Work visas
Laotian Business Visa for Work (LA-B2)
The main employment visa for foreigners legally employed by a registered enterprise in Laos, used together with a work permit and stay permit.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
The stated first-visa fee (20-42 USD) references a 2009 notification and may be outdated; confirm the current fee schedule with the Consular Department / Department of Immigration.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Laos government website before you apply.
- Official name
- Business Visa for Work (LA-B2)
- Route type
- Employer-sponsored work visa
- Responsible authority
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (with Labour and Public Security ministries)
- Validity
- 3, 6 or 12 months, multiple entry (aligned to the employment contract)
- Processing time
- Normal review up to about 6 working days for the whole process (single + multiple visa)
- Legal basis
- Law on Entry-Exit and Management of Foreigners in Lao PDR No. 59/NA (2014), Chapter 4
- First single visa fee
- Historically 20-42 USD depending on nationality, plus service fee (5,000 LAK on arrival / 20,000 LAK at embassy)
- Fee reference dates from 2009 (Presidential Edict 03/PR; Notification 256/MOFA.FCD) and may be out of date
Who it is for
- Foreigners with a job offer from a registered Lao enterprise that holds a foreign-labour quota
- Technical staff, directors/deputy directors and employees (non-shareholders)
- Workers whose employer will sponsor the visa, work permit and stay permit
Requirements
- Copy of passport
- Employer request letter for the foreign employee
- Approved quota / permit to import foreign labour
- Permit for foreign labour to work in Laos (work permit)
- Stay permit from the immigration authority
- Employment contract with the Lao enterprise
What you can do
- Live and work legally for the sponsoring enterprise
- Enter and leave Laos multiple times during validity
- Renew annually while the employment continues
How to apply
- Employer obtains the foreign-labour quota and work-permit approval
- Employer submits the visa request; a single visa is issued first
- Worker collects the visa at a Lao embassy/consulate or a visa-on-arrival unit
- Complete the work permit and stay permit, then convert to the multiple-entry visa
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.