As with many other foreign countries, a valid visa is essential for visiting Laos. There are several ways of obtaining this document. Is it possible to obtain information from the Lao embassy in your home country? How do I get a visa from the Laos embassy? Here are the answers.
Going to the Laos embassy
If you live in France, you should know that the Laotian embassy is in Paris, like many foreign embassies.
If you don't want to wait in long queues, you can call the embassy and make an appointment (appointments are from 2pm to 5pm at the Embassy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in Paris).
Visa application
If you go to an embassy to apply for a visa, find out about opening times beforehand so that you don't go for nothing, especially if you live far away.
To obtain a visa, you need to fill in the application form, which can be downloaded from the embassy website. Make sure you fill in all the fields correctly, otherwise your application may be refused. There are also several documents to enclose with your application. These include:
- Your valid passport.
- A identity photograph in colour and in a valid format (usually 5X5)
In France, the price of a visa obtained from the Laos embassy is around 35,00 € (count 40,00 € in Belgium and nearly 54 € in Switzerland). It will take approximately 5 working days to obtain your visa.
It is possible to apply to the embassy by post. In this case, you should call the embassy to find out about the procedures, conditions and postage costs involved in your application.
The visa issued by the embassy is valid for three months from the date of issue. It allows a maximum stay of 30 days.
What about e-Visa?
You can also simplify things by using the electronic visa or e-Visa. To obtain one, you need to go to the website set up by the Laotian authorities. You have to fill in a questionnaire (often in English). It will cost you around 48 € (excluding service charges) and you will receive it by e-mail within 3 days. This type of visa allows only one entry and is valid for 30 days once you are in the country, like the traditional visa.
An agency service 