China has broadened its 15-day visa-free policy for citizens of certain countries to include an additional 6 European nations. As of March 14, 2024, nationals of Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Switzerland will be able to enter mainland China without a visa for short trips. This change in China’s visa policy is designed to
Visa Requirements for Laotian Citizens
Visa requirements for citizens of Laos are administrative entry restrictions placed on travelers from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic by the authorities of countries and territories all around the world.
As of 2021, the Henley Passport Index ranks the Laotian passport 93rd among the passports of the world in terms of travel freedom, tied with the passports of Angola, Burundi, and Egypt. This is because Laotian passport holders are granted visa-free entry or access with a visa on arrival to over 140 foreign destinations.
Laos is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an economic union that promotes intergovernmental cooperation between 10 member states in the region. Because of bilateral visa waiver agreements between members, Laotian passport holders are granted visa-free access to all ASEAN countries.
Other visa-free countries for nationals of Laos permit access without a visa for stays between 14 days up to 3 months, most often for purposes of tourism, business or trade activities, or to transit to an onward destination. To gain entry to these destinations, it is usually only necessary to present a valid Lao passport at a border checkpoint.
Over 20 international destinations have implemented an electronic travel visa authorization for nationals of Laos for short-term stays, which removes the need to apply for an embassy visa or wait in long lines to submit a visa on arrival application at border checkpoints.
To travel to these countries for long-term stays, as well as to visit up to 90 destinations worldwide for any period or purpose of stay, it is necessary to apply for an embassy visa for Laotian nationals from the nearest relevant diplomatic government office.
At present, there is not currently any visa ban in place for holders of a Laotian passport.
More detailed information about the different entry types for citizens of Laos can be found below.