Everyone needs a visa to enter Laos unless they are from an ASEAN country (Southeast Asia). Tourist visas are valid for 15 days and can be bought at airports on arrival in the country, as well as at border crossings. Entry sites where visas can be had in Laos are at Vientiane and Luang Prabang airports; the Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai and Vientiane; the Chong Mek and Vung Tao border in the far south; and the Chiang Khong to Huay Xai border in the north.

It is better to apply for a tourist visa at a Laos embassy or consulate in your home country, with tourist visas issued outside valid for 30 days. If you are on a tour of Southeast Asia, Laos tourist visas can also be arranged in Vietnam and Thailand with a day’s notice.

If you then plan on staying in Laos for an extended time, the tourist visa can be extended twice through immigration in Vientiane. Visas take around three to five days to secure in neighboring countries, although some travel shops are able to arrange them within a couple of days. Visa costs depend on your nationality, with Canadians paying the most and Australians paying the least.

You will need to make sure you have a valid passport that is good for at least six months before entering Laos and that you have at least a couple of empty pages in your passport. Laotian immigration frowns upon overstaying; if it happens, you can pay a small fee for every day of overstay on exiting the country, but this is not recommended.