| Laos
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LAOS - JEWEL OF MEKONG
 Laos (officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic). Laos is squeezed between vastly larger neighbors. First created as an entity in 1353, when warlord Fa Ngum declared himself the king of Lane Xang ("Million Elephants"), the kingdom was initially a Khmer vassal state. After a succession dispute, the kingdom split in three in 1694 and was eventually devoured piece by piece by the Siamese, the last fragments agreeing to Siamese protection in 1885. The Lao National Tourism Administration uses the epithet "Jewel of the Mekong". Although there are a few grand (but relatively unheard of) attractions, those visitors who are drawn by the laid-back lifestyle and the opportunity to knock back a few cold Beer lao while watching the sunsets on the Mekong river.
 The Lao PDR covers a total of 236,800 square kilometres, three-quarters of which is mountains and plateaux. The country has three distinct regions.
The north is dominated by mountains which average 1,500 metres above sea level. The highest peak is the 2,800 metre Phou Bia in Xieng Khouang province. The Phou Luang (Annamite Chain) stretches from the southeast of the Phouane Plateau down to the Cambodian border. It has three large plateaux: Phouane Plateau in Xieng Khouang province, Nakai Plateau in Khammuan province, and Boloven Plateau in southern Laos, 1,000 m above sea level.
The plains region comprises large and small plains along the Mekong River. The largest of these is the Vientiane Plain, on the lower reaches of the Nam Ngum River. Also significant are the Savannakhet plain, on the lower reaches of the Se Bang Fai and Se Bang Hieng rivers, and the Champassak plain, which is on the Mekong River, stretching between the Thai and Cambodian borders. Blessed with fertile soil, these plains represent one quarter of the total area and are the “granaries” of the country.
The Lao PDR is criss-crossed by many rivers and streams. The Mekong River flows through 1,835 km of the country from north to south. Rivers and streams provide great potential for hydropower development. Over half of the power potential in the lower Mekong Basin is contained within Laos.
  LAOS VISA INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENT
1. Documentary requirements
* An application form filled and signed by the applicant.
* Two recent photographs.
* A passport must have at least six months remaining validity.
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2. Types of visas, Length of staying permission and additional documents required
Transit visa
* Maximum five days for stay (in Vientiane only).
* Proof of an entry visa and air ticket to the third country.
Tourist visa
* Fifteen days (non-extendable).
* Visa processing should be made through an eligible tour company which has a contract with a tour company in the Lao PDR or directly through the Lao Embassy or Consulate in many countries such as France, Russia, Sweden, USA, Poland, Germany, Cuba, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Australia and USA. Visit visa
* One month for stay (can be extended for two additional months).
* Visa request can be processed either through a guarantor in Laos or the Lao Embassy Business visa
* Visa authorization is arranged by sponsor in Laos and the Embassy can not process visas until it receives authorization or approval from the authorities concerned in Laos.
* One month for stay (can be extended until completion of your business term). Multiple entry visa:
* available only from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR. |
3. Validity of Visas
* All types of visas are issued for one entry and must be used within two months of issue date. |
4. Notification on immigration
The Consular Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the honour to inform foreign nationals intending to come to Lao PDR for official contacts, for visiting their relatives, tourism, commercial or other purposes that the Government of the Lao PDR has updated its regulations on entry into and exit from Lao PDR in conformity to the present conditions. In order to facilitate Lao citizens, immigrants and foreign nationals in their border crossings, there are now 13 International Immigration Check Points in Laos, where Lao citizens, immigrants and Foreign nationals with their own Passports and an appropriate visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an Embassy or a Consulate General of the Lao PDR overseas are permitted to enter into and exit from Laos or to obtain a visa on their arrival as follows:
1. Wattay International Airport ( In Vientiane Capital )
2. Luang Prabang International Airport ( In Luang Prbang Province )
3. Pakse International Airport ( In Pakse Province )
4. Mittaphab Bridge Laos Nongkhai Thailand
5. Houaixay Laos Xiangkong Thailand
6. Thakhek Laos Nakhonphanome Thailand
7. Savannakhet Laos Moukdahan Thailand
8. Vangtao Laos Xongmek Thailand
9. Namphao Laos Caucheo Vietnam
10. Ban Densavanh Laos Laobao Vietnam
11. Naophao Laos Jalor Vietnam
12. Namkan Laos Namcan Vietnam
13. Boten Laos Bohan China |
A. Categories of Visas:
* Diplomatic visas (A1) Diplomatic visas are issued to diplomats, consular officers, heads of the United Nations Agencies and other International Organizations, and their dependents (spouse and children) holding diplomatic passports.
* Official visas (A2) Official visas are issued to the Staff members of Diplomatic Missions, Consulates, United Nations Agencies and other International Agencies and their dependents (spouse and children) holding official passports.
* Courtesy visas (B1) Courtesy visa are issued to foreign experts and their dependents holding diplomatic, official and normal passports performing assignments under bilateral cooperation or grant assistance projects for the Government of Lao PDR.
* Business visas (B2) Business visas are issued to foreign experts and their performing assignments under projects provided by loan agreements and as provided by employment contracts or project wards, to experts and volunteers of Non-Governmental Agencies, experts in education and medical sciences generating income for an agency, staff members of Diplomatic Missions, General Consulates, the United Nations Agencies and other international organizations holding normal passports from the countries or from third countries, as well as foreign businesspersons.
* Visit visas (B3) Visit visas are issued to foreign citizens holding normal passports and intending to visit relatives working in the Lao PDR.
B. Visa Status:
* Diplomatic visas (A1) and official visas (A2) are exempted from visa fees. Multiple entry visas may be obtained for a period of one year and may be renewed each year until the assignment’s completion.
* Courtesy visas (B1) are exempted from visas fees. Multiple entry visas may be obtained for a period of six months and may be renewed every six months until the assignment’s completion.
* Business visas (B2) are subject to the payment of mandatory visa and service fees. Multiple entry visas may be obtained for a period of six (6) months and may be renewed every six (6) months until completion of assignments.
* Visit visas (B3) are subject to the payment of visa and service upon each travel in destination to the Lao PDR. B3 category visas does not entitle its holder to work or apply for multiple entry visas. C. Visa and Identity Card Application Procedures:
* Diplomats, Consuls, Heads of International Agencies and their dependents (spouses and children) holding diplomatic or official passports and whose assignments in the Lao PDR, which performance would exceed thirty (30) days, have been approved, will be required to apply for visas from Embassies or General Consulates of the Lao PDR according to procedures provided under bilateral agreements. Upon their entry to the Lao PDR, the relevant foreign agency shall apply for identity cards and multiple entry visas from the Protocol Department and the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively.
* Foreign experts of deferent categories and volunteers, together with their dependents, holding official or normal passports whose assignments in the Lao PDR, which performance would exceed thirty (30) days, have been approved, are required to obtain visas from Embassies or General Consulates of the Lao PDR. Upon their entry, the international organization or Lao line agency concerned shall apply for identity cards and multiple entry visas from the relevant departments.
* Diplomats, staff members of Consulates and International Agencies, foreign experts and volunteers entering the Lao PDR under visit visas (B3) without going through the requisite procedures will not benefit from facilities in performing their assignments. In order to perform their assignments, they will be required to leave the territory of the Lao PDR for the purpose of obtaining the required visa categories from Embassies or General Consulates of the Lao PDR before re- entering the country.
* Diplomats, staff members of Consulates and International Agencies, foreign experts and volunteers based abroad and whose assignments, which performance would require a timeframe not exceeding thirty (30) days, have been approved, may obtain a fifteen (15) day visa upon arrival to Wattay International Airport of the Friendship Bridge in Vientiane Municipality, as well as at the Luang Prabang International Airport.
* Diplomats, consular officers, staff members of the International Agencies, foreign experts and volunteers performing assignments in the Lao PDR for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days. Such period of time may be extended twice under B3 visas.
* Diplomatic missions, General Consulates, International Agencies and non-governmental organizations to the Lao PDR will not be authorized to recruit foreign experts or volunteers who have completed their assignments under a project and seeking further employment under other projects at will without due process in line with the procedures or regulations outlined by the Lao authorities. |
VISA FEE
This Rate use for The Embassy of the Lao PDR to the Kingdom of Thailand. You can get more comfortable Laos VISA requirement in Bangkok but you must comeback to Thailand for extension or other VISA application.
Albania - 800 Baht
Armenia - 800 Baht
Azerbaijan - 800 Baht
Austria - 1400 Baht
Africa - 1200 Baht
Afghanistan - 1600 Baht
Australia - 1200 Baht
Bulgaria - 800 Baht
Belarus - 800 Baht
Belgium - 1400 Baht
Bhutan - 1200 Baht
Brunei - 600 Baht
Cuba - 800 Baht
Czech Republic - 800 Baht
Canada - 1680 Baht
Central America - 1200 Baht
Cambodia - 800 Baht
China - 600 Baht
Denmark - 1400 Baht
D.P.R. of Korea - 800 Baht
Estonia - 800 Baht
France - 1200 Baht
Germany - 1200 Baht
Georgia - 800 Baht
Greece - 1400 Baht
Hungary - 800 Baht
Hong Kong - 1000 Baht
Ireland - 1400 Baht
India - 1600 Baht
Italy - 1400 Baht
Indonesia - 400 Baht
Israel - 1200 Baht
Japan - 1000 Baht
Kyrgystan - 800 Baht
Kazakhstan - 800 Baht
Latvia - 800 Baht
Lithuania - 800 Baht
Luxembourg - 1400 Baht
Mongolia - 800 Baht
Middle East - 1200 Baht
Malaysia - 300 Baht
Myanmar - 720 Baht
Macao - 1000 Baht
Norway - 1400 Baht
Netherlands - 1400 Baht
Nepal - 1600 Baht
New Zealand - 1200 Baht
Poland - 800 Baht
Portugal - 1400 Baht
Pakistan - 1600 Baht
Philippines - 1200 Baht
Russia - 800 Baht
Romania - 800 Baht
R. Korea - 1200 Baht
Slovakia - 800 Baht
Sweden - 1240 Baht
Spain - 1400 Baht
Switzerland - 1400 Baht
South America - 1200 Baht
Sri Lanka - 1600 Baht
Singapore - 400 Baht
Taiwan - 1000 Baht
Turkmenistan - 800 Baht
Tajikistan - 800 Baht
Turkey - 1400 Baht
Thailand - 600 Baht
Ukraine - 800 Baht
United Kingdom - 1400 Baht
U.S.A. - 1400 Baht
Vietnam - 1000 Baht
Yugoslavia - 800 Baht |
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