Laos Border Crossings

[DavidFL]

Laos eVisa
The last few years saw a reduction in visa services on the borders.
Many small "mickey mouse border crossings" that were issuing VoA but not remitting the money to Vientiane at the end of the year got cut out of VoA system.

An eVisa system was also introduced to help relieve the load at the border crossings, but eVisas are only accepted at a few border crossings.
They are

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

Source: Lao Visa Online | Lao eVisa Authorization Application

Lao Visa Online | Lao eVisa Authorization Application

Lao eVisa or Lao Visa Online is an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter Laos for tourism. Get your Laos Visa Now!

laoevisa.gov.la

 

[DavidFL]

11th January 2023
The friendly policeman on the Laos side of the 4th Friendship Bridge @Houei Xai / Chiang Khong is still enjoying his game of charging 2,000 baht for entry into Laos. Be warned.
Some are able to bargain him down to 500 baht, some not.

 

[DavidFL]

FB4 @ Houei Xai 15th January. Jan Rozendaal.....

I crossed the border at Huay Xay today. With my Thai wife on 2 x CRF 300Ls. I was asked to pay bht 1800 for the visa. In hindsight I regret not having asked if I could pay the much lower fee in USD.
My wife did not need a visa and went immediately to the first of 3 boxes for paying a vehicle 'Entry Fee'. I joined her 5 min later with a visa. No fee of 2000 bht was asked by the 2 ladies sitting there. They stamped our passports and processed the paperwork given to us by the Thai customs. If I remember well, we wrre asked a fee of 200 bht pp. In the 2nd office information from the green or blue owners book has to be entered in a machine that prints a ticket with QR code valid for the 30 day stay. It allows leaving with your vehicle at another border crossing. At the 3rd counter we paid a fee of 80 bht for the ticket. And then we were free to go.
The final stop was at the insurance office where we paid 200 baht for 4 weeks coverage.
We arrived at Thai customs at 12.30, we finished in 1 hr and completed the Laotian procedures at 15.00 hrs.
My wife believes the scam of 2000 bht is only applied to non Thai visitors. This view was confirmed by the friendly insurance lady.
Conclusion: farang are potentially scammed twice: overcharge of about $20 at the visa counter and 'service fee' of bht 2000 at the first Entry Fee counter. All in all a major improvement compared to the past few years at this border crossing

I suppose the crossing from Nonkai is still cheaper and easier.

FB4 @ Houei Xai 13th January
Peter Duffy paid 2,000 baht entering two-up with his Thai missus.

 

[DavidFL]

FB4 @ Chiang Khong / Houei Xai

A late report from November 2022 from Andy in Nan

2 crossed at around 4pm and I came about 45min later hoping the so called 'Tourist Police' had left for the day but no luck.
We had info from 2 that'd crossed a day or two before who paid 500b so Russ and Steve paid 500b for two but they wouldn’t go any less than 500b for me. The bastards started at 6000 then quickly said 2000……..