Country guide
Laos
Visa
Visa required
Vaccinations
Conditional
Currency
Lao Kip (LAK). USD and Thai Baht are also accepted and many larger transactions use these currencies instead of Kip.
Time zones
UTC / GMT +7 (5 hours ahead of South Africa)
Dialing code
+ 856
Best time to go
November – February
Drinking water
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Milk is unpasteurised.
Visa guide
Entry requirements
- Passport must be valid for more than 180 days from the date of arrival, with 1 blank page
- Proof of sufficient funds
- A print out of your e-visa is required. This may be in black and white.
- There will be a special lane for eVisa service at the arrival ports.
Visa requirements
South African passport holders do require a visa to enter Laos.
Visa applications can be done online at www.laoevisa.gov.la if entering through one of the below ports. eVisa is currently available for Tourist Visa (T-B3) only, for stays of up to 30 days.
- Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital)
- Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge I (Vientiane Capital)
- Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang)
- Lao – Thai Friendship Bridge II (Savannakhet Province)
- Pakse International Airport (Champasack Province)
- Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV (Bokeo Province)
- Boten International Checkpoint (Luang Namtha Province)
- Boten Railway Station (Luang Namtha Province)
- Khamsavath Railway Station (Vientiane Capital)
Documents required:
- Photograph size 4x6 cm (have been taken no longer than 6 months).
- Passport cover page.
- Passport bio page.
Note: Please upload the photo of your passport that covers the whole bio page including its MRZ (two lines at the bottom of the page)
Visa processing time
Usually 3 working days
Visa cost
USD 50.
eVisa fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
SA representative
Representation accredited from Bangkok, Thailand
Health / vaccinations
Compulsory: Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover)
Recommended Travel Vaccines: Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio
Malaria Risk
Public holidays
2026: Jan 1; Mar 8-9; Apr 14-16; May 1; Jul 20; Dec 2