Laos Government to Extend Visa Exemption Policy in the Second Half of 2024

To boost tourism in the second half of the year 2024, Laos government has introduced a new visa policy effective from July 1 until the end of the year. Laos’ Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Darany Phommavongsa, announced this policy on June 24.

1. Free Visas for Chinese Visitors: Chinese travelers who book through accredited travel agencies will receive free visas. This initiative by the Lao government aims to increase the number of visitors from China to Laos, as Chinese tourists already rank among the top visitors to the country. In the first three months of this year, Laos welcomed over 242,000 Chinese tourists, making China the third largest source of foreign tourist arrivals after Thailand and Vietnam. Throughout 2023, Laos saw a total of more than 641,000 Chinese tourists visiting the country.
2. Visa Exemptions for Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan: Travelers holding passports from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan will be eligible for visa exemptions allowing stays of up to 15 days. These exemptions must be obtained through travel agencies accredited by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism. Taiwanese passport holders, however, will still need to obtain a visa slip upon arrival, which must be returned upon departure.
3. Visa Waivers for Short Stays: Travelers from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Spain, and Greece will have their visa requirements waived for their first visit of up to 15 days if traveling for tourism purposes.
4. Extended Stay and Multiple-Entry Visas: Visitors from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom can stay for up to 60 days (instead of 30 days) and obtain multiple-entry visas. These visas can be requested through their respective Lao embassies or consulates. Visitors obtaining their visas through a Lao immigration office or online will be granted single-entry access for up to 60 days.
5. Extended Stays for Thai and Vietnamese Visitors: Thai visitors with a “Border Pass” or “Temporary Border Pass” can stay in Laos for up to ten days, an increase from the previous three days. Vietnamese visitors with similar identification documents can stay for up to 15 days. Thai and Vietnamese visitors entering Laos through a travel-accredited agency may travel to three neighboring provinces close to their entry point but must exit the country through the same entry point.

Currently, Laos provides visa exemptions to nationals from 36 countries, with specifics depending on whether they hold diplomatic, service, or regular passports.

To apply for an e-visa to Laos, please visit: https://www.laoevisa.gov.la/index or contact Chào Asia Travel for more information about Laos and suggested package tours.