Laos: work visa and the “anti-girlfriend” law

[BananaBandit]

I have to admit: I kinda like Laos.

 

Is it correct that all you have to do to stay in Laos for a year straight is to pay 500 USD for a work visa ?     ( By the way, would this work visa be multiple-entry ? Because I might have to go to Thailand on occasion. )

 

Is there a particular link that says how to go about obtaining a $500 USD Lao work visa ?

 

Of course, one big concern I have about Laos involves the reported illegality of a farlang having a Lao girlfriend....This law is still on the books, correct ? How often is it currently enforced ?

 

What is the typical amount fined if you do get caught with a Lao girlfriend ?

 

In the event that some officer tries to make me pay fine, and I say NO....What happens? Jail ? Deportation ? Slapped around a bit ?

 

 

As a side question:

 

I assume there is no problem with, say, having a Vietnamese girlfriend in Laos, correct ?

 

 

Edited July 24, 2019 by BananaBandit

[Mikisteel]

How can you kinda like Laos?

 

What you maybe mean is you spent 5 days there learned of its lax work visa and suddenly Laos became a workaround of sorts.

 

It's definitely a compromise, the law relating to Lao ladies is actually a sweetener as you could save a lot of dough with that kind of excuse about not being seen in public with them.

 

Plenty of Vietnamese ladies around, working in hotels. 

[BananaBandit]

20 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

 

Plenty of Vietnamese ladies around, working in hotels. 

That's good to know. 
 

 

20 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

How can you kinda like Laos?

 

What you maybe mean is you spent 5 days there learned of its lax work visa and suddenly Laos became a workaround of sorts.

 

 

My time in Laos has far exceeded 5 days. There are several things I like about this country. But, yes, of course, an easier visa would certainly be a huge attraction. 

 

Does anyone know of the weblink to learn more about the Lao work visa ?

 

 

20 hours ago, Mikisteel said:

 

It's definitely a compromise, the law relating to Lao ladies is actually a sweetener as you could save a lot of dough with that kind of excuse about not being seen in public with them.

 

So, am I to understand that this anti-girlfriend law is still commonly enforced ...and that a farlang risks police harassment (or worse) simply by going out in public with a Lao gal ?

 

[simon43]

It's easy to Google for visa agents who can process your Lao business visa - I'm moving to live in Laos in about 3 weeks from now, (I used to work there in 2013). I've lived in Thailand for 18 years, (with working breaks in Laos and Burma).

 

In my case, the reasons for my move are various:

 

- Bored with Thailand

- Unable or unwilling to park 800,000 baht in a bank account (I'm 60 years old)

- Working as a digital nomad (I teach online) ==> grey legal area in Thailand

- Work as a volunteer (teaching in the local community) ==> illegal without a work permit

etc etc etc

 

So, am I to understand that this anti-girlfriend law is still commonly enforced ...and that a farlang risks police harassment (or worse) simply by going out in public with a Lao gal ?

 

Laos, like Myanmar is far more conservative than Thailand.  You can pick up Thai and Vietnamese women in Vientiane, but I would definitely advise against any public display of affection for a Lao women and absolutely no living together. You open yourself up to arrest, fine, blackmail etc.  This is not Kansas, er Korat .....  I would say that Laos is really not the place for young expats looking for partying and fun, and nor is it the place for older sex mongers.  You'll fit in fine if you ancient like me and your willy rusted up years ago ????

[BananaBandit]

58 minutes ago, simon43 said:

It's easy to Google for visa agents who can process your Lao business visa

 

oh, okay. Duly noted. 

 

If you know of one or two reputable agents, feel free to PM me. 
 

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Laos, like Myanmar is far more conservative than Thailand.  You can pick up Thai and Vietnamese women in Vientiane, but I would definitely advise against any public display of affection for a Lao women and absolutely no living together. You open yourself up to arrest, fine, blackmail etc. 

 

Disappointing but valuable info..... that pretty much crosses Lao ladies off my list.  Hopefully it ain't too hard to find a Viet or Thai girlfriend. I assume there can be no legal consequences for that. 

 

[brewsterbudgen]

My wife of 4 years is Laotian and before we married she was my girlfriend for 6 years.  We had a son (before we married) and we married in the UK, as getting married in Laos was almost impossible as we already had a kid.  We have a house in Laos and go over there regularly.  When I stay there, a small gift to the village Headman makes everything sweet!

 

I'm not sure I'd want to live there, as it's still pretty much a Communist police state, and, where our house is, the infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired and "yaba" is rife, mainly because there is little work for people in the rural areas and no welfare provided by the government.  I certainly don't want my son growing up there!

[simon43]

IMHO, Laos is a nice place to settle for retired single or foreign couples.  I wouldn't choose to live in Vientiane now - it's built up too much over the years.  I like Luang Prabang a lot, because the UNESCO accreditation protects the town centre from unacceptable building work etc.  The number of Chinese tourists is slated to increase dramatically when the railway line is open. But as I have seen with my own eyes over the past few weeks in LP, the Lao authorities are very protective of the ambiance in LP ==> no public smoking of cigarettes in the street etc, (that rule alone tends to keep most Chinese railway workers to their own Chinatown area on the edge of town).

 

As for bringing up children, I used to be the headmaster of the international school in LP.  It's on a beautiful multi-million $ campus by the Mekong.  I tried to introduce Western concepts, such as a healthy-snack policy, safety procedures when using the swimming pool, access ramps and wide classroom doors for disabled students etc.  All my policies were overridden by the school owner.... Personally, I feel that the school missed an opportunity to attract foreign families to LP.

 

My gut feeling about having a genuine Lao girlfriend, (as opposed to a short-time hooker), is that it would be acceptable, or the authorities would turn a blind eye, so long as it is seen as a genuine relationship that respects Lao culture and that you are doing something to benefit the country, such as charity work, teaching etc, and you've made an effort to learn Lao language.  But that's only my feeling.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2019 by simon43