Do I need a passport or visa to go to Laos? Is it okay to have only one?

You need a passport and visa to go to Laos.

Passport is a legal document issued by a country to prove the nationality and identity of its citizens when they enter and leave the country and travel or stay abroad. The word Passport means port pass in English. In other words, a passport is a passport for citizens to pass through international ports in various countries. Therefore, some countries in the world usually issue passes instead of passports.

Visa refers to the procedure of endorsement and seal of passports or other travel documents held by domestic or foreign citizens by the sovereign organs of a country to show that they are allowed to enter, exit or transit. It can also be said that it is an endorsement certificate issued to them. Generally speaking, a visa is a document issued by a country's entry-exit administration (such as immigration bureau or its embassy or consulate abroad) to approve the entry of foreign citizens.

Laos visas are divided into transit visas, tourist visas, labor visas, visiting relatives and friends and business visas. Tourist visa, that is, foreigners visiting Laos must apply for a visa from the Lao Embassy.

Under normal circumstances, you can get a 30-day single visa, which can be extended by 15 days; Business Visa According to the agreement, China citizens who travel to Laos with ordinary passports for diplomatic, official or business purposes can be exempted from visas. Business people who plan to conduct market research apply for a single visa first, and then a three-month business visa (also called a multi-way visa). The visa can be extended for another three months. Once the foreign investor's factory is built and started, the foreign investor can get a visa for 6 months to 1 year. In addition, the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law of Laos stipulates that foreign investors can obtain a three-month multi-mode visa if they need to negotiate with the Laos Foreign Investment Management Committee, which can be extended for another three months. Foreign businessmen and foreign employees who stay in Laos to handle investment affairs can obtain a 1 year visa, which can be extended to 1 year until the end of their work. Foreign representatives in Laos must apply for a residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Laos or the security department of the province or region where they are located.