Laos

LAO

Laos is a landlocked, single-party socialist republic in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Vientiane, the low-key capital on the Mekong River, serves as its political and commercial centre. The economy is heavily dependent on hydropower exports, mining, and agriculture, with tourism growing steadily around Luang Prabang and the Plain of Jars.

Dual citizenship is not recognised. Long-term residency options for foreigners are limited; a retirement-style 'Foreigner Investment Promotion Visa' exists but is narrowly granted. The tax system is residence-based, with personal income tax topping out at 24%. Cost of living is very low by regional standards, and the country remains one of Southeast Asia's least-visited yet most scenic destinations.

Naturalisation: 10 years
Tax system: Residence Based
Currency: LAK
Dual citizenship: Not allowed
Capital: Vientiane
Region: asia
Population: 7,749,595
Cost-of-living: 30 /100

→ If you hold a Laos passport, see the Laos nationality guide

Passport Rank

#97

Visa-Free

destinations

Visa-free travel

A Laos passport has visa-free access to 43 destinations. See the full Laos passport breakdown →

Passports that enter Laos without a prior visa (166)

Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.

Bolivia+148 more

Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.

2 approved English test centres in Laos →

Immigrating to Canada from Laos

Current IRCC processing times for Laos nationals, by application type.

Visitor visa (outside Canada)	34 days
Super visa	No processing time available
Study permit	No processing time available
Work permit	No processing time available
Sponsor a dependent child	No processing time available
Adopted child (citizenship)	Not enough data
Government-assisted refugees	Not enough data
Privately sponsored refugees	sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data

Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.

As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.

Sources & last verified

Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)

Official source

Country Details

Capital: Vientiane
Currency: LAK
Languages: Lao
Population: 7,749,595
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 10 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season May–October, dry season November–April; mountainous north is cooler
GDP per capita: $2,325
Life expectancy: 69.22 yrs
Population growth: 1.32%/yr

GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 10 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

← scroll the table →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Vientiane	—	—	—	—	—
Luang Prabang	—	—	—	—	—
Savannakhet	—	—	—	—	—

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Vientiane

22°J

24°F

28°M

31°A

32°M

30°J

29°J

29°A

29°S

28°O

25°N

22°D

Rainfall range: 5–295 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Luang Prabang

19°J

22°F

27°M

30°A

31°M

29°J

28°J

28°A

28°S

27°O

23°N

19°D

Rainfall range: 12–240 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Savannakhet

21°J

24°F

28°M

32°A

33°M

30°J

29°J

29°A

29°S

28°O

25°N

21°D

Rainfall range: 5–220 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist Visa
Business B2 Visa
Business B3 Visa
Investor IB Visa
Work LA Visa
Student ST Visa
Diplomatic A1 Visa
Family F Visa
Transit TR Visa
Non-Immigrant Visa

Authority: Department of Immigration
Official Portal: www.immigration.gov.la
Phone: +856 21 212 520
Email: info@immigration.gov.la

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 10
Language Test: Yes (Lao — conversational proficiency assessed by local authorities)
Civic Test: Yes
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $80
Processing: ~24 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#53

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Tuk-tuk drivers quoting low fares then demanding inflated prices at destination or diverting tourists to commission-paying gem and textile shops
⚠Overpriced 'slow boat' tour packages sold by guesthouses at marked-up commissions versus buying direct at the pier
⚠Motorbike rental shops photographing pre-existing damage after return and charging grossly inflated repair fees
⚠Counterfeit or diluted alcohol sold at budget guesthouses — reported fatalities in tourist areas in past years

Examples of areas to avoid: Vientiane Chao Anouvong Park riverside after midnight (opportunistic theft and drug solicitation), Luang Prabang Mekong bar strip after 2 a.m. (fights and bag-snatching during late-night closing)

Regulators & official sources

Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Laos, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.

Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MFA

Official Lao eVisa portal for online tourist visa applications, status checks, fees and designated eVisa entry-port guidance.

Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Investment Promotion and Management Committee

IPMC

Official investment one-stop guidance for Lao business investor visas, foreign technical worker visas, stay permit cards and multiple entry-exit visa services.

Investment Promotion and Management Committee

Sources & last verified

Index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-20.

Official source

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Related on The Citizenship Desk

Life logistics

Reference tables

Visa routes

Official visa and residence routes for Laos, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.

Residence

Stay Permit Card for Investors and Family

Residence

Stay Permit Card route for foreign investors and qualifying family after entry on the correct Lao business visa.

Sponsor requiredGenerally no longer than 1 year and renewable year by year; provincial police may issue 6 to 12 months. Qualifying government concession agreements of 10 years or more can support 3-5 year validity.

Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Short-term / business

eVisa Status Enquiry

Short-term / business

Official Lao eVisa portal service for checking an existing eVisa application status.

Status service only; it does not change the underlying visa validity or 30-day stay period.

Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Tourist eVisa

Short-term / business

Official Lao eVisa route for eligible tourism visitors applying online before travel.

Single entry; stay permit of 30 days; approval letter valid up to 60 days after receipt.

Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Work (sponsored)

Foreign Technical Worker Visa (LA-B2)

Work (sponsored)

Lao business visa route for foreign technical officers and employees attached to approved projects or companies.

Sponsor requiredConfirm the issued visa validity and any later stay-permit or multiple-entry validity with the official channel.

Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Investor

Business Investor Visa (NI-B2)

Investor

Lao business visa route for foreign investors approved for investment in Lao PDR.

Sponsor requiredThe initial business visa and any multiple-entry validity depend on the approved route; the page describes later 3-month, 6-month and 1-year multiple entry-exit visa services.

Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Multiple Entry-Exit Visa for Investors

Investor

Lao multiple entry-exit visa service for investors who already hold the required business visa and stay permit card.

Sponsor required3 months, 6 months or 1 year for the standard service; 3-5 years only for qualifying long government concession cases described by the official page.

Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR · reviewed 2026-07-26

Sources & last verified

Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.

Official source

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-15