return, you need to qualify for a new visa or another valid entry arrangement. If you want to remain longer, ask Lao immigration about an extension before your authorized stay expires.

Where can you enter Laos with an eVisa?

The Laos eVisa is accepted only at designated entry points. Check the current list on the official eVisa portal before booking a flight, train journey or land crossing. The portal currently lists these nine locations:

The FAQ allows entry through any designated eVisa checkpoint, not only the one selected in your application. However, a change to an unlisted checkpoint requires another valid visa or entry option; the unused eVisa fee is not refunded.

Check the entry-point list again if your airline, train route or land-crossing plan changes. Not every international border crossing accepts an eVisa.

Lao Digital Immigration Form: do you need it?

At participating checkpoints, complete the LDIF for arrival and departure even if you already have an approved Laos eVisa. The immigration registration and visa application are separate procedures.

What is the Lao Digital Immigration Form?

The Lao Digital Immigration Form is an online registration of your arrival or departure information. It replaces the paper immigration card where the digital procedure applies.

The LDIF is not a visa. It does not replace your eVisa application or grant permission to enter by itself. Likewise, an eVisa approval letter does not replace the LDIF where immigration requires it.

When do you need to complete the LDIF?

Current guidance requires registration within three days before entering Laos and within three days before leaving at participating checkpoints. Arrival and departure are separate submissions, so do not assume the first registration covers the whole trip.

Have your passport, visa or entry-status details, travel dates, transport information and accommodation address ready. Enter the personal and travel information requested by the form. The registration may also request a passport copy and, for arrival, a photo of you holding your passport; follow the current instructions for each upload.

To prepare the form:

1. Open the Lao Department of Immigration portal.
2. Choose "Arrival Register" for entry or "Departure Register" for exit.
3. Enter the requested passport, travel and accommodation details, using the same information as your travel documents.
4. Review the form, submit it and save the confirmation QR code.
5. Keep the QR code accessible for the relevant immigration check, including an offline copy in case you have no internet connection.

Do not submit the departure form weeks before leaving.

Which Laos entry points use the LDIF?

The Lao Department of Immigration's published introduction notice and current UK government travel guidance identify these four checkpoints:

• Wattay International Airport.
• Luang Prabang International Airport.
• Pakse International Airport.
• Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I.

Checkpoint coverage and procedures can change. Check the latest immigration instructions for your route before traveling, and do not assume the nine eVisa entry points and the LDIF checkpoint list are identical.

Common Laos eVisa application mistakes

Most avoidable problems involve a mismatch between the application, the documents and the planned trip. Check these points before paying:

• Using the wrong website. Confirm that the application is on laoevisa.gov.la, not an agent's site with a similar name.
• Mixing up the passport scan and portrait. The passport image must include the complete biographical page and MRZ; the portrait must be a separate recent photo.
• Entering the wrong passport details. Compare the application with your passport character by character, especially the number and expiry date.
• Choosing an unsupported checkpoint. Make sure your route uses one of the nine designated eVisa entry points.
• Confusing visa validity with the stay allowance. The 60-day entry window is different from the 30-day stay.
• Applying too late or ignoring a correction email. Allow a processing buffer and check your inbox after submission.
• Paying twice after an unclear transaction. If charged but still marked unpaid, ask support to verify payment first.
• Traveling without the printed approval letter. Save the email and carry a clear printout with your passport.
• Treating the LDIF as a visa application. Complete both procedures when your trip requires both.

If you notice an error after submission or approval, contact the official eVisa support team promptly. Do not assume that an incorrect passport number will be accepted because the rest of the letter looks right.

Laos eVisa FAQ

Can I extend a Laos eVisa?

If you want to stay beyond your initial permitted stay, contact Lao immigration before that stay expires. Ask whether an extension is available in your circumstances and confirm the current procedure, documents and fees. Do not assume an extension is automatic or that the approval letter's 60-day validity allows a longer stay after entry.

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Can I get a Laos visa on arrival?

You can use visa on arrival if your nationality and travel document qualify and you arrive at a checkpoint that issues it. Travelers covered by advance-visa restrictions should obtain a visa before departure. See the visa-on-arrival eligibility section for the nationality restrictions and airline checks. Eligibility for an eVisa does not automatically establish eligibility for visa on arrival at every crossing.

Last updated: 5 October 2026.