A Lao visa sticker and immigration stamps across an open passport

Visa guide · Verified 4 September 2026

Laos Visa on Arrival & eVisa: Which Border Accepts What

Q: How much is the Lao visa on arrival?

About US$40 for most nationalities, in a US$30–50 range. Chinese and Vietnamese nationals pay roughly US$20–35. At Thai land borders you can pay in baht, around 1,500 THB.

Q: Are there extra charges?

Yes, US$1 at weekends and outside office hours, and a small surcharge if you do not have a passport photo. Bring one. Cards are unreliable at land borders; bring USD cash.

Q: Where does the Lao eVisa actually work?

Officially at every international checkpoint. In practice it is reliably accepted at Friendship Bridges 1, 2 and 4 and at Boten. It is widely reported as not accepted when entering overland from Vietnam or Cambodia. If that is your route, carry cash for visa on arrival.

Q: How long does the eVisa take?

Three to five working days, at US$45–50, more than visa on arrival, so its value is convenience rather than cost.

Laos issues visa on arrival at most crossings for about US$40. The eVisa is a different story. It works reliably at some borders and is widely refused at others.

VOA approx US$40
1,500 THB at Thai borders
eVisa not safe from VN or KH
+US$1 at weekends

Search routes across any Laos border

What will the visa cost me?

Lao visa on arrival is about US$40 in USD cash, or roughly 1,500 THB at Thai land borders, plus US$1 at weekends. Bring a passport photo. The eVisa is officially valid everywhere but reliably accepted only at Friendship Bridges 1, 2 and 4 and at Boten, do not count on it coming from Vietnam or Cambodia.

Last verified 4 September 2026

What it costs

Lao entry costs at land borders, September 2026.
Item	Cost	Notes
Visa on arrival, most nationalities	approx US$40	US$30–50 range depending on passport
Visa on arrival, Chinese and Vietnamese	approx US$20–35
At Thai land borders, in baht	approx 1,500 THB	Accepted at the Friendship Bridges
Weekend / after-hours surcharge	US$1	Posted at the counter, official
Lao eVisa	US$45–50	3–5 working days; see the warning below

Where the eVisa really works

Do not rely on a Lao eVisa overland from Vietnam or Cambodia

The official register lists the eVisa as valid at every international checkpoint. Traveller reports consistently say otherwise at the Vietnam crossings and at Nongnokkhene. An entitlement on paper that booth staff do not honour leaves you stuck at a remote border with no fallback. Carry USD cash for visa on arrival on those routes. The eVisa is a good option at the Friendship Bridges and Boten.

Entering the neighbours

What the other three countries require from a land border.
Country	Visa on arrival at land borders?	Cost
Thailand	Visa-exempt for 60 nationalities, 30 days since 15 Sep 2026, capped at two land entries per year	Free
Vietnam	No. E-visa online in advance, valid at any approved gate since Dec 2025	US$25 single / US$50 multiple
Cambodia	Yes, at Nongnokkhene	US$30

Common questions

How much is the Lao visa on arrival?

About US$40, or roughly 1,500 THB at Thai land borders.

Are there extra charges?

US$1 at weekends and outside office hours, plus a small surcharge without a passport photo.

Where does the Lao eVisa actually work?

Reliably at Friendship Bridges 1, 2 and 4 and Boten. Widely refused entering from Vietnam or Cambodia.

How long does the eVisa take?

Three to five working days at US$45–50, more than visa on arrival.

Laos Bus Tickets

Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.

Sources for this page

Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
Travelfish: field reports on visa on arrival in practice