🇱🇦 Laos
Visa on arrival, around USD $35 - bring cash and a photo.
Yes - Australians need a visa for Laos.
Pack a Type A/B/C/E/F adapter for the 230V supply, one Australian dollar buys about 15400 LAK, and Visa on arrival or eVisa is compulsory on arrival.
Entry rules last checked 24 October 2026.
Laos is the quietest country in mainland Southeast Asia and the one with the least developed entry process. Australians get a visa on arrival for around USD $35, paid in cash with a passport photo, or can apply for an eVisa online beforehand. The Vientiane-Boten railway has changed how people move through the country entirely.
Your Laos trip setup
21 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
Visa on arrival required (paid)Up to 30 days View detailsFlights
Compare 3 searchs Search flightsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $12.50 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
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Compare 5 cards0.43%-0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
VTE → VientianeFrom $8 Compare optionsDriving
IDP requiredDrives on the right Compare car hireTravel essentials
Adapter type A/B/C/E/FTap water: not safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 7 experiencesFrom $30 Explore activitiesLaos at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
November-February
The dry season is cool and clear. March and April bring severe agricultural burning haze across the north, which regularly closes Luang Prabang airport and makes the mountain views disappear entirely.
13h 30m from Sydney
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise a high degree of caution
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Laos, and medical facilities are the most limited in mainland Southeast Asia. Anything serious means evacuation to Thailand, so insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential rather than advisable.
Emergency: 191 police / 195 ambulance
Money
Very limited. Hotels and a handful of tourist restaurants in Luang Prabang and Vientiane take cards; almost nothing else does.
ATMs exist in the main towns but often cap withdrawals low and charge per transaction. They are unreliable in smaller places.
Tipping: Not traditional but appreciated in tourist areas. Round up, or leave 10% in a tourist restaurant. Guides and drivers are tipped.
Language & culture
Lao
English: Limited outside Luang Prabang, Vientiane and the tourist trail
Capital: Vientiane
Australian dollar to Lao kip
â‚15400 LAK per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
Where Australians go in Laos
Luang Prabang
Vientiane
Vang Vieng
Pakse
Nong Khiaw
Laos FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for Laos?
Yes. Australians need a tourist visa, available on arrival at the main airports and major land borders for around USD $35 in cash with a passport photo, or as an eVisa applied for online at least three days before you fly. It permits a 30-day stay, extendable once.
Should I get the Laos eVisa or a visa on arrival?
The eVisa costs about the same and removes the airport queue and the need for exact cash and a photo. Apply only at laoevisa.gov.la - private sites charge a substantial markup for the same document. If you are crossing by land, check first that your specific border post issues visas on arrival, because not all do.
Is it safe to drink spirits in Laos?
Be careful. Methanol poisoning from adulterated spirits has killed and hospitalised travellers in Laos, particularly in Vang Vieng. Avoid free shots, spirit buckets and unbranded local liquor entirely, and stick to beer or sealed bottles you see opened.
How much cash do I need in Laos?
More than you would expect. Laos is the most cash-dependent country in mainland Southeast Asia - cards are accepted in a handful of hotels and tourist restaurants and almost nowhere else, and rural ATMs are unreliable. Carry enough for several days at a time.
What power adapter do I need for Laos?
A universal adapter. Sockets accept Type A, B, C, E and F plugs, often several types in one building, but never the Australian Type I. The voltage is 230V, the same as home.
When should I avoid visiting Laos?
March and April. Agricultural burning across the north creates severe haze that regularly closes Luang Prabang airport, hides the mountain scenery entirely and is genuinely unpleasant to breathe. November to February is the best window.
Planning Laos?
We will send you the Laos guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.