Laos evisa v voa

[mockingbird]

I'll be flying ito vientiane airport end of next week. Just trying to decide if it's worth getting an evisa.

Basically its $50 as opposed to £30 for voa, and I'll have to get passport + pic scanned and uploaded.

 

What's the wait time for voa at the airport?

[elviajero]

21 minutes ago, mockingbird said:

What's the wait time for voa at the airport?

Once they open the desk it’s usually pretty quick. I always got to the desk as quickly as I could to be near the front of the queue, and don’t remember it being more than about 20 mins. 

I guess it depends on how many passengers need a VOA and where you are in the queue.

[BritTim]

A Lao visa on arrival has almost never taken me more than 30 minutes anywhere, and it is usually quicker. The only exception was once entering via the Friendship Bridge 2 at Savannakhet where the visa on arrival window did not open until almost an hour after my arrival. I have never used the evisa system (which is still pretty new) and would likely only do so if I had neglected to renew my passport and was worried about it becoming full.

[HungDonger]

VOA is easy enough. Not worth the extra $20 for an e-visa.

[ubonjoe]

The fee for a online e visa is $15 above the normal fee. For example Germany is normally $30.

See: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

[pantsonfire]

I was in the queue for 30 minutes.  Tip, grab the forms ASAP and fill it in the queue.  

 

Make sure you have enough spare pages on your passport for stamps (min 3)

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, pantsonfire said:

Tip, grab the forms ASAP and fill it in the queue.  

Or print it out here and complete it. https://www.laos-guide-999.com/support-files/laos-visa-on-arrival-form.pdf

[SunsetT]

9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Or print it out here and complete it. https://www.laos-guide-999.com/support-files/laos-visa-on-arrival-form.pdf

Just love their arrival form! I always have to restrain myself from writing "Yes please" in the box marked 'Sex'. And you can put 'visits' as purpose of visit!

 

There used to be a 2nd form to fill in? Or have they scrapped that one?

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, SunsetT said:

There used to be a 2nd form to fill in? Or have they scrapped that one?

I have never seen or heard of a 2nd form. Been a long time though since I applied for a Lao VOA.

[Samuel Smith]

Does the evisa take up a full page of your passport?

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, Samuel Smith said:

Does the evisa take up a full page of your passport?

You get a approval letter that is equal to the visa. I am sure you don't get a full page visa sticker.

[pantsonfire]

Yes there are two forms to fill in

 

Arrival and departture form

Visa on arrival form

[jimmjam]

The evisa is easy and helps with not using passport pages with loas visas, there is a seperate que at the airport for evisa holders. Its quick. They just scan the evisa barcode and stamp you in. Id rather pay the extra money to save passport space.

[Genericnic]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Or print it out here and complete it. https://www.laos-guide-999.com/support-files/laos-visa-on-arrival-form.pdf

Thanks @ubonjoe. Always good to be prepared ahead of time.

 

David

 

[ubonjoe]

11 hours ago, jimmjam said:

The evisa is easy and helps with not using passport pages with loas visas, there is a seperate que at the airport for evisa holders. Its quick. They just scan the evisa barcode and stamp you in. Id rather pay the extra money to save passport space.

Thanks for the first hand report. I don't recall a report of anybody using one yet.

[post]

12 hours ago, jimmjam said:

...They just scan the evisa barcode and stamp you in...

Do they stamp the entry and exit stamps in the evisa approval letter or the passport?

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, post said:

Do they stamp the entry and exit stamps in the evisa approval letter or the passport?

Your passport. 

[brewsterbudgen]

Can a Lao e-visa be used for arriving at Pakse Airport?

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Can a Lao e-visa be used for arriving at Pakse Airport?

Yes

Source: https://laoevisa.gov.la/index

[SunsetT]

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I have never seen or heard of a 2nd form. Been a long time though since I applied for a Lao VOA.

It must be the Laos 'arrival/departure' card; (TM6?) that I am thinking of Joe. It was/is virtually identical to the VOA form in the info. that it required.