Passportly

Southeast Asia · ordinary Indian passport, tourism

LaoseVisa required

How long you can stay

30 days per visit

Checked 18 August 2026 · 8 official sources

Visa at a glance

Visa fee
US$50
Entries
Single entry
Extendable
Yes
Passport validity
6 months

On the day you enter

What you need to enter

  • Return or onward ticket

    Required

  • Proof of accommodation

    Required

  • Proof of funds

    Required

  • Travel insurance

    Not stated

  • Blank passport pages

    1 required

  • Vaccinations

    Not stated

  • Arrival form

    Required

    https://www.immigration.gov.la

“Not stated” means no official source we checked addresses it either way — not that it is unnecessary. Carry it if in doubt.

When to go

Pick a month to see what the weather actually does.

Each month shows the best of Laos's 3 regions — the region is named with it. Peak season is November, December, January, February — expect higher prices and crowds.

JanuaryPeak season

Excellent in Vientiane and the Mekong plain · the best month to go

Average
22°C
Rainfall
8mm
Rain days
1
  • Vientiane and the Mekong plain: Excellent · 22°C · 8mm over one day
  • Luang Prabang and the north: Excellent · 21°C · 14mm over one day
  • Pakse and the south: Excellent · 25°C · 2mm over less than a day

Where you go changes the answer

How Laos's regions differ, and when it matters

Laos has one monsoon and the whole country shares it, so unlike its neighbours there is no coast running on the opposite schedule. The differences between these three zones are of degree rather than timing: the south around Pakse takes the heaviest rain, the north around Luang Prabang the least, and the cool dry months from November to February are the country's high season everywhere.

What it costs

₹ · per person per day

  • BudgetHostels, street food, public transport
    ₹2,000
  • Mid-range3-star hotels, restaurants, some activities
    ₹4,500
  • Luxury4–5 star hotels, private transport, experiences
    ₹12,000

Excludes international flights. Our estimate, not an official figure — reviewed 18 August 2026. A typical trip runs 7–12 days.

Where to go

  • Luang Prabang

    The former royal capital, on the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan, and a UNESCO World Heritage site for its temples and colonial-era streets. Most first trips to Laos are built around it.

  • Vientiane

    The capital, on the Mekong opposite Thailand. Smaller and slower than most Southeast Asian capitals, and the arrival point for the Friendship Bridge crossing and Wattay airport.

  • Vang Vieng

    Karst limestone country between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, with caves, lagoons and river tubing. The high-speed railway put it within about an hour of both cities.

  • The Plain of Jars

    Iron Age stone jars scattered across sites near Phonsavan in Xiengkhuang province, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2019. Some areas remain closed for unexploded ordnance clearance.

  • Si Phan Don (4,000 Islands)

    The Mekong braids into hundreds of islands at the Cambodian border in the far south, reached from Pakse. Don Det and Don Khon are the usual bases.

  • The Bolaven Plateau

    Coffee-growing highlands east of Pakse, cooler than the plain below and ringed with waterfalls.

The full rules

Everything official, quoted rather than summarised.

The detail

Conditions in full, fees, entries, and extending your stay
  • An ordinary Indian passport is not exempt. The Department of Immigration's visa-exemption table lists India once, at row 13, for diplomatic and service passports only, at 30 days, in force since 6 November 2002.
  • India is on the eVisa eligibility list published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' own eVisa site, so the whole visa can be arranged online before you fly.
  • The eVisa is a Tourist Visa (T-B3). The approval letter is not the visa itself: you must print it, carry it, and collect the visa sticker on arrival. Entry is refused without the printed letter.
  • The eVisa must be used within 60 days of the approval letter being issued, and the letter takes about three working days to arrive.
  • The eVisa is only valid at nine designated 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.
  • The US$50 fee is what the ministry's own fee calculator returns for an Indian passport. The calculator notes it is per applicant and excludes the payment processor's bank charge, which is not published as a figure.
  • Applicants on Indian passports are shown a notice they must accept before applying, requiring proof of sufficient funds, a travel itinerary, a hotel booking confirmation and a return or onward flight ticket to be produced at the border. The notice says failure to provide them may result in denial of entry.
  • The Department of Immigration says that "most travelers can acquire a visa on arrival at major entry points" for up to 30 days, but publishes no list of eligible nationalities, and no official Lao source we could reach confirms that an ordinary Indian passport qualifies. Arrange the eVisa before you fly rather than relying on it.
Extending your stay
Possible. The Department of Immigration allows an extension at its Vientiane office or a provincial immigration office, no more than twice per arrival, applied for at least three days before the current permission expires. It charges 20,000 kip per day of extension plus 40,000 kip per application for the form and service, and takes one to two working days.
Number of entries
Single entry. Once you leave, the authorisation is spent.
Visa fee
US$50.

Common questions

Do Indians need a visa for Laos?
Indian ordinary passport holders must apply for an eVisa online before travelling to visit Laos for tourism. Last checked 18 August 2026.
How long can Indians stay in Laos?
30 days per entry in Laos.
How long must my passport be valid to enter Laos?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date you enter Laos. Renew before you travel if it expires sooner.
Do I need to fill in an arrival form for Laos?
Yes. Laos requires an arrival form from travellers before they arrive, separately from any visa. Submit it at https://www.immigration.gov.la before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Laos?
January, February, March, April, June, September, October, November and December. These ratings are based on climate normals measured at Vientiane, Luangphrabang, Pakse. Laos has more than one climate — a month counts as good if any region is, so check the month-by-month breakdown to see which one before booking.
How much does a trip to Laos cost per day?
Roughly ₹2,000 per day on a budget, ₹4,500 mid-range, or ₹12,000 for luxury travel — per person, excluding international flights. Estimated 18 August 2026.

Sources

Every visa fact on this page comes from one of these. Verified by Claude on 18 August 2026.

  1. Department of Immigration — List of countries having reached unilateral and bilateral visa exemption agreement with Laos (India, row 13: 30 days, Diplomatic and Service, in force 06.11.2002; no ordinary-passport row)

    Government · read 18 August 2026 · source last updated 12 October 2022

  2. Lao eVisa (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — Who can apply for Lao eVisa: India is on the eligibility list

    Government · read 18 August 2026

  3. Lao eVisa — Terms and Conditions: Tourist Visa T-B3, 30-day stay permit, 60-day validity, ordinary passports only, 6 months validity, 1 blank page, 3 working days, nine designated ports

    Government · read 18 August 2026

  4. Lao eVisa — fee calculator returns US$ 50.00 for an Indian passport, per applicant, excluding bank charge

    Government · read 18 August 2026

  5. Lao eVisa — Important Notice shown to applicants on Indian passports: proof of sufficient funds, travel itinerary, hotel booking confirmation and return or onward flight ticket must be presented on arrival

    Government · read 18 August 2026

  6. Department of Immigration — Visa extension: no more than twice per arrival, 20,000 kip per day plus 40,000 kip per application, 1–2 working days

    Government · read 18 August 2026

  7. Department of Immigration — Lao Digital Immigration Form required of all foreign nationals from 1 September 2025, submitted within 3 days before arrival and departure

    Government · read 18 August 2026 · source last updated 2 September 2025

  8. WMO World Weather Information Service — climate normals 1951–2000 for Vientiane, Luangphrabang and Pakse

    Intergovernmental · read 18 August 2026

Before you book

This page covers ordinary Indian passports, for tourism only. Rules for business, study, transit and diplomatic or official passports differ and are not covered here.

Visa rules change without notice. Everything here was checked against official sources on 18 August 2026. The final decision on entry always rests with immigration officers at the border. Confirm with the embassy before booking anything non-refundable.

See the 8 sources behind this page →