Laos Visa on arrival
 

Does anyone have experiences with getting an Visa on arrival at Luang Prabang airport in Laos? Any issues or hazzles?

Thanks,
Christian

We did it when visiting LPQ a few years ago (2004? something like that). Just be sure to have passport photos with you - otherwise it's very quick and easy.

Hopefully someone else can provide more up-to-date information.

- Michael

I did it in November, 2006. I flew Lao Airlines from Chang Mai to Luang Prabang. They charge an extra $5 or $10 if you arrive after a certain hour at night (total scam) but it was quick and painless.

chsommerhh, welcome to FlyerTalk. For added replies, let me move this to our Travel->Asia forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Hello,you might also try this question on the Lonely Planet thorn tree board.Very often someone who is currently in Laos can give you todays info

My experience arriving in Laos at LPQ in late November 2007 - $30 and two photos, immigration forms filled out on the flight in, very quick and easy, no extortion noted. 15-20 minutes.

Now US$35 for USA and most of Europe. $1 extra for weekends and holidays. I thought it was 1 photo, but you should always have several with you anyway.

I did this in July 2007 without problems. Just have the photos and the cash (USD) and it should be easy.

(BTW, you should have the cash regardless - most places geared towards tourists quote prices in dollars. Have lots of singles, and change just a small amount into the Lao currency for small purchases.)

Yeah, carry a lot of US$1, 5, and 20. And, especially in Vientiane, some Thai baht.

My first trip to Lao I changed too much US$ at the border into kip and got a brick of bills, but no one wants kip, except maybe at the market. You'll get kip anyway as change.

In December we got visas at the land border outside of Udon Thani close to Vientiane. Paid $32 cash, didn't have passport photos but no problem as the scanned passport for additional $1.

This was back in December 2007 when the USD was somewhat less weak, but I noted that exchange rates for Thai Baht were worse than kip or USD (even in Vientiane) . USD are best for paying for things US $20 and up, but kip are better for other things. ATMs were a racket because they charge a transaction fee ( in addition to that of your home bank) and had a withdrawal limit of $70. Laos, where employees routinely had to consult calculators to determine how much change to issue from a 10k kip note for a 5k purchase, doesn't seem the best candidate for using 3 currencies.

Credit cards were surprisingly useful for some things and all charged in USD - so no conversion fees if that is your home currency.

I was totally impressed with the country and its affordability. In luang prabang, for example for $20 one can get a great riverside hotel with nice en-suite bath and A/C. The roads seem much less chaotic than elsewhere in Asia, and at least route 13 was in great shape (again, relative to other countries at that GDP level). In LP, its fantastic to have a good cup of coffee and pastry (by any standard, not relative!) for $2.

I was surprised -- even though it was in the LP guidebook - to see how openly "happy" (marijuana) and opiate/mushroom (forgot the descriptive adjective for each) food and drinks are routinely on the menu at tourist type places.

I had to smile at this comment. Lao PDR is so laid back that it's about the only place in the world where you could fall asleep at a riot. Not that they have any, for pretty obvious reasons.

I spent some time in Luang Prabang in November 2007. It was wonderful after the intensity of a couple of weeks in Vietnam. We stayed in town first, then moved to a bungalow about 5km out in the country, out past the Villa Santi Resort. $15 a night, including breakfast. There is no better place than Laos to relax and just be, IME.

I had heard that debit Mastercard was more accepted in LP than debit Visa, and brought both. The ATM in the tourist area only took Mastercard. I think Visa was accepted in some banks, but I never used the debit Visa in LP.

I had no problems using a Visa credit card for purchases, but for cash withdrawals from the most convenient ATM, a debit Mastercard was necessary.

Any recent experience obtaining a Laos Visa on arrival at the airport? I'm flying into VTE from BKK, arriving at 9pm. I assume TG does not insist on a visa in order to get a BP at BKK. Do I need 2 passport photos or can I get these taken at the airport? Do I need to get Laos kip from the ATM at the airport to get a taxi/bus into town? Thanks for any advice. :)

You do not need to bring two photographs, they will make a copy of your passport for you (and charge you a small fee). You will have no problems getting on the plane at BKK.

I would just hit the ATM at the airport to avoid stopping in town to get some cash to pay the driver.

Penguinmoon - Thank you for your advice. :)

Normally i would recommend ignoring all the taxis/touts at VTE and walk out toward the street where transportation will be about half the cost. However at 9PM I'm not sure that will offer you much opportunity.

Also, be wary of ATMs. It's been a year since my last visit, so things could have changed, but for several years, since Laos got their first ATM (2006?), max withdrawal was 700K Kip with a 20K Kip service fee. Rather steep.

Cash exchange at a bank is your best bet.

This was great advice. Visa On Arrival cost $35 USD, with an addition $1 because I did not have a passport photo. That didn't mean they took a photo, only that they took an addituion $1. The lady in front of me was German; for her Visa On Arrival cost $30 USD. Every country can be different. Took about 5-10 minutes to clear immigration, less than I spend at BKK. I changed $20 USD at the airport (=160600 kip) to pay the taxi fare into town which was 50000 kip as I recall.

Edited to add: Visa is for 30 days, single entry into Lao P.D.R.

Canadians get hit for $42. Germans pay $30. Everyone else falls somewhere in between.

Bump! I was wondering if anyone had up to date info in the Laos VOA process. I will arrive Dec 13. Does anyone know how much I need in USD (traveling on a USA Passport) and how many passport pics?

Thanks FTers!

Anyone have any recent experience with Laos VOA? The US website says 2 passport photos and $35, which seems easy enough, but I'd like to hear others' experience getting into Laos.

I went this past July, and it's the same as what the others have reported for US citizens. I described the process at LPQ on my blog (last paragraphs). I only gave them one passport picture. At LPQ, there's a chart with all the countries listed and the visa prices at the payment window. It was a fairly easy and painless process.

Well... No extra photo it is!

Only one passport photo needed. But if you don't have one, be prepared to pay whatever "fine/bribe" they ask. The American behind me in the queue got stung for $10 extra, but I've heard of others being asked for only $1 more.

I am in Laos now, (September 2015) and arrived into Vientiane airport on Lao airline from Bangkok. I got a Visa on arrival. It cost me $35.00 USD (as an American) and they require ONE passport photo. Very fast process, I was through the airport in less than 20 minutes. I did not have any checked baggage.

In the arrival area they have a desk where you go to for a taxi. They also have ATM's there, and a Lao Telecom booth where you can get a sim card for your phone. I got a sim with 1250 MG of data and some phone time for about $10 or 12 USD (I forget now) but it will be all I need for 10 days here.

Any recent experiences on Laos Visas? For a USA passport is visa on arrival very different from doing in advance for e visa?

Looks like the answer is no but any feedback re: getting an e-visa in advance or just VoA? The former looks pretty painless, just a fee of USD 51+ in advance and upload of photo and passport images. The latter requires a form (probably same info as the e-visa), 2 photos (some anecdotal reports say not even required), + USD41-42 in clean U.S. cash. May or may not be any time savings with either (seems it can go either way).

FWIW, spoke to my neighbour who fled (or was asked by family to flee) Laos as a teenager in the aftermath of the American war (as the Viets like to call it). He said that when he was quite a bit younger and wanted to return for a visit, the Laotian consulate wherever he applied wouldn't give him a visa, and his advice to us was to just use VoA (which he uses to this day, and will be in Laos in upcoming weeks). He tells us his older brother remained in Vientiane and build a R/E empire on the cheap buying those desperate to flee.

I am used to the e-visa. Easy, quick and save time at the airport.

I'm going to do the same. Here is the official site: https://www.laoevisa.gov.la/index

I'm told they can be quite fussy about the photos you upload so take care to follow the photo instructions.

...and you can save more time by completing the e-arrival form online within 7 days of your arrival...https://www.arrival.gov.kh/

That is a link to a Cambodian site. This thread is about Laos.

And Laos e-visa costs more than VoA.

Oops.

[QUOTE=YVR Cockroach;36778480]Looks like the answer is no but any feedback re: getting an e-visa in advance or just VoA? The former looks pretty painless, just a fee of USD 51+ in advance and upload of photo and passport images. The latter requires a form (probably same info as the e-visa), 2 photos (some anecdotal reports say not even required), + USD41-42 in clean U.S. cash. May or may not be any time savings with either (seems it can go either way).

Any recent experience? The site states 3 working days; I am up to 6 now.

While I won't be in Laos for another two weeks, I'm thinking I better take some photos and cash just in case for a VOA (and I guess I'll eat the eVisa fee).

For Laos - applied Dec 20 afternoon, Approved Dec 26 - 4 working days.


For Vietnam, applied Jan 5, approved Jan 9 (4 working days)


I crossed into Laos by rail, so VOA was not an option.

[QUOTE=lamphs;36805984]Just received ours on Monday am Laos time after submitting Tuesday am Laos time

[QUOTE=lamphs;36805984]Mine, USA citizen, ended up taking 7 working days. Not an issue, but the visa site does state 3 working days. FYI...

And just a tip...given one point in time...

The line for VoA was a bit long yesterday at 2000 hours. I was #3 in line for e-visa immigration. Also, while TG didn't mention this in flight, you must also complete a handwritten arrival card, with flight and lodging details, prior to immigration. FYI...

I am trying to apply for a visa for next week. They say it needs to be 5 days in advance but the earliest arrival day it lets me choose is 14 days in advance. Anyone know if I choose the earliest date they let me I will be able to use it for an earlier date?

Could it be due to this ? It's a warning appearing on the home page of the website

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...089958a5ea.png

I saw this but still if you only need 5 days they should still let you apply for entry date before the 23rd