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A GUIDE TO LAO' S VISAS
Under Construction
I. CATEGORIES OF VISA.
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CATEGORIES |
DESCRIPTION |
VISA
STATUS |
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1. 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. |
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. |
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2. 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. |
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3. Courtesy
visas (B1). |
Courtesy
visas are issued to foreign experts and their dependents
holding diplomatic, official and ordinary passports
performing assignments under bilateral cooperation or
grant assistance projects for the Government of Lao
PDR. |
Courtesy
visa (B1) are exempted from visa 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. |
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4. Business
Visas (B2). |
Business
visas are issued to foreign experts 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 ordinary passports
from the countries or from third countries, as well
as foreign businesspersons. |
Business
visas (B2) are subject to the payment of mandatory visa
and service fees. Multiple entry visas may be obtained
for a period of one (1) year, six (6) months and
three (3) months and may be renewed every
one (1) year, six- (6) months and three (3) months until completion of assignments. |
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5. Visit
visas (B3). |
Visit
visas are issued to foreign citizens holding ordinary
passports and intending to visit relatives working in
the Lao PDR. |
Visit
visa (B3) are subject to the payment of visa and service
fees 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. |
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6. Tourist
Visas: (T). |
Tourist
Visas are issued to foreign visitors for their excursion
and enjoy sightseeing in Lao the tourist visas valid
for 15 days entering and staying permit in the territory
of the Lao PDR. Embassies or General Consulates of the
Lao PDR gives those tourist visas. At abroad or Lao
authorities at the International Check Points which
have had full right obtain tourist visas upon arrival
in accordance with their stem employment prohibited. |
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7. Transit
Visas: (Tr.). |
Transit
visas are issued to foreign visitors who transit through
the Lao PDR. to third country including their air tickets
the Embassies or General Consulates of the Lao PDR.
at abroad has had full right obtain transit visas with
its two voyages and stem "Employment prohibited"
Those visas are allowed to stay permit in the Lao PDR.
for the period 7 days only. |
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III. VISA AND IDENTITY CARD APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
1. 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 card and multiple entry visas from the Protocol
Department and the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs respectively.
2. Foreign experts of different 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.
3. 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. 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.
4. 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) days visa
upon arrival to Wattay International Airport or Friendship Bridge
in Vientiane Municipality, as well as at the Luang Prabang International
Airport.
5. Diplomats, consular officers, staff members of the International
Agencies, foreign experts and volunteers performing assignments
in the Lao PDR may invite parents, relatives and friends for visits
in the Lao PDR for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days. Such
period of time maybe extended twice under B3 visas.
6. 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.
TWO CATEGORIES OF INTERNATIONAL CHECK POINTS IN LAO PDR.
Those International
Check Points are allowed to the Lao citizens, overseas, foreigners
citizens who holding passport in accordance with its stem visas
are given by Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Embassies or General
Consulates of the Lao PDR at broad for entry and exit the country. The first categories
of the International Check Points can be able facilities for travelers
who already have had stem visas only, But they have no full right
to obtain the visas upon arrival the check points consists of 11
the International Check Points as below:
1. Houayxay (Lao) - Xiengkhong (Thai) 2. Thakhek (Lao)
- Nakhonphanom (Thai) 3. Savannakhet (Lao) - Mukdahan (Thai) 4. Vangtao (Lao) - Xongmek (Thai) 5. Namphao (Lao) - Cautreo
(Vietnam) 6. Densavanh (Lao) - Laobao (Vietnam) 7. Naphao
(Lao) - Chalo (Vietnam) 8. Boten (Lao) - Bohane (China)
9.
Namkane (Lao) - Namekane (Vietnam)
10.
Namsoue (Lao) - Nameo (Vietnam)
11.
Parksane (Lao) - Beungkane (Thai)
THE SECOND CATEGORIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHECK POINTS:
Those International
Check Points are allowed to the Lao citizens, overseas, foreigners
citizens who holding passport in accordance with its stem visas
are given by Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Embassies or General
Consulates of the Lao PDR at broad for entry and exit the country. Besides, the second
categories of the International Check Points have had full right
to obtain the visas upon arrival (visa fee 30 US$) at the three
International Check Points as below:
1. Wattay International Airport. 2. Louang Prabang International
Airport. 3. Friendship Bridge
LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THE
LAO PDR HAS SIGNED VISA EXEMPTION AGREEMENTS:
|
CODE |
NAME OF COUNTRIES |
DIPLOMATIC VISA |
SERVICE VISA |
|
01 |
BRUNEI |
YES
15.05.1998 |
YES
15.05.1998 |
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02 |
CHINA |
YES
08.10.1989 |
YES
08.10.1989 |
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03 |
CAMBODIA |
YES
28.10.1981 |
YES
28.10.1981 |
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04 |
EAST EUROPEAN CO. |
YES
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YES
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05 |
KOREA DPR. |
YES
27.03.1989 |
YES
27.03.1989 |
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06 |
MONGOLIA |
YES
08.06.1978 |
YES
08.06.1978 |
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07 |
PHILIPPINES |
YES
23.05.1996 |
YES
23.05.1996 |
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08 |
RUSSIAN FEDERATION |
YES
20.12.1984 |
YES
20.12.1984 |
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09 |
REPUBLIC OF CUBA |
YES
01.01.1979 |
YES
01.01.1979 |
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10 |
SR. VIETNAM |
YES
17.07.1977 |
YES
17.07.1977 |
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11 |
SINGAPORE |
YES
12.08.1998 |
YES
12.08.1998 |
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12 |
THAILAND |
YES
08.02.1994 |
YES
08.02.1994 |
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13 |
UNION OF MYANMAR |
YES
23.11.1998 |
YES
23.11.1998 |
CONCLUSION:
The signing of
the Agreements on visa exemption between the Lao People Democratic
Republic and other friendly countries have established the Turning
point of the history in their relations and cooperation in all fields,
and especially in consular Affairs. The agreements have played an
important key role in the cause of the safeguarding and construction
of Lao not only in the present time but also for the future.
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