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Arrival cardTraversed by the majestic Mekong, Laos stands as one of the most authentic destinations in Southeast Asia: Buddhist monasteries, mountainous landscapes, and the old city of Luang Prabang listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For French nationals and many other nationalities, entry into the country now requires an electronic e-Visa. This online visa makes it possible to avoid a visit to the embassy, to plan your stay with complete peace of mind, and to cross authorised border points with a simple PDF document to print. A comprehensive overview of the process, requirements, and key points to be aware of before flying to Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
01 · The essentials
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Laos, regardless of the visa option chosen.
Since September, all foreign nationals (by air and land) must complete the Laos Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) within the three days before arrival.
The e-Visa is available to 160 nationalities worldwide, including France — making it the preferred option for the vast majority of travellers.
The Laotian e-Visa is a fully-fledged electronic visa — that is, a real visa issued online by the Laotian authorities, and not merely a travel authorisation. It allows nationals of 160 nationalities worldwide, including France, to enter Laos without having to visit the Laotian embassy or consulate in person.
Once issued, the e-Visa is valid for 60 days from the date of approval. During this window, the holder may enter Laos for a maximum continuous stay of 30 days. The e-Visa is single-entry: if you leave Laotian territory, you will need to apply for a new visa for your next visit.
Approval takes the form of an official PDF document. This document must be printed in colour and presented to the immigration officer on arrival in Laos. It should be kept safely in your hand luggage until you leave the country.
02 · Eligibility
Laos applies a visa exemption policy for a limited number of nationalities. Only citizens of the following countries are permitted to enter without a visa, for short stays:
Beyond these durations, even these nationalities must obtain a visa. If you are not a national of the countries listed above — which is the case for French, Belgian, Canadian, Swiss nationals and the vast majority of Western travellers — you must hold a valid visa before entering Laos.
Several options are available: the e-Visa (the most convenient), the visa on arrival (available depending on your nationality, but with unpredictable waiting times), and the standard visa issued by the Laotian embassy in your country of residence. Not all entry points are eligible for visa on arrival: be sure to check in advance if you opt for this solution.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned arrival date in Laos. Insufficient validity will systematically result in a visa refusal and potentially a denial of boarding.
You must be outside Laotian territory when you submit your e-Visa application. Any application submitted from within Laos will be rejected.
To obtain the e-Visa, you must have a means of leaving the country: a return flight ticket, a ticket to a third country, or any other proof of departure from Laotian territory.
All travellers, regardless of age, need a valid visa to enter Laos. Minors are not exempt and must hold their own e-Visa.
03 · Entry points
The Laotian e-Visa is only accepted at a defined number of air and land entry points. It is essential to verify that your planned entry point is included in this list before submitting your application. Borders not listed are not authorised to process this type of document.
Airports accepting the e-Visa:
Land and rail borders accepting the e-Visa:
If you plan to enter via a border not listed, you will need to apply for a standard consular visa or a visa on arrival, depending on your nationality.
04 · The process
The process for obtaining a Laotian e-Visa is entirely paperless. There is no need to visit the embassy, send documents by post, or queue at a counter. The procedure takes place in several simple steps from your home. Allow an average of 4 days between submitting your application and receiving your e-Visa, taking into account the Laotian authorities' processing times. In urgent cases, an expedited processing time of 72 hours is possible.
You complete the online application form with your personal details (identity, contact information), your intended stay dates in Laos, and your travel document details. Take care to enter each piece of information accurately, particularly passport numbers and dates.
Payment is made online via a secure payment system. Consular fees amount to 50 USD (approximately 45 €) per traveller, plus service fees. Payment is required before your application is processed.
After the form and payment, you send by email a scanned copy of your passport (valid for at least 6 months after the arrival date) and a recent colour identity photograph. Both documents are required for your application to be processed.
Your application is reviewed by the competent Laotian authorities. The standard processing time is around 4 days. In the case of an urgent departure, processing within 72 hours is possible subject to availability.
Once your application is approved, you receive your e-Visa in PDF format by email. This official document must be printed in colour. Keep it in your hand luggage: you will need to present it to the immigration officer on arrival in Laos.
05 · Fees & validity
The cost of the Laotian e-Visa comprises two components: the consular fees set by the Laotian authorities, and the service fees of the agency. Consular fees amount to 50 USD per traveller (approximately 45 €), regardless of nationality or intended length of stay. These fees remain stable, although their euro equivalent may vary slightly depending on current exchange rates.
In the event of a refusal by the Laotian authorities, all fees related to your application will be refunded in full. This refund guarantee applies solely in the event of a negative decision by the authorities — it does not cover travel cancellations made by the applicant.
As the e-Visa is single-entry, each new trip to Laos requires a new application. There is currently no multiple-entry e-Visa for Laos. If you wish to stay in Laos for more than 30 days, several options are available: extend your visa in-country at the Vientiane immigration office before the document expires, or leave the country and apply for a new visa valid for 30 days at your entry point.
The standard consular paper visa issued by the Laotian embassy follows slightly different rules: it allows a maximum stay of 29 days within 90 days of issue. To date, no visa — electronic or consular — permits multiple entries into Laos. For any purpose other than tourism (work, study, business, family...), the e-Visa is not appropriate and you should contact the Laotian embassy in your country of residence or consult the official Laotian immigration website.
06 · Before you go
Obtaining your e-Visa is a key step, but the success of a trip to Laos also depends on good preparation in advance. From choosing the right season to checking your documents, every detail matters for approaching this Southeast Asian country with peace of mind. Laos is a particularly popular destination during the dry season, from November to March: the climate is mild, the landscapes are lush after the monsoon, and the Lao New Year celebrations (Pi Mai, in April) attract many travellers each year.
The LDIF (Laos Digital Immigration Form), mandatory since September, adds to the usual formalities. It is an online form to be completed within the three days before arrival and departure — whether you arrive by air or land. Do not leave it to the last minute.
On the ground, Laos can be explored between Buddhist temples, bustling markets, and Mekong cruises. The main cities accessible from airports equipped with the e-Visa (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Paksé) cover a large portion of the classic tourist circuits. Plan to have small bills in local currency (the Laotian kip) or US dollars for everyday expenses, local transport, and some accommodation.
The Laotian e-Visa is a genuine electronic visa (not merely a travel authorisation) issued online by the Laotian authorities. It is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and authorises a tourist stay of 30 days maximum on a single-entry basis. Open to 160 nationalities, it avoids a visit to the embassy and is obtained in an average of 4 days upon submission of a passport copy and identity photo. Make sure your entry point is eligible, complete the LDIF within three days before arrival, and print your PDF in colour before departing.
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