Do I need a visa to enter Laos?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality - some nationalities are visa-exempt, others need an eVisa, a Visa on Arrival, or must get a visa from a Lao embassy before travel.

Is the Lao eVisa fee refundable?

No. The eVisa fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of whether the application is approved.

How long does the Lao eVisa take to process?

Processing is usually 3 working days after submitting the application and paying the fee, provided all information meets the government's criteria.

Can I extend my tourist stay in Laos?

Yes. The Department of Immigration, Foreigner Control, and Visa Extension can extend a visa for 30 days at a time; the extension fee is 20,000 Lao kip per day plus a 30,000 kip document fee, applied for before the current visa expires.

How do I apply for the Lao eVisa?

Provide your application details and upload the required documents, review and pay the fee online, then download your eVisa Approval Letter to print and present at your port of entry.

What passport validity does Laos require?

Laos requires travellers to hold a passport valid for at least six months remaining from the date of entry.

Do I need any vaccinations to visit Laos?

There is no universal mandatory vaccination for entry, but health authorities recommend being up to date on routine vaccines (including measles and polio) and discussing malaria and Japanese encephalitis prevention with a doctor depending on your itinerary.

What is the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF)?

It is Laos's online arrival and departure card. All foreign nationals and stateless travellers using a passport are required to submit it within 3 days before arriving in or departing from Laos.

When should I submit the LDIF before my flight to Laos?

The form must be submitted within 3 days before your arrival, and again within 3 days before your departure from Laos.

What happens if I overstay my visa in Laos?

Travellers who do not maintain a valid visa face penalties of at least $10 per day in overstay fines, or possible prison time in severe cases.

Home › Travel Visas › Laos eVisa › US Citizens

🇺🇸 US passports · Laos eVisa

Laos eVisa for US Citizens

To enter Laos, US citizens need: a valid passport · eVisa required · Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) · Passport validity requirement · CDC Laos travel health recommendations.

Visa Type

I'm a citizen of

I'm traveling to🇱🇦 Laos

🇱🇦 Get My Laos eVisa →

● Live VIE data· Sources: Laos Immigration Portal · IATA Timatic · Official Embassy Data

Quick Facts

Laos eVisa — Key Facts for US Citizens

Visa Required

Yes

Visa Type

eVisa

Gov Fee

$50

Max Stay

30 days

Processing

6–10 days

Passport Validity

6+ months

Blank Pages

2 pages

Entry Type

single

What You Need

US citizens traveling to Laos need

✓A valid United States passportValid 6 months after arrival · 2 blank pagesPassport expiring? →
$eVisa requiredwe apply online for the travelerFrom $119 →
$Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF)From $69 →
✓Passport validity requirement
✓CDC Laos travel health recommendations

Available Visas

Laos eVisa Types for US Citizens

Overview

Laos eVisa for US Citizens — What You Need to Know

US citizens need a visa for Laos. To enter Laos you need: a valid passport, eVisa required, Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF), Passport validity requirement, CDC Laos travel health recommendations.

Visa Policy

Laos eVisa Policy for US Citizens

Laos's visa policy for US citizens requires advance application before travel. The electronic visa (eVisa) system was introduced to streamline the process — replacing the previous embassy-only application for most US travelers. The eVisa allows online application without visiting a consulate, with approval typically issued within 6–10 business days. The government fee of $50 is set by Laos immigration authorities and is subject to change. PassportsAndVisas.com monitors policy updates daily and will notify you of any fee changes after your application is submitted.

US citizens should apply for their Laos visa at least 13 days before departure to allow time for processing and any document corrections. Rush processing is available for travelers with imminent departure dates. The Tourist e-Visa is issued, and the 30-day stay period begins on arrival.

Travel Context

Traveling to Laos from United States — What to Know Before You Go

Planning a trip to Laos from United States involves a few key logistics beyond the visa. Direct flights are available from major United States hubs to Laos's main international airports, with flight times varying depending on your departure city. We recommend booking refundable tickets until your visa is approved — PassportsAndVisas.com's service fee is charged only after visa approval, so you are not committed financially before your visa is confirmed.

Passport preparation is the most important step. Your United States passport must have at least 6 months of validity remaining beyond your departure date from Laos, and at least 2 blank pages for entry stamps. If your passport is expiring soon, PassportsAndVisas.com can expedite United States passport renewal — often faster than standard government processing times.

Once your Laos eVisa is approved, you will receive a PDF confirmation by email. Print this document and carry it with your passport — some Laos border officials require a physical copy, even for eVisas. Save a digital backup on your phone as well. Your visa details will also be linked to your passport number in Laos's immigration database.

Application Guide

What US Citizens Need Before Applying

Applying for a Laos visa as a US citizen through PassportsAndVisas.com takes 5–10 minutes online. You will need your United States passport (valid for 6+ months), a digital passport photo meeting Laos's exact specifications, and your travel dates. Our system guides you through each field and flags potential errors before submission.

The most common reason US citizens face Laos visa rejection is passport photo non-compliance. Laos requires a white background, the size shown on the government portal dimensions, taken within the last 6 months, with no glasses. Our proprietary photo-check system automatically validates your photo against Laos's requirements before we submit — catching the errors that cause the majority of preventable rejections.

After submission, your application is reviewed by a US-specialist on our team — someone familiar with the specific patterns that trigger scrutiny for United States passport holders. We submit to Laos Immigration within 2 hours of receiving your complete file. You will receive email updates throughout the process, and your approved visa PDF will be delivered to your inbox — typically within 6–10 business days.

How It Works

How US Citizens Get a Laos eVisa

Apply online in 5–10 min

Guided form with real-time photo and passport validation. Takes under 10 minutes.

We review your application

We catch errors specific to US applications — photo specs, name matching, passport validity — before submission.

We submit for government processing

Submitted directly to Laos Immigration. Email updates throughout. We handle any follow-up.

Get your Laos visa

Approved eVisa PDF delivered to your inbox. Ready to travel.

Full Requirements — VIE Intelligence Engine

Everything US Citizens Need to Know About Laos eVisas

All Laos visa data for US passport holders is updated daily from official government sources.

Laos requires 4 documents for US citizens. Our system validates all of these automatically before submission.

Avoid These Mistakes

Why US Citizens Get Laos eVisa Rejections — And How We Prevent It

Our document review catches these before submission. Rejected due to our error? We resubmit at no charge.

🛂

Passport expires within 6 months of entry

Airlines and Laos immigration refuse entry. This is one of the most common preventable rejection reasons.

✓ We verify passport validity before submitting

📄

Details don't exactly match passport

A single character difference in name, DOB, or United States passport number causes rejection.

✓ We verify all fields match your passport scan

⚠️

Prior overstay or visa violation

Prior overstays are on record and may trigger automatic rejection. Tell us — we can advise US applicants.

✓ We guide you through handling prior violations

Why Choose Us

Laos eVisa: Expert Help vs Applying Directly

You can apply on the government portal for free. Here's why 500,000+ travelers paid us instead.

🔍

Never rejected for a preventable mistake

Most refusals come from a handful of fixable errors. We check every application before it is filed.

📊

Government portal monitored 24/7

Laos's application system goes offline without warning. We watch it around the clock and submit the moment it returns.

👨‍👩‍👧

Get your whole family right first time

Inconsistencies between family applications are a top rejection trigger. We manage all applications together.

🧑‍💼

Human help for complex cases

Prior overstay? Dual nationality? A specialist handles your US case personally. Avg response under 2 hours.

🏛️

30 years in business

Since 1992. 500,000+ customers. 11,700+ reviews on Trustpilot.

Official Advisories

Current Travel Advisories for US Citizens Visiting Laos

🇺🇸

US STATE DEPT

Exercise Normal Precautions

Questions & Answers

Laos eVisa FAQ for US Citizens

Yes. US passport holders need a visa to travel to Laos. The options available are Tourist e-Visa, Visa on Arrival, Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF). Eligible travellers can apply online without visiting an embassy.

📋 Sources

PassportsAndVisas.com relies exclusively on official government sources for visa requirements. Our VIE Intelligence Engine cross-references multiple official sources daily.

▶Laos Official Immigration Portal. (Web). Official government portal
▶U.S. Department of State — Laos Travel Information. (Web). travel.state.gov
▶IATA Timatic — Visa & Health Requirements Database. (Web). iatatravelcentre.com

Other Passport Holders

Laos visa requirements for other passport holders

Visa eligibility, fees and available visa types vary by passport. Choose your nationality for Laos visa requirements specific to you.

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