Laos (Lao PDR)
Laos (Lao PDR) map

Region: Southeast Asia

Pandemic Travel Alert

OPEN: to international leisure travel

Most recent update: 2022-05-09 - Fully vaccinated travellers may enter for leisure travel via all international checkpoints without any screening or testing for Covid-19

Entry

General Policy
  • Starting 9 May 2022, all international checkpoints are open for entry and exit by Lao citizens, foreign residents, tourists, and other types of visitors. Visa on arrival, tourist visa, eVisa and visa exemption are all reinstated. Fully vaccinated foreigners or Lao citizens carrying a vaccination certificate may enter Laos without any screening or testing for Covid-19 when arriving by land, air, or water.

(Source: “Laos Drops Testing For Vaccinated Tourists, Announces Full Reopening” )

COVID-19 Related Entry Requirements

(Source: “Laos Drops Testing For Vaccinated Tourists, Announces Full Reopening” )

Visa
  1. Citizens of countries that have bilateral or unilateral visa waiver agreements with Laos may now enter Laos without the need for a visa.
  2. Citizens of countries that do not have a visa waiver agreement with Laos may now apply for a visa at a Lao embassy or consulate abroad or via the e-Visa online system. Visa on arrivals will also be reinstated at certain international checkpoints.
Vaccination
  • Vaccination is not required for entry.
Testing
  1. Fully vaccinated foreigners or Lao citizens carrying a vaccination certificate may enter Laos without any screening or testing for Covid-19 when arriving by land, air, or water.
  2. Non-vaccinated citizens of Laos, foreign citizens, or residents aged 12 years and over must take a Rapid Antigen Test (ATK) not more than 48 hours prior to departure and present the results upon arrival.
Data Collection
  1. The government's Lao Green Pass website states: “All passengers arriving into Lao PDR should complete the Lao Green Pass to acquire QR Code with Health Declaration...Passengers who do not acquire QR Code through LGP may face unnecessary delays on arrival in Lao PDR and may require lengthy quarantine”.
  2. But Vientiane Times (part of a specialised agency of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism) states that: “Quarantine and registration on the Lao Green Pass website ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ to certify vaccination status and a RT-PCR test result are also no longer mandatory”.
Sources:
  1. Lao Green Pass
  2. “Preparations intensify for expected influx of tourists”
Movement Restrictions
  • No quarantine requirement.
Insurance
  1. Foreign arrivals in Laos that become infected with Covid-19 must bear responsibility for any and all medical costs involved in treatment.
  2. Covid-19 insurance is not required.
Sources:
  1. “Laos Drops Testing For Vaccinated Tourists, Announces Full Reopening”
  2. “Preparations intensify for expected influx of tourists”

Exit

No info

Other

No info

Pre-pandemic visa rules

Requirements

Passport Validity
6 months
Other Documents
Travellers can obtain a visa on arrival at Luang Prabang (LPQ), Pakse (PKZ) and Vientiane (VTE) for a maximum stay of 30 days. Must have a confirmed hotel reservation in Laos and have all documents required for the next destination
Transit
- Holders of confirmed onward tickets are permitted transit without visa in international transit area for up to 24 hours.
- Transit visa, permitting transit through the Lao PDR to third country, are obtained at embassies or general consulates of the Lao PDR abroad. Stay is five(5) days only. Unlike other Lao visas, transit visa is not extendable.
Dual Nationality
Laos does not allow its citizens to have dual nationality. Under Lao law, Lao citizens who have been outside of Laos for extended periods or who have taken a second nationality are no longer considered to be Lao citizens. Lao immigration officials may deny entry to or exit from Laos for individuals using multiple passports.
U.S. policy on dual nationality can be found here.

Additional Notes

  1. Stay is extendable.
Sources: