Visa on Arrival from Laos - What Are Your Options?
You cannot obtain a 60-day stay by walking across the Thai-Lao border on Visa on Arrival alone - VOA is always 15 days. If you are in Laos and need 60 days in Thailand, apply for a tourist visa (TR) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Consulate-General in Savannakhet before you cross.
At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we guide travellers doing visa runs and embassy applications across the region. Rules at Lao posts change - always verify the current checklist before you submit. This FAQ covers realistic options in June 2026.
Confirm details for your nationality.
Mandatory Digital Arrival Card before each arrival.
Embassy queues spike November through February.
Verify on official portals within two weeks of travel.
Overview
From Laos: most long-stay planners use the embassy tourist visa, not VOA.
At Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok, we handle cases like this every week. Confirm current requirements on thaievisa.go.th and tdac.immigration.go.th within two weeks of travel or application.
Short answer: You cannot obtain a 60-day stay by walking across the Thai-Lao border on Visa on Arrival alone - VOA is always 15 days. If you are in Laos and need 60 days in Thailand, apply for a tourist visa (TR) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane or the Consulate-General in Savannakhet be
Short answer
| Method | Where | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on Arrival | Eligible air or land checkpoint | 15 days - 2,000 THB |
| Tourist visa (TR) | Thai embassy in Vientiane / Savannakhet | 60 days - applied before entry |
| Visa exemption | Airport or land (passport dependent) | 60 days air / often 15 days land |
Applying at the Thai embassy in Vientiane
| Post | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane | Lao capital | High volume - queues and document scrutiny |
| Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet | Southern Laos | Alternative for some nationalities |
If you cross without an embassy visa
| Scenario | Likely result |
|---|---|
| VOA-eligible passport, VOA desk at border | 15 days - full VOA document pack + 2,000 THB |
| Visa-exempt passport, land entry | Often 15 days only - not 60 |
| No exemption, no visa | Denied entry |
Crossing from Laos after embassy approval
Once you hold a TR tourist visa in your passport:
TDAC help: tvc.co.th/tdac-thailand-digital-arrival-card
Visa runs - risks to understand
Repeated short hops Laos ↔ Thailand draw immigration scrutiny:
We recommend proper long-stay visas (DTV, retirement, marriage) over endless border runs.
Step-by-step process
Follow these named steps when planning your timeline. Adjust for your nationality and embassy posting.
Passport
6+ months validity, blank pages
Application form
embassy-specific
Photos
Thai visa specification
Proof of accommodation in Thailand
Proof of accommodation in Thailand
Proof of funds
bank statements or cash evidence
Flight itinerary
onward travel from Thailand
Common mistakes
- Expecting 60 days at Friendship Bridge without a pre-issued TR visa
- Confusing VOA with embassy tourist visa
- Arriving at embassy without printed bank statements or accommodation proof
- Overstaying in Thailand then applying in Vientiane - prior overstay on record
- Skipping TDAC on land re-entry
- Assuming Savannakhet and Vientiane use identical nationality rules
Related questions
Q:Can I get VOA at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge?
A:Only if that checkpoint offers VOA and your passport is VOA-eligible - still 15 days, not 60.
Q:How long does Vientiane embassy processing take?
A:Same day to several days - varies by nationality and queue. Plan buffer nights in Vientiane.
Q:Do I need a Lao visa to apply in Vientiane?
A:Most nationalities obtain Lao visa on arrival or in advance to enter Laos for the embassy trip - verify Lao entry rules separately.
Q:Can I extend a 60-day TR visa in Thailand?
A:Often yes once for 30 days at immigration - subject to current rules. See /faq/can-a-90-day-visa-be-extended
Q:Is Cambodia better than Laos for tourist visas?
A:Policies differ by post and nationality - verify both before choosing a visa run route.
Q:Do immigration rules in this FAQ apply to every nationality?
A:Many principles are universal, but embassy document requirements and visa exemption lists vary by passport. Confirm your nationality on thaievisa.go.th before acting.
Q:When was this FAQ last reviewed?
A:June 2026. Fees, financial thresholds, and embassy procedures change without notice. Verify within two weeks of travel or application.
Official references
Official sources verified June 2026. Immigration practice varies by province. Confirm your passport and entry method before you travel or extend.