We are travelling through SE Asia with Imaginative Traveller early next year.
We know we should get our Cambodian and Vietnam Visa's in advance but i cannot find an address in the UK to get a Laos one for our 'Journey through Laos' trip. Can anybody help?
It has been said before in forums that Laos Visa's are often available at the border crossing with Thailand. If we get one there, will it cause delay to the group whilst being issued? What do I.T prefer or recommend?
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Hello Richard,
This is a difficult question to which there is no definite answer simply because the number of people travelling through the boarder on any one particular day can vary considerably and thus the time to attain a visa varies respectively.
Many of our travellers do attain their visa at the boarder crossings which is there decision as your still required to go through the boarder crossing procedures.
If you would like to apply for a visa for Laos prior to travelling you will need to apply to the [url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029396086&a=KDiplomaticList&aid=1013618543363]Ambassade de la Republique Democratique Populaire Lao[/url] in Paris which of course is not convenient as Laos are represented in the UK by and embassy.
Alternately you maybe able to apply for the visa in Bangkok or Hanoi prior to the tour stating which is something you would perhaps like to consider. Here is a [url=http://www.bkklaoembassy.com/]web page[/url] that will be of interest.
I would suggest that you attain any visa prior to travelling as this makes boarder transition generally easier so if you have time in the arrival city please make enquires regarding the visa.
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Hi Richard
I faced a similar problem when I went on the tour last year. I ended up sending a postal application to the Embassy in Paris. I sent all the documents by overseas recorded delivery and my passport and visa were returned to me within a week. The following website has all the details together with a copy of the application form you can download - [url=http://perso.wanadoo.fr/laoparis/.]http://perso.wanadoo.fr/laoparis/.[/url] Just make sure you add 8 euros so that they can send it back by recorded delivery too. The only drawback is that the site is in French, which I am fortunate enough to speak. So if you decide to do it this way, and you are having problems, let me know and I will talk you through it.
Alternatively, there was a visa service at the joining hotel in Bangkok. I believe a Laotian visa takes a couple of days. I got my Cambodian visa this way (24 hrs), and again had no problems.
Having said this, most people got their visas at the border. I wanted to get mine beforehand, as I have been turned away at a border before (visa regulations having changed the week before).
Hope this helps
Tara
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Thanks for the feedback Tara, I'm sure that helps other travellers as well as Richard.
The Imaginative Traveller always advises that you obtain any visa before travelling to avoid any possible problems entering a country to take your tour.
The most important thing to do if you do decide to get a visa for Laos or Cambodia on the Thai border is to check with a visa specialist (such as [url=http://www.travcour.com)]www.travcour.com)[/url] or an embassy/consulate before travelling to ensure that the situation has not changed prior to your arrival.
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Travelling to Laos and Vietnam, I have easily obtained visas at home. Visas to Laos were obtained in Bangkok
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Wayne, I think you may have misunderstood the point.
There is no problem in obtaining a visa for Vietnam in the UK, as there is an Embassy in London. However, at present, there is no Laotian representation in the UK, the nearest Embassy for UK nationals being in Paris. This means a very costly and time consuming trip to Paris, or the risk of sending your passport overseas through the mail. You can use a visa service such as Travcour(as recommended by IT), but when I was applying for my visas last year, they had no dealings with the Laotian Embassy and so could not help. Furthermore, some Embassies do not accept postal applications.
As it turned out, I had no problems in obtaining my visa for Cambodia in Bangkok. However, you have to ensure that you arrive before the beginning of the tour to do this, and not everyone can afford the additional time to apply for visas this way.
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Hi,
This is indeed a valid point and is the reason that most travellers obtain their Laos visas on the border with Thailand currently, or prior to leaving Bangkok.
We don't want to send out conflicting messages - on the whole we always recommend obtaining a visa before travelling. However, as we know that certain countries are easy to enter by obtaining a visa on arrival/at the border we're also happy to advise when this is the case. As long as travellers are aware that it is their responsibility to decide how they will apply for their visa, whether prior to travel or on arrival. This is important, because failure to be allowed into a country can lead to you missing your tour.
Embassies and consulates are always the best place to start but some embassies are naturally better than others and if you can't find the answer you need from them then try a visa service, up to date guidebooks or speaking to other travellers who have recently visited the country you are travelling to.
Countries that the Imaginative Traveller visits where it is currently common to obtain a visa/visitors permit on arrival include:
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Egypt
- Japan
Countries where you will require additional paperwork and/or proof that you are travelling with us to arrange your visa include Iran and Russia. If you need confirmation from us for a different country then you just need to let us or your booking agent know.
PLEASE always check before travelling and remember that the entry requirements can vary depending on your nationality.
Sorry that I lost track of the actual question there but I hope this helps![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Re: Laos Visa Applications
Thanks for all the info - I sent an e-mail to the Laos Embassy in Paris and this is there reply. In view of this i will get my Visa at the border. Thanks to all of you again.
Extract from e-mail
You can get the visa up on your arrival at HouyXai Border crossing check-point and it is valid for 15 days, just prepare two photos, 30-40 $ US/passport and you will get the form to complete in place. It is also fast and easy to get the visa.
However, in order to get the visa for Laos from our embassy in Paris, please send us to Lao Embassy (Consular Service) 74, Avenue Raymond Poincar