Laos Visa Extension

[meltingpot2015]

The Laos tourist visa is valid for 30 days. If you need to extend it while you are in Vientiane, Loas, this can be done at the Immigration Office on Xang Avenue, Vientiane. The office is tucked away behind the Joint development Bank (JDB), on the road opposite Talat Sao Shopping Mall (Morning Market).

Please note the office is open Monday to Friday 08:00 - 16:00 (closed 12:00 - 13:00 for lunch). No applications for extensions are accepted on Friday Afternoon. In fact don't bother going there after 3pm on Friday at all. I went there 3:45pm to pick-up the extension form and the office was closed.

There are some useful information at the links below, however, please note that these sites have not been updated recently. Information about fees, currency accepted and processing times have changed.

http://www.laos-guide-999.com/Laos-visa-extension.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-south-east-asia-mainland/topics/laos-visa-extension-ca091730-8510-4c21-b06b-6c80eded7b4d

Currency Accepted

Only LAK/KIP is accepted. US dollars NOT Accepted.

Fees

Application Form Fee - 5000 Kip

Service Fee - 25,000 Kip

Visa Extension Fee - 20,000 Kip for each day extended. e.g. for 5 days. 20000 x 5 = 100,000 Kip

When you visit office, you will see several counters. Approach counter 6, pick-up form after paying form fee. Fill form, attach passport photo, pay all fees mentioned above, and hand in together with your passport.

Processing Time

The officer will take a photocopy of your passport (the page that has your photo and name), stamp the date when you have to come back to pick-up passport on the photocopied sheet and hand it to you. I handed passport on Monday 28 Sep, the date stamped was 29 Sep - 2pm (morning pick-up not available due to staff meetings). Presumably, if you hand in passport on a Friday Morning, you will have to pick-up passport on Monday. There are notices around the office that say extension applications handed today, passport received tomorrow.

When I returned to pick-up passport, was advised to go to counter 7 (counter next to counter 6 on same side). I handed the passport photocopy given to me the day before, and the officer, sorted through a few passports, checked my passport and handed it to me.

Before leaving, I made it a point to check if the correct extension has been applied. It had. I applied for 10 days extension. Note the extension stamps take half a page of your passport.

[TerryLH]

Nice info, but a little confusion.

Can you apply on Friday, or not?

You've indicated 'no', then 'yes'.

[meltingpot2015]

Nice info, but a little confusion.

Can you apply on Friday, or not?

You've indicated 'no', then 'yes'.

Friday Morning, Yes.

Friday Afternoon, No.

There are notices all around the Immigration office that say: Applications are not accepted on Friday afternoon. One of the websites I mentioned in the OP also says this. I reckon, they stop accepting visa extension applications at 12 noon on Friday (when they close for lunch). If they accept one at 12:01pm I couldn't tell, but not worth taking the risk. (they may close for lunch 10 -15 minutes before the scheduled time) Also, remember that you need to fill in application form. Its quite simple. Just a few questions. e.g. date of arrival, passport details, how many days you need extension, purpose of extension etc. I left blank the bits on sponsor name, and the officer was satisfied. Oh!, you need to sign the form. Don't remember if the form asked for mobile number.

One issue I see with handing application in on Friday morning is that you will be without your passport for 3 days (if it's returned on Monday afternoon). No dramas, because you would have the photocopy with pick-up date and time. Presumably, this will be accepted as proof of identity by Hotels and Motorcycle/bicycle hire shops in Laos. The other major issue is, if you are travelling to Vientiane especially to get this sorted on the same day, it is unlikely. Making application on Friday morning, you may need to come back to pick-up passport on Monday morning/afternoon. Good news is, there are immigration offices in places like Luang Prabang:

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-south-east-asia-mainland/laos/visa-extension-in-luang-prabang-6d5f4a2d-84c5-4029-ae98-7f84953ee331

so a trip in to Vientiane, especially to do this may not be necessary.

The website from before says if you do not live near an immigration office, some travel agents or specialist providers may be able to do the legwork for you for a fee, but it also says this is more appropriate for other extensions, NOT tourist visa extensions.

I asked a few travel agents in Vientiane about visa extension, and they all said go to immigration by Morning Market. May be Travel Agents in Vientiane don't deal with this as the Immigration office is close by, other travel agents in other areas may well do. But take note, I have been advised elsewhere to be very careful when leaving your passport with Travel Agents. Haven't come across any credible websites/reviews to say its fine to leave passport with travel agent for the purposes of visa extension in Laos. Because the laos-guide-999 website isn't updated regularly and because they don't have an 'about us' page on their website, its hard to accept their advice about leaving passport with travel agent.

Edited October 4, 2015 by meltingpot2015