Laos eVisa Cost and Visa on Arrival: What to Check

Cover: Laos railway travel. Illustrative archive image; not a visa document or a checkpoint identification guide.

To check the Laos eVisa cost, select the nationality in your passport in the official fee calculator. It shows a per-applicant figure and explicitly excludes bank charges. Compare that with the complete price and terms shown by any independent service before paying. Whether an eVisa or visa on arrival suits your trip also depends on your nationality and the actual entry checkpoint.

This is independent guidance from LaosTrain, not an official government website. Information checked 15 October 2026. Entry is always decided by Lao immigration officers at the border.

What does a Laos eVisa cost?

Start with the official fee calculator

Use the official fee calculator for a current quote for your passport nationality. Check visa eligibility and any exemption separately with the official application portal or a Lao diplomatic mission. A fee quote does not by itself establish your right to enter. The eligibility-list link on the official information page did not load correctly when checked on 15 October 2026; if it remains unavailable, ask the official service before paying.

Official government fee versus independent-service total

Two different numbers get mixed up constantly, so separate them clearly:

• The official government fee — the amount charged by the Lao authorities for processing your visa. You can verify it in the calculator and in the general portal information at laoevisa.gov.la/info.
• The independent-service total — the amount a travel service shows before payment. Check what is included and do not assume an itemised government/service split unless the provider explicitly gives one.

If you are eligible, you can apply directly through the official portal. Check its payment total and possible bank charges. LaosTrain is an independent travel service; our eVisa page leads to an application showing the full price before payment. Compare the final payable totals and the stated services rather than assuming that every website displays the same type of fee.

Non-refundable government fee, separate agency terms

The official FAQ states that the eVisa fee is non-refundable, including if the application is denied. Read the terms of the provider you choose. LaosTrain’s published application terms say that once an application is submitted, the eVisa fee paid is non-refundable whether approved or refused. Do not assume that an unlisted service component has a different refund policy.

eVisa or visa on arrival: compare by route and nationality

There is no universal visa-on-arrival answer

Do not assume visa on arrival is available for your nationality or at your intended checkpoint. The eVisa portal explains its own designated ports; it is not a complete nationality-by-border VOA price list. Confirm the alternative entry arrangement and fee with a Lao diplomatic mission or the relevant immigration authority before choosing it. Do not rely on claims that VOA is always cheaper or available at every border.

Where the eVisa is accepted

Per the official FAQ, an approved eVisa can be used at any designated eVisa port of entry. The designated list includes land and rail crossings as well as airports — for example, Boten Railway Station and Khamsavath Railway Station in Vientiane are both on the nine-port list. Non-designated borders do not accept the eVisa at all, so if your itinerary uses a small local crossing, the eVisa may simply not work there. Our full eVisa entry ports list maps this out, and rail travellers crossing at Khamsavath should also read our Khamsavath Railway Station guide. If you are arriving by the Laos–China railway, see our Vientiane–Kunming train booking guide.

Timing, paperwork and practical differences

The eVisa is applied for in advance and requires documentation to be correct before you travel; VOA is arranged at the border, which means queueing and having the right documents with you on arrival. Key eVisa facts from the official portal and FAQ:

• Visa type: tourist, single entry.
• Stay: up to 30 days.
• Entry validity: the approval letter is valid for entry for up to 60 days after you receive it.
• Processing: usually three working days once a complete application and fee are accepted — it may take longer.
• Timing rule: the official FAQ advises applying no less than five days before arrival, with arrival no more than 60 days from application.

If payment looks wrong: do not pay again

For an application made on the official portal, check status with the application ID and passport number. If your account was charged but the status shows Unpaid, the official FAQ instructs you to contact support and not make another payment. Keep the payment reference until the discrepancy has been checked.

If you applied through LaosTrain, contact LaosTrain through your order. If you applied directly on the government portal, use its official contact page.

Practical checklist before you pay

• Confirm your nationality is eligible on the official eligibility guidance, and check whether any exemption applies to you instead.
• Check the government fee for your passport in the fee calculator, then compare it with the total shown by any service you use.
• Confirm your exact entry point accepts the eVisa; non-designated borders do not.
• Travel on the same passport you used to apply. A different passport invalidates the match.
• Ordinary passport must be valid for more than 180 days from your date of arrival.
• Print the approval letter and carry it. A clear black-and-white printout is allowed provided the QR code is readable.
• Apply no less than five days before arrival, and plan arrival within 60 days of applying.

Next step

Run your nationality through the official fee calculator, note the government fee, then decide whether you want to apply yourself or have LaosTrain check and submit for you. If you are travelling by rail, confirm your station on the entry ports list first — choosing the right port is the one decision that can save you more than any fee comparison.