Hi,

Has anybody here done a visa run to Lao by themselves - I want to get a 6 month or 4 month visa - I understand that can be achieved on a Lao Visa run but you have to stay overnight or something.

Can anybody help me with this ? I guess is bus or plane to Lao, stay over, but where do I go to fill the forms in etc - and has anybody got a 6 month visa as I have benn told you can get by going to Lao.

I would really apreciate some advice or guidance.

Best Regards

English guy abroad

Edited July 2, 201214 yr by English Guy Abroad

Moved to Thai visas.

Most people will take a plane to Udon (much cheaper than Vientiane) and use van from there (about one hour to border). You can also take bus or train to Nong Khai on border. You exit at bridge and enter Laos buying a visa at other end. You then travel a few minutes into Vientiane and visit Thai Consulate to apply for visa (apply in morning - receive next workday afternoon) and stay overnight at a hotel in Vientiane. Very easy to do and several hundred do every day. What you want is a 2 entry tourist visa and as long as you do not have more than 3 visas in your passport you will likely be able to obtain.

There are alot of posts on this including mine from when I went in March. I took the train from Hau Lampon (BKK), about 950 baht (each way) for a 2nd class air lower bunk. Upper bunk is about 100 less but getting the lower is worth it. If you smoke, you can smoke in the bathroom at the end of the car with the window open. Very clean, comfy, there is a curtain for complete privacy. It's about 12 hours, I got about 7 hours sleep. You get off at Nong Khai around 8 am, get into Lao by about 9 am and get to the Thai Consulate before 10 am. Fill out the forms, drop off your passport, done by about Noon. Then come back at 1 pm next day. Getting into Lao costs either $ 35 USD or 1500 baht so if you have USD you save a bit. Check Thai holidays to make sure you don't get caught on one and have to stay extra, which would not be so bad anyway, Vientiane is OK and cheap. Guesthouse about $ 20.

for lao visa what document do i need do i need picture

for lao visa what document do i need do i need picture

Yes you need 3 pictures.( I think)

There are only 3 month and double entry for 3 months (6 total with a border run).

The visa is actually 2 months, extendable for 1 month at any immigration office.

If you get to the consulate before 12 there are people outside the gate that will fill in the forms and collect all necessary paperwork, make copies, etc for 100 Baht. You pick it up after noon the next day.

I got a local driver to take me to the consulate and a hotel from the bridge at Vientiene. 400 Baht each way.