What Are the Key Takeaways When Applying for a Tourist Visa from Laos?

Info for Moderators..

I went to Vientiane to obtain a Tourist Visa on Thursday last. (there's background you can get from my previous post.)

1. The booking system is causing issues for a small % of people - six on Thursday out of about 300 in total. At least two were non-native English speaking, so some doubt as to whether they did the booking correctly. Problem was that they booked in for the wrong sort of Visa - Transit and Laos National - rather than the Visa type they wanted. Staff are familiar with issues and quietly suggested applying again from a new account set up with a different e-mail address.

Takeaway: CHECK what you have been given by going back to the website after your email arrives (which doesn't show Visa class booked), logging in and looking at history......... Not doing so cost an irate German another 5 days in Laos...........

2. On collection day, all the Laos work permits emerged as a block first. About 250 people. Visas for westerners - about 60 - arrived much later as a block along with a list of six for further interview. That made me think that Westerners are being subject to special scrutiny, but difficult to be certain.

3. With my history of continuous residence in Thailand (on the correct Non O Visas and extensions), you know that I was nervous of being granted a Tourist Visa. No issues.

4. Going out TO Laos on Wednesday 11th, there were huge numbers of Laos workers returning home. Not on an obvious day to break for holidays. That resulted in a 500 plus queue at Thai departure. If that's representative, then worth noting as a risk of missing document submission if trying to do that on the same day.

5. Return on Friday mid afternoon was quiet at Thai entry and scrutiny appeared to be cursory. No issues for me.

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