Deep breath. Here's the answer.

U.S. State Department says tourists need a visa, available online or on arrival at certain ports. The primary tourist eVisa is single-entry, permits up to 30 days from arrival, and has a separate entry-validity window of up to 60 days after receiving approval. Carry a printed approval letter and use the same ordinary passport you applied with at a designated eVisa port. Current fees, visa-on-arrival details and extension eligibility still need confirmation.

Key facts

For United States passport holders, tourism or short business trips.

You may need a visa if…

• Current primary eVisa ports: Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse international airports; Lao–Thai Friendship Bridges I, II and IV; Boten International Checkpoint; Boten Railway Station; and Khamsavath Railway Station. Confirm the selected port is operating; eVisa acceptance does not establish visa-on-arrival availability there.
• For the tourist eVisa, the 60-day approval validity is an entry window, separate from the up-to-30-day stay from arrival. It is single-entry.
• You must print the approval letter and present it with the same ordinary passport used in the application. The primary FAQ permits entry at any designated eVisa port, rather than only the one originally selected.
• The primary FAQ's application-window wording is inconsistent (arrival within 60 days of applying versus a five-day pre-arrival limit); confirm the current application window. No approval-time guarantee is made.
• U.S. State Department says six months beyond arrival and two blank pages. The primary eVisa FAQ instead specifies more than 180 days from arrival for that product. Confirm if close to the threshold; travel on the same ordinary passport used for the eVisa.
• Visa-on-arrival conditions, current fees and extension rules were not fully reviewed.
• The U.S. State Department still describes online or paper arrival/departure cards; the Lao Immigration portal returned no readable content, so current portal procedure was not verified.
• State's heightened crime/ordnance warnings cover parts of Savannakhet, Xieng Khouang, Salavan, Khammouane, Sekong, Champasak, Houaphanh, Attapeu, Luang Prabang and Vientiane provinces, the Burma border, Route 7 (Route 13 to Vietnam), Route 9 (Savannakhet to Vietnam), and Route 20 (Pakse to Salavan). Xaisomboun is Level 3; special permission for U.S. government employees is not a rule for all tourists.

Before you travel

• ✓Get a tourist visa: eVisa online or visa on arrival — check your entry point accepts the one you choose.
• ✓U.S. State Department says six months beyond arrival and two blank pages. The primary eVisa FAQ instead specifies more than 180 days from arrival for that product. Confirm if close to the threshold; travel on the same ordinary passport used for the eVisa.
• ✓Complete the arrival/departure card online via immigration.gov.la, or on paper on the plane or at arrival.
• ✓If using eVisa, enter while the approval is valid (up to 60 days after receipt); the stay is up to 30 days from arrival. Confirm extension eligibility separately.
• ✓Check US State Department travel advice before you go.
• ✓Print one legible eVisa approval letter and carry the same ordinary passport used to apply.
• ✓Current primary eVisa ports: Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse international airports; Lao–Thai Friendship Bridges I, II and IV; Boten International Checkpoint; Boten Railway Station; and Khamsavath Railway Station. Confirm the selected port is operating; eVisa acceptance does not establish visa-on-arrival availability there.

Common questions