Indian passport holders need a visa for Laos, as it is not visa-free for ordinary passports. The Lao government runs an official e-visa portal that grants a single-entry stay of 30 days, usually processed in about three working days. Most travellers fly from India to Vientiane or Luang Prabang by connecting through a hub such as Bangkok or Hanoi.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Laos is easy to love and slightly fiddly to reach from India. Here is what the official rules say, and the usual ways to get there.
Do Indians need a visa for Laos in 2026?
Yes. Laos does not list ordinary Indian passports among its visa-exempt nationalities, so you need a visa before you enter. A visa exemption exists only for Indian diplomatic, official and service passports, which is a different category from a normal tourist passport.
Your passport should have at least six months of validity left. It is sensible to carry a printout of your return or onward ticket and your first night’s stay, because immigration officers can ask for them.
Do not rely on old blog posts for the fee or the stay length. Several third-party pages disagree with each other, and the official portal is the only place that shows the current amount for your nationality.
How does the official Laos e-visa work?
The Lao government’s e-visa portal is run by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You fill in the form online, pay the fee by a secure payment method, and download the approval letter from your email. The portal says an application is processed within three working days of receiving the completed application and the full fee. Allow extra time around public holidays.
The details published on the portal’s FAQ are worth knowing before you apply:
- The e-visa is single entry only.
- The stay permit is 30 days from your arrival date.
- You can enter on any date within 60 days of receiving the approval letter.
- The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, and the amount depends on your nationality.
- You must arrive through one of the designated e-visa ports. If you enter through a port that is not designated, you need a visa on arrival instead.
The portal has a fee calculator where you pick your nationality and see the amount. Use it rather than relying on a figure from a blog, because fees change.
Which entry points accept the e-visa?
The portal lists three airports: Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Luang Prabang International Airport and Pakse International Airport. It also lists land entry points, including the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridges at Vientiane, Savannakhet and Bokeo, the Boten checkpoint and Boten railway station in Luang Namtha, and Khamsavath railway station in Vientiane.
Visa on arrival is described by some references as available at the main airports, with a 30-day stay. Availability at land crossings varies, and the portal itself describes only the e-visa. If you want certainty, apply for the e-visa in advance and check that your entry point is on the portal’s list.
How do you fly from India to Laos?
For most itineraries you connect in a nearby hub. Two practical options for Indian travellers are Bangkok and Hanoi.
- Via Bangkok: IndiGo links Bangkok with several Indian cities. From Bangkok, a 2026 route guide lists carriers such as Thai AirAsia, Lao Airlines and Bangkok Airways on the way to Vientiane or Luang Prabang.
- Via Hanoi: Air India and IndiGo have flown Delhi to Hanoi nonstop in recent months, and Akasa Air and IndiGo have announced Mumbai to Hanoi. From Hanoi, Lao Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are listed for Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
- Via Kuala Lumpur: AirAsia is listed on a Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane route, though schedules are thin, so check dates carefully.
Schedules shift with each season, so confirm current timetables with the airlines. Also leave enough time at the connection. If you book two separate tickets, your bags may not be checked through, and you could need to clear immigration to re-check them.
Vientiane or Luang Prabang first?
Vientiane is the capital, and Wattay International Airport is one of the three airports on the e-visa list. Luang Prabang also has an international airport on that list and tends to suit a slower, temple-and-river trip. Many visitors fly into one city and out of the other, so look at open-jaw tickets (into one city, out of another) when you compare fares. They can save a long backtrack.
Pakse, in the south, is the third airport on the list. It matters only if your plans include the southern part of the country, so most first-time visitors can ignore it.
Whichever city you choose, keep your e-visa approval letter, passport and onward ticket together in your hand baggage, ready to show at immigration on arrival.
Common Questions
Is there visa-free entry to Laos for Indians?
Not for ordinary passports. Indian tourists need a visa. The simplest route is the official e-visa, applied for before you fly.
How long can I stay on the Laos e-visa?
The portal states a stay permit of 30 days from the day you arrive, on a single-entry visa.
How long does the e-visa take?
The portal says within three working days of receiving the completed application and the full fee. Allow extra time around holidays, and apply well before you buy non-flexible tickets.
Can I enter Laos by land from Thailand?
Yes, the Friendship Bridge crossings are on the e-visa port list. Check the portal for the specific crossing you plan to use before you travel.
Are there direct flights from India to Laos?
No nonstop route from India to Vientiane or Luang Prabang turned up in current route listings, so plan on one connection, typically in Bangkok or Hanoi.
What if my e-visa is refused?
The fee is non-refundable, so read the portal’s requirements carefully before paying, and make sure your passport details and photo match the rules.
Planning Laos via Bangkok or Hanoi? Compare flights on HappyFares, set a price alert, ask Meera, our AI assistant, for help with routing, and add travel insurance when you book.
Visa rules, fees and flight schedules change. Verify current specifics with the official Lao e-visa portal, the airline and the embassy before you travel.
