Laos captivates visitors with the calm waters of the Mekong, golden stupas and lush rice terraces, but entry to this mountainous country requires the right documents. Prepare your passport in advance and decide whether you will apply for an e‑visa, a visa on arrival or a visa sticker at an embassy. By following a few simple rules, you will pass border control without stress and head straight to Luang Prabang, the Bolaven Plateau or the Kong Lor caves.
Who needs a visa and when
Tourist stay up to 30 days
Nationals of Poland are not exempt from the visa requirement. The most convenient options are:
Laos e‑Visa – online application, single entry, maximum 30 days.
Visa on arrival – entry stamp at selected airports and land crossings, same 30‑day limit.
Longer stays or professional purposes
If you are planning to study, volunteer, work on an NGO project or stay for more than one month, you should obtain a visa sticker issued by an embassy. This visa can be extended in Vientiane for up to one year, but this requires an invitation from a local institution and monthly extension fees.
e‑Visa step by step
How to apply
Go to the official portal laoevisa.gov.la.
Enter your passport details and date of entry (no more than 60 days from submission).
Upload a scan of your passport and a biometric photo.
Pay the fee by card. The fee is non‑refundable.
You will receive a confirmation email (typically within 3–4 working days). Print the PDF with the QR code.
At the border
Present your passport, the printed e‑visa approval and the completed arrival/departure card. The officer stamps your passport for 30 days and keeps the departure card section; you keep the remaining part until you leave Laos.
Visa on arrival – what to prepare
Passport valid for 6 months and one blank page.
Two photos 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
VOA application form handed out on the plane or available at the counter.
Fee of 40 USD (cash, preferably exact amount).
Return or onward ticket, although it is rarely requested.
You can obtain a VOA at the airports in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and at the main land crossings with Thailand (Friendship Bridges I, II and Chong Mek). If you enter from China, Vietnam or Cambodia, obtain an e‑visa or visa sticker in your passport in advance.
Extension of stay and overstay penalties
The e‑visa or VOA stamp can be extended once at the Immigration Office in Vientiane for another 30 days; the fee is 2 USD per day. Each day of illegal stay after the permitted period is subject to a 10 USD fine and may result in refusal of a future visa. Apply for an extension early to avoid problems on departure.
Children’s documents and temporary passports
Each child needs their own passport and a separate e‑visa/VOA application. If a child travels with one parent, take a notarised consent from the other parent in English – Lao border guards occasionally request it. A temporary passport is accepted provided it is valid for at least 6 months.
Insurance, health and safety
Insurance is not compulsory, but hospitals in the capital require full payment before treatment. It is strongly recommended to have a policy with a limit of at least 30,000 USD and coverage for air evacuation to Bangkok. Dengue fever occurs in the Mekong valley; use insect repellent and sleep under a mosquito net. Yellow fever vaccination is not required unless you arrive from an endemic area.
Frequently asked traveller questions
Can I enter with a passport valid for only four months?
No. Laos requires at least six months’ validity from the date of entry.
Is the e‑Visa accepted at every land border?
No. According to laoevisa.gov.la, the e‑visa is accepted at 9 checkpoints: Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports, Friendship Bridges I, II and IV, the Boten border crossing and the Boten and Khamsavath railway stations. At other borders you need a visa on arrival or a visa sticker in your passport.
How long does it take to get an e‑visa?
On average three working days. In peak season processing can take up to a week – apply in advance.
Will I get a refund if I decide not to travel?
No. Consular fees are non‑refundable.
Where the Laos e‑visa is accepted
The official e‑visa portal is laoevisa.gov.la. According to the portal’s FAQ, the e‑visa is accepted at nine border checkpoints:
Wattay Airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang Airport and Pakse Airport,
Lao‑Thai Friendship Bridges I, II and IV,
Boten border crossing with China,
Boten and Khamsavath railway stations.
If you enter at a different checkpoint, you must obtain a visa at the border and the e‑visa fee is forfeited.
Laos e‑visa via Notberg
With Notberg you can obtain a tourist e‑visa for Laos. This is a single‑entry visa for a stay of up to 30 days; the application is submitted online. The authorities usually process it in about 5 days. You then choose a service package:
Standard: processing in about 4 days,
Premium: processing in 1 day,
Instant: express service if your departure is very soon.
We will need your online application, a scan of the passport bio‑data page and a digital photo. You may take the photo with a smartphone; we will adjust it to the authority’s requirements.
Common mistakes that cause applications to be returned
Insufficient passport validity. Your passport must be valid for more than 180 days from the date of arrival. The portal accepts only ordinary passports; diplomatic and service passports are not accepted.
Photo not meeting requirements. The portal requires a colour 4 × 6 cm photo on a white background, taken within the last 6 months, with no shadows, eyes open and a neutral facial expression.
Entry date too far in the future. No more than 60 days may pass between submitting the application and entering the country.
Typos in your details. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy of the application. If there is an error, the authorities send an email with a correction link and the application remains on hold until you update it.
More questions about the Laos e‑visa
How long do I have to enter after receiving the e‑visa?
The approval letter is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The 30‑day stay is counted from the date of entry, regardless of when the letter expires.
Does the e‑visa allow multiple entries?
No. The Laos e‑visa is single‑entry. If you leave, for example to Thailand, and return, you will need a new visa.
When is the best time to submit the application?
In the morning Laos time (GMT+7), which is during the night in Poland. Applications submitted in the morning are usually processed the same day, those submitted in the afternoon on the next day. The standard time is 3 working days from receipt of a complete application with payment.
How can I pay for the e‑visa?
The portal accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express cards as well as WeChat Pay, Alipay and UnionPay. The fee is non‑refundable in all cases, including refusals.
Quick pre‑flight checklist
Passport valid for at least 6 more months.
E‑visa approval or cash and photos for VOA.
Return ticket.
Medical insurance in PDF and printed form.
Insect repellent, small first‑aid kit, document scans stored in the cloud.
With these documents ready, you will cross the Lao border without complications and move straight on to exploring the stupas of Luang Prabang, the karst caves of Vang Vieng or the Kuang Si waterfalls.