Embassy
Embassy of Thailand, Vientiane
Vientiane
Laos visa requirements for Thai citizens
Thai citizens do not need a visa for Laos. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 30 days.
Passport
THA
Thailand
Going to
LAO
Laos
No visa needed
People with ordinary passports from 15 listed countries can visit without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Laos.
Ways into Laos
Some passports allow visa-free visits; others need a visa.
Visa not required For your passport30-day visa-free stayPeople with ordinary passports from 15 listed countries can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your passport qualifies.
- Show your passport at the border.
Documents required
- Ordinary passport
- Countries: Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia.
- Also: Philippines, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.
eVisa For your passportTourist eVisa T-B3People with eligible ordinary passports can apply online for a tourist visit.
- Stay
- 30 days
- Valid for
- 60 days
- Fee
- Fee varies by nationality; bank charges extra
- Processing
- 3 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Check your passport and entry point on the portal.
- Verify your email and enter travel details in English.
- Upload your passport page and photo.
- Check your details and pay online.
- Print approval; bring it and the same passport.
Documents required
- Passport valid more than 180 days
- 1 blank passport page
- Full colour passport information page
- Recent colour photo, 4 × 6 cm
- Printed approval letter
- Enough money for your stay
- Usually takes 3 working days; checks can take longer. Fees are not refunded.
- Tourism only; no paid or unpaid work. Use one of 9 approved entry points.
Visa on arrivalVisa on arrivalGet a visa when you arrive, if your passport and entry point qualify.
Official pageHow to apply
- Confirm your passport qualifies before you travel.
- Check that your entry point gives arrival visas.
Visa requiredEmbassy visitor visaThis is a visa you get through a Lao embassy.
- Processing
- 10 days
Official pageDocuments required
- Passport valid 6 months
Sources (12)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Department of Immigration: visa page; no readable content returned
- Foreign ministry: exemption table dated 22 December 2025; read through indexed official text
- Official Lao electronic visa portal
- Electronic visa information, documents and entry points
- Electronic visa frequently asked questions
- Electronic visa terms and entry conditions
- Electronic visa eligible countries and territories
- Electronic visa fee calculator; no nationality-specific amount retrieved
- Lao embassy, Washington: visa requirements and fees
- Lao embassy, Washington: visa application form
- Lao embassy, Tokyo: visa and arrival visa guidance
- Investment Promotion and Management Committee: visa classes, investor procedures and stay permits
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from Thailand
- Plugs A B C E FAdapter for some
- MoneyLAK ₭
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageLao
- Emergency191 police195 ambulance
Planning your Laos trip
Best time to go: November to March is the dry season, with little rain and cooler weather. Mountain nights can reach freezing, and northern Laos can become very hazy towards the end of the dry season.
- Mekong RiverEnjoy river scenery, boat journeys and sunsets along the water.
- Temples in Luang Prabang and VientianeExperience the country's strong Buddhist traditions. Many Luang Prabang temples charge a small entry fee.
- Bolaven PlateauSee coffee-growing country in southern Laos, with waterfalls and scenic stops on the Bolaven Loop.
- Northern limestone landscapesVang Vieng, Nong Khiaw and Mung Ngoi have limestone formations that attract climbers.
Scams to watch for in Laos
- Inflated tuk-tuk fares and fare cardsDrivers quote high tourist prices. Some show a fare card with inflated prices to make the charge look fixed. Drivers waiting outside busy riverside restaurants may refuse a lower fare.
- Airport taxi overcharging and false pickup claimsTaxi touts push an expensive prepaid ride. They also claim that rideshare drivers cannot collect passengers at the airport.
- High bus-ticket markupsTickets bought through hotels or agents can cost much more than tickets bought directly. The extra service may be little more than a tuk-tuk transfer. A markup is not automatically fraud, but it can be poor value if the fee is unclear.
About Laos
Laos is a landlocked Southeast Asian state along the Mekong, bordered by five other countries.
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Money
- Lao kip (₭)
- Languages
- Lao
- Time zone
- UTC+07:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +856
Other Asia passports
Going to Laos
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Laos with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do thai citizens need a visa for Laos?
Thai citizens do not need a visa for Laos. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 30 days.
How long can thai citizens stay in Laos?
Up to 30 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do laotian citizens need a visa for Thailand?
Laotian citizens do not need a visa for Thailand. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 30 days.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to Laos?
Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia Japan, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Laos are easier for thai citizens?
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia Myanmar, and 3 more let thai citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Laos?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Laos?
Lao kip (₭). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Laos?
Lao.
How strong is the Thailand passport?
It ranks #62 and reaches 71 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck