Do Australians need a Laos visa?

Yes - Australians need a visa for Laos.

Australians need a visa for Laos. A visa on arrival costs around USD $35 at Vientiane and Luang Prabang airports and at major land borders, paid in cash with a passport photo. An eVisa applied for online in advance costs about the same and removes the queue.

Entry requirements for Laos at a glance

Passport validity

At least 6 months from your date of arrival

Check if your passport is valid long enough

Length of stay

30 days, extendable once for a further 30

Onward ticket

Immigration can ask for an onward ticket and proof of funds.

Blank passport pages

2

Visa on arrival or eVisa

Around USD $35Cost

On arrival, or apply for the eVisa at least 3 days before you flyWhen to apply

The fee varies slightly by entry point and by nationality, and is payable in USD, Thai baht or kip. Apply for the eVisa only at laoevisa.gov.la - private sites charge a large markup on the same document.

Apply on the official site

What it costs

Fee	Amount	Who pays
Tourist visa on arrival	Around USD $35	All visitors, cash only
Overtime or weekend surcharge	USD $1-$2	Arrivals outside office hours at some borders

How to get sorted, step by step

Check your passport has at least six months validity and two blank pages.
Bring around USD $40 in clean cash and a passport photo for the visa on arrival, or apply for the eVisa at laoevisa.gov.la three or more days ahead.
Have your accommodation address ready for the arrival form.
If you are crossing from Thailand or China by land, confirm your border post issues visas on arrival - not all of them do.

What catches Australians out

Not every land border issues a visa on arrival. Check the specific crossing before you commit to it, particularly on the Vietnamese and Chinese borders.

Methanol poisoning from adulterated spirits has killed and hospitalised travellers in Vang Vieng and elsewhere. Avoid free shots, spirit buckets and unbranded local spirits entirely.

Unexploded ordnance remains a real hazard in parts of eastern and southern Laos. Stay on marked paths and do not enter fields.

March and April burning-season haze frequently closes Luang Prabang airport and makes the region genuinely unpleasant.

Health cover for Australians in Laos

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.

Vaccinations: Hepatitis A and typhoid usually recommended; rabies and Japanese encephalitis for rural or longer stays. See a travel doctor 6-8 weeks ahead.

Medications: Bring your full supply. Counterfeit medication is common in Lao pharmacies.

Compare travel insurance for Laos

More Laos essentials

Flights to Laos Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip. Laos eSIM plans Instant data, no physical SIM required. Laos travel insurance Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers. Laos money and cards Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Laos airport transfers Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared. Driving in Laos International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians. Laos travel essentials Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics. Things to do in Laos Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.

Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide

How these comparisons are made

Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.

Laos entry requirements FAQs

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.

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.