Laos visa eligibility & Visa on Arrival (VOA) at Huay Xai Immigration
Many Lao tourists first come to Chiang Mai in Thailand, before traveling up to Chiang Rai and then on to Chiang Khong to enter Laos at the Huay Xai Immigration checkpoint across the Mekong River from Chiang Khong. Laos tourist visas on arrival (VOA) are available for many countries at Huay Xai Immigration and usually permit a stay of 30 days.
There are 4 visa categories for a Lao Tourist Visa eligibility.
Lao Tourist Visa eligibility – 4 types:
- Visa free is currently limited to 15 countries – see below
- Laos Tourist Visa on arrival (VOA)
- Visa required before you travel
- An E-visa which you can apply for at https://www.laoevisa.gov.la/index
For a VOA, tourists are responsible for ensuring that they qualify for a Lao VOA prior to their departure to Laos, as VOA is not offered to some countries and are required to obtain one before departing.
To see if you qualify for a VOA check here https://embassies.net/laos-visa-exemption
Laos visa free countries:
You’ll need the following to be eligible for a Lao tourist visa on arrival (VOA).
- 2 passport photos
- Your passport with at least 2 blank pages and 6 months validity from date of entry
- Completed Lao Immigration form with your photo (see below)
- Completed a Lao arrival/departure card (see below)
- Fee of US$30 to $45 depending on your nationality
You can pay in Thai Bt if you wish but better to pay in US$ cash. Try and have the exact amount otherwise you will get your change at a poor exchange rate in Lao kip. If paying in Thai Baht it will cost you a lot more than in the US$ equivalent. There may be additional charges if immigration is working on a weekend or after hours.
Once in Chiang Khong, to exit Thailand make your way to the Chiang Khong border checkpoint about 9 kms south of the town. After you have passed through Thai Immigration you are in No Man’s Land and have to get a bus across the Friendship Bridge to Huay Xai Immigration. (Hours 0600 – 2200). The buses leave every few minutes and it takes about 10 minutes to cross the bridge, before doing a figure eight manoeuver on the way, as they change from driving on the the left to driving on the right hand side of the road in Laos.
When the bus arrives at Huay Xai Immigration early in the morning, it can be confusing and chaotic, as there are few signs with often 60 or so people trying to find forms and wondering what they have to do, or jostling to get ahead of the queues.
As most tourists arrive in the morning, it’s not uncommon to have a 30 to 60 minute wait at Lao Immigration, especially if several buses arrive at once.
Grab a Lao Arrival/Departure card off one of the tables at Immigration and complete the Arrival portion.
Once you have your Laos visa form (with your photo attached), and with arrival card completed, queue at counter No 1 on the right.
The officer will take your papers and passport. Move over to counter No 2 on the left and wait near the Visa Fee sign for your name to be called. Once called approach the window, pay your visa fee and your passport will be returned. CHECK THAT IT IS YOUR PASSPORT as it is not uncommon to receive someone else’s in the confusion.
You’ll receive a Lao tourist visa in your passport, along with an immigration date stamp with the date of your visa expiry. Check that the entry and exit dates are correct.
You can then exit through Customs where tuk tuks, jumbos or minibuses will be waiting to take you into town or to the port to catch a boat down the Mekong to Luang Prabang.
