Luang Prabang Travel Forum

Since August, I have search the web, posted question, e-mailed the Laos Embassy and I'm still not sure how to get a one-month visa for Laos.
Volunteers respond to e-mails sent to the Embassy. As it's mentioned everywhere and on one of the Laos Embassy's webpages, they stress not to go
to the Laos Embassy in Bangkok because it's a hassle to get there.
They told me to get a 2-week visa from a travel agent on Khosan Rd., then get the other 2 weeks upon arrive at a boardcrossing into Laos. I think this information is not correct.
If you did get a one-month visa for Laos, please share with me how you went about doing this. 3 months of this, and I'm really getting frustrated. If we can't get to second base, my partner wants to cancel the trip b/c we definately want to spend a month in Laos. HELP!
Can you also recommend an excellent travel agency. I've read that the travel agencies on Khosan Rd are full of scams and overcharge for services.
Thank you, Thank you - I need to get this part of organizing our trip off my mind.
Cheers from Canada!

hi ????...

sorry did not respond to your query because you did not even introduced yourself in your homepage, not even your name... if you want to go to laos for one month, you will need a visit visa... and this is obtainable only at a lao embassy... and not at any of the border entry points in lao which only issue 2 weeks visa... the visa can be extended for a further 2 months... getting a visa at the bangkok lao embassy is no hassle, you can go express service (an additional fee of 200 baht), where you will get your visa within an hour or normal service which will take one day... just take a taxi to the embassy as it is a bit out of the city centre... those travelling on canadian will have to pay a visa fee of us$42...

check http://www.bkklaoembassy.com/consular%20service/visa%20information.htm

regards.chia

No need to worry... seeing where you're from you have two options.... get the Laos visa at home (Canada), where you will get a 30 day visa... or wait until you're in Bangkok ... As long as you get your visa at a consulate you will get 30 days. If you wait to get it in the border you will get 15 days... if you are feeling a bit lazy, you can even get it done by a travel agent in Khao San Rd... just make sure you ask for the "30 day visa" and they'll just charge you a bit more.

As for extensions for the visa in Laos... they only place you could officially do it last spring was Vientiane (there is another office in Luagn Prabang, but I found it to be closed all of the time). The cost was $2 per day. You can get an extension anywhere where there is a willing agent (most tourist places in Laos). Keep in mind that if you do it via an agent they will charge a premium (the farther away you are the more they'll charge). If you want to stay for over 3 months, then enter with a business visa as you can reknew those indefinitly.

saludos,
Fernando

Thanks Chia and Fernando - finally! Thanks for coming to my rescue. Chia - it's not that I didn't introduce myself, I've had problems posting - or forgot my username & password, then find myself creating another account.
Happy Trails Guys!

In case other Canadian read this, I what to inform you about getting your visa in Canada. Depending on who you go through, the price ranged from $193.00 -
$202.00 CDN$, because it has to be sent to Washington, US. Courier charges are 50.00 one-way. For 2 people, that would have cost us around $CDN400.00 - just to get our visa. How outrages is that! Give your $ to Thailand or Laos instead.

Ouch! Sounds outrageous, but remember you're talking about a third-world country that has to pay for their own embassies abroad... it's not far fetch for them to only have one consulate for a whole region/continent.

Anyway, I agree with ya... Just give yourself a few extra days in BKK... you can get a 30 day visa through the consulate or a travel agent for much less :)... Alternatively, just show up on the border in Laos, get a visa on the spot (15 days).... then pay $2 per day for any additional day after that... still comes up cheaper.

suerte,
Fernando

well said... and risk losing your passport on transit... just get it done in bangkok... i would avoid visiting countries requiring visa (ie if i can avoid it)... regards.chia

Unfortunately, Chia, most of the beautiful countries you have visited require visas for many of us (ie China, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam, etc.

hi fernando...

i travel on a malaysian passport and i do not need visa for all asean countries with the exception of myanmar (this is an abnormality and will be rectified by end 2005 as reported in the various asean forum)... i only need visa for china but not hongkong... that is why i am very reluctant to visit china... where i have been only on business purpose when i was still working... i am now happily retired and travelling to play golf...

regards.chia