Laos e-Visa requirements for Chinese citizens

FAQs

1. Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Laos?

   Yes, Chinese nationals must have a valid visa to enter Laos. Only a few countries have visa-waiver arrangements that allow their nationals to travel to the Southeast Asian Republic visa-free. Fortunately, Chinese people may simply obtain their Laos eVisa using the online application.

   However, Chinese citizens who don't mind standing in line at the airport can apply for a visa on arrival at one of Laos' entrance points.

   Travelers traveling in Laos with an authorized Tourist eVisa for Laos can generally enter through a particular fast line.

   While obtaining a visa on arrival is feasible, the electronic visa saves time upon arrival. A Chinese citizen's electronic application for a Laos visa is generally accepted within three working days or less.

    
2. What is the Laos eVisa for Chinese citizens?

   The Laos eVisa for Chinese people is an electronic visa that permits Chinese citizens to travel to Laos for tourism purposes. The Laotian government implemented it in July 2019 to streamline the visa application procedure.

   To apply for a Laos eVisa, Chinese citizens must meet the following requirements:

   • They must have a valid passport for at least six months after arriving in Laos.
   • Your passport must have a blank page.
   • At least two blank pages in the passport should be available for visa stamping.
   • Check that the passport is in excellent shape, without damage or manipulation.
   • Travel itinerary.
   • Accommodation information.
   • Recent passport-size photograph (2x2 inches) with a white background.
   • They must have a valid email address.

   The application for a Laos e-Visa is straightforward and may be done online. Applicants must complete an application form, supply passport information, and pay the visa cost. The applicant's email address will be notified of the visa acceptance within three working days.

   When the applicant receives visa approval, they can print it and show it at the port of entry when they arrive in Laos. The visa permits the applicant to stay in Laos for up to 30 days and is valid for a single entrance.

   The following are the ports of entry in Laos where the Laos eVisa can be used:

   • Boten International Checkpoint
   • Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge I
   • Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge II
   • Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge IV
   • Luang Prabang International Airport
   • Pakse International Airport
   • Wattay International Airport

    
3. How to travel to Laos from China?

   There are several ways to travel to Laos from China. Here are the most popular options:

   • By Plane: There are direct flights to Laos from a number of Chinese cities, including Kunming, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Flights are usually the quickest transportation mode between the two nations but are also the most expensive.
   • By Train: A high-speed train connects Kunming, China, to Vientiane, Laos. The train ride takes around 17 hours and is a comfortable and picturesque mode of transportation.
   • By Bus: Several bus companies operate between China and Laos. Buses are the cheapest mode of transportation between the two nations, but they are also the slowest. The bus travel duration varies based on the route. However, it usually takes approximately 24 hours.
   • Overland: Overland travel from China to Laos is also conceivable. Kunming to Luang Prabang is the most common overland route. The tour takes around three days and is an excellent opportunity to see southern China's and northern Laos's rural landscape.

   Whichever way you travel, check the visa requirements for both China and Laos before you go. You can apply for a Laos visa online through Global Visa Services or at the border.

   Here are some additional tips for traveling to Laos from China:

   • The best time to visit Laos is during the dry season, which runs from November to April.
   • The official currency of Laos is the kip. However, the Chinese yuan is widely accepted in border towns.
   • Laos is a generally secure nation. However, you should constantly be mindful of your surroundings and take measures against petty crime.
   • If you want to travel by bus or train, be careful to pack light because there are weight limitations on buses and trains.
4. Where to Cross into Laos from China?

   There are currently only 2 China to Laos border crossing points.

   • The first is the Lantouy border crossing between China's Yunnan Province and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR). This checkpoint, however, may only be used by Laotian or Chinese citizens to travel from one nation to another.
   • The other is the Boten/Mengla border checkpoint in the town of Mohan in China's Mengla county. This crossing links to the Lao border town of Boten and is open to people of all nationalities.

   Here are some additional things to keep in mind when crossing into Laos from China:

   • Both China and Laos will require a valid passport and visa.
   • To enter Laos, you must pay a border crossing charge of 50 yuan (about $7).
   • Laos' currency is the kip. At the border, you may exchange your yuan for kip.
   • China and Laos have a one-hour time difference. China is one hour ahead of Laos.

    
5. How to Travel Overland from China to Laos?

   Taking a bus from Kunming to Jinghong, the largest town in Xishuangbanna province, is the most typical method for people traveling from China to Laos without their vehicle. This travel takes around 8-10 hours.

   Travelers may catch a bus going for Luang Nam Tha in Laos from here, taking them past the Mohan checkpoint. This journey likewise takes around 8 hours to accomplish.

   At the checkpoint, passengers must depart the bus and take their bags through the crossing for examination. To leave China, they must also fill out an exit card and acquire an exit stamp in their passport.

   They can then walk or use an electric vehicle service the 500m to the Lao checkpoint, where they must provide a completed entrance card as well as a valid visa and have it stamped. They may then enter Laos after passing through customs.

   Can you use the train to cross from China to Laos?

   Neither checkpoint can be crossed by train. However, a railway connection between Kunming, China, and Vientiane, Laos, is being built. In Vietnam, building is now underway and will be completed in the near future. Nonetheless, people can cross the Lao-China border by automobile or by bus.

   Those planning to enter Laos on their own should be aware that they must do it in a car registered in China. However, it is not required to be registered in the traveler's name.