Laos visa on arrival for citizens of Italy: conditions and fees 2026
A visa is required for Laos, and citizens of Italy can obtain it on arrival, for stays up to 30 days.
Data updated on
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Mandatory arrival form: Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF). Within 3 days before arrival. Also required before leaving the country. Only fill it in on the official website.
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Processing time
On arrival
Allowed stay
30 days
Our guide to the Laos visa from Italy
Yes, Italian citizens need a visa for Laos in most cases. The simplest route is the tourist e-Visa, applied for online through the official Lao portal before departure.
Italian travellers heading to Laos generally obtain their visa as an e-Visa via the official portal laoevisa.gov.la. The application is entirely online: form, photo, passport copy and card payment. Some border posts also offer a visa on arrival, but an e-Visa prepared in advance makes both arrival and boarding smoother.
Do you need a visa for Laos?
In most cases, yes. Holders of an Italian passport most often apply for a tourist e-Visa, an electronic authorisation issued after an online application. Laos also offers a visa on arrival at certain entry points, but conditions and availability vary; an e-Visa validated before travel avoids queues and uncertainty at the border.
How much does a visa for Laos cost from Italy?
The official fee for a visa for Laos is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for Laos really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for a visa for Laos?
The exact list for Laos is not published in a source we can verify. Every short-stay tourist application is nonetheless built on the same core:
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Compliant passport photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
Treat this as the common core, not the official list, confirm it with the consular authorities of Laos before you apply.
Documents and fees
Bring an Italian passport valid for at least 6 months on the entry date, with blank pages. A recent digital passport photo and a copy of the passport bio page are required, along with a declared entry point. The e-Visa fee is not fixed here: check the current amount directly on laoevisa.gov.la before paying.
How to apply for a visa for Laos from Italy
- 1Check before departure that your entry point actually issues the visa on arrival.
- 2Prepare the supporting documents and the fee, often required in cash.
- 3Complete the form at the dedicated counter after landing.
- 4Pay the fee and collect the sticker before immigration control.
How and where to apply
The e-Visa application is made online through the official portal laoevisa.gov.la. The Italian traveller completes the form with their travel details, states the planned entry point, uploads a passport photo and the passport page, then pays the fee by card. Once approved, the e-Visa arrives by email: print it to present at boarding and at immigration control on arrival in Laos.
Where do you apply for a visa for Laos from Italy?
A visa on arrival for Laos is issued at the border post itself, at a counter placed before immigration control.
- Not every crossing issues it. Confirm that your specific airport or land border does before you book.
- The counter is reached after landing and before immigration. Follow the visa signs rather than the exit.
- The fee is usually paid on the spot, sometimes in cash and in a specific currency. Card is not guaranteed.
Using an online service
You never have to use an intermediary. If you would rather have a service fill in and file the application online for you before departure, iVisa does it for a service fee, charged on top of the official fees. It does not change the decision.
File my application with iVisaPartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you order, at no extra cost to you.
You live in Italy on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Italy but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does a visa for Laos take?
A visa on arrival is issued at the counter of the entry point when you cross the border: there is no processing time to plan for before departure.
Processing and practical tips
No processing time is guaranteed: submit the application several days before departure. Enter your point of entry carefully, as the e-Visa may be tied to a specific post (airport or land crossing). Keep a printed and a digital copy of the approved e-Visa, which is often checked at check-in by the airline, and confirm any health requirements at the official source.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes and good to know
Use only the official portal laoevisa.gov.la: many intermediary sites charge surcharges for the same procedure. Check that the name, passport number and dates entered match your document exactly. Finally, choose the right entry point: presenting an e-Visa at a post it does not cover can lead to refusal, and the regime can change.
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Other visa types for Laos
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
- Lao Official eVisa: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR
- Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR
- Viaggiare Sicuri, Farnesina (Ministero degli Affari Esteri): scheda Laos
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
Visa on arrival
Entry regime
Visa on arrival
Duration
30 days
Business visa (NI-B2)
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Price
20–42 USD
Processing time
3 business days
Official websiteVerified
Investor visa
Investor visa
Duration
5 years
Price
20–150 USD
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
1 year
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Work Permit
Work visa
Duration
1 year (renewable)
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Family visa
Family reunification
Duration
1 year
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Tips for Extending Your Stay in Laos
- Plan your extension before your current visa expires.
- Make sure you have all necessary documents, including proof of accommodation.
For an extension, go to the Immigration Department in Vientiane with your passport, a copy of your visa, photos, and proof of accommodation.
Apply online with iVisa
Online application for Laos, with no consulate visit.
- Online filing for e-visa and visa-on-arrival destinations
- Online application tracking
- Paid service, on top of official fees
- Decision made by the country's authorities, not by iVisa
Partner link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The visa verdict above does not depend on this partner.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Laos from Italy?▾
A visa on arrival is issued to travellers from Italy directly at the border of Laos (allowed duration: 30 days).
How long does it take to get a visa for Laos?▾
A visa on arrival is issued at the counter of the entry point when you cross the border: there is no processing time to plan for.
How do you apply for a visa for Laos from Italy?▾
The visa is issued at the dedicated counter after landing. Before departure, check that your entry point actually issues it, and bring the fee, often in cash, along with your supporting documents.
How long can you stay in Laos?▾
The tourist visa allows a stay of 30 days.
What other visa types exist for Laos?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Laos offers among others: Business visa (NI-B2), Work Permit, Student visa, Family visa, Investor visa.
Data verified on 25/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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