Do I need a Visa for laos ?

[Bernard]

I'm planning a trip to Laos and the visa I had arranged when I lived in Hong Kong has now expired. Do I need a visa to visit Laos now that I am resident in Thailand ?

[Terry]

Yes

But you can get one on arrival

You can check here
http://www.retire-asia.com/lao-visa-on- ... days.shtml

[Bernard]

Very useful link Terry. Thank you.

[barrys]

Bernard, I went their 3 months ago and was given 30 days on arrival after crossing from Nong Khai - 1500 baht as far as I can remember.

[Spitfire]

Yes, above info is right regarding visa on arrival and you don't need the touts/scampsters feeding of the people arriving as all you have to do take the bus or whatever across the bridge and do the arrival visa thing.

There used to be a Laos consulate in Khon Kaen that you could get a 1 month visa from and you could just breeze through the immigration at the bridge or the Savannakhet crossing if you wanted. Not sure if they still do it but I did it a few (or 5) years ago in Khon Kaen with this approach.

Only benefit is that you get twice the time as the visa on arrival at the bridge is only 2 week if memory serves me right. Guess it depends on how long you wan to spend in that charming country.

[pharvey]

Don't forget the passport photograph - got caught with that bugger when I visited in March.

Also, there are different charges for different passport holders - worth checking. But you can pay in GBP, USD, Aus$, RMB and Thai - can't remember re: Euro....

[johnnyk]

I think paying in $US is the cheapest, Laos wants greenbacks I guess.

[Bernard]

Thank you all for the information. My Thai girlfriend is travelling with me and I see on the link given by Terry that she gets 2 weeks visa FREE...........is that still the case ?

[Bernard]

Barry

Can I ask how you travelled up to Laos please? I'm thinking of taking trains and not rushing the trip North so any ideas are welcome.

[barrys]

Hi Bernard

I drove my own car - around 10 hours!

[pharvey]

I think paying in $US is the cheapest, Laos wants greenbacks I guess.

Couldn't be sure, but what I meant was that an Australian passport holder paid less than a British passport holder for example. Chinese passport holders paid a much lower cost.

The one thing was that there was no change given, so just make sure you have upto say 50USD in any of the accepted currencies, but fairly small denominations so you can pay the correct amount. Not a great deal I know, but I get pi**ed off with paying extra for no reason.

[Bamboo Grove]

Bernard, I used to take the night train from Bangkok to Nong Khai, when I did my visa trips to Vientiane. Buy 1st. class ticket and you will travel in comfort and it's only a few hundred Baht more expensive than the 2nd. class sleeper.

[Marky_Mark]

Girlfriend can get a border pass, which is good for a couple of days... ID card required