Wattay International Airport Arrival Checklist 2026: eVisa, Visa on Arrival & LDIF

October 23, 2026

Wattay International Airport Arrival Checklist 2026: eVisa, Visa on Arrival & LDIF

This VisaGov.la procedure note covers entry to Laos by air at Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital) during the 2026–27 high season. It was prompted by a schedule change: Thai Airways International adds a third daily Bangkok–Vientiane flight from 1 December 2026 (TTR Weekly, 30 September 2026). Work through the steps below in order. The tourist stay after entry is 30 days.

Intake: WhatsApp +856 20 9999 7573 · contact@66visa.com · Harmony Hotel, Asean Road, Vientiane · daily 9:00 AM–8:00 PM · walk-ins welcome · Maps

Hub: Laos visas · Home: VisaGov.la

Section 1 — Schedule reference (Bangkok ↔ Vientiane)

Source: TTR Weekly, 30 September 2026, citing online advance timetables. The new service is effective 1 December 2026 and is scheduled until 27 March 2027. All Thai Airways rotations use A320 aircraft with 156 seats.

Lao Airlines also operates the route twice daily (A320, 150 seats), per the same report. Confirm times with your airline before travel; timetables can change.

Section 2 — Context: arrival volumes

• First half of 2026: more than 2.5 million foreign visitors, up 9.87% year on year. Top sources: Thailand (833,738), China (675,365), Vietnam (586,190). Source: Vientiane Times via Asia News Network, 2 October 2026.
• First nine months of 2026: about 3.28 million international visitors; about 3.66 million expected by year-end. Source: Laotian Times, 6 October 2026.
• Full year 2025: 4.5 million international visitors, up 11% on 2024. Source: KPL, 20 October 2026.

Implication: more scheduled seats into Vientiane during peak months. Prepare your documents before departure, not in the arrivals hall.

Section 3 — Select your entry route

Wattay accepts both routes below. Pick one.

Route A — Tourist eVisa

• Port: Wattay International Airport is No. 1 of 9 designated eVisa ports (laoevisa.gov.la/info).
• Apply: online at laoevisa.gov.la at least 5 days before travel (GOV.UK).
• Entry type: single entry (GOV.UK).
• Processing: usually 3 working days after you submit and pay. Longer if the information does not meet requirements (laoevisa.gov.la).
• Fee: calculated on the portal. It is non-refundable.

Route B — Visa on arrival

• Port: Vientiane Wattay airport is listed by GOV.UK as an entry point for a single-entry visa on arrival.
• Eligibility: GOV.UK’s guidance is written for British passport holders. Other nationalities should confirm with a Lao embassy before travel.
• Timing: processed at the airport. Expect longer queues when several flights land close together.

Section 4 — eVisa document checklist

1. Photograph, 4×6 cm, ICAO standard, taken no more than 6 months ago.
2. Passport bio page scan covering the whole page, including the two MRZ lines at the bottom.
3. Application details entered exactly as they appear in the passport.
4. Fee paid online (final step of the application).
5. Approval letter downloaded and printed.
6. Name, passport number and validity dates on the letter checked against the travel passport.

Section 5 — Holiday closure notice

The laoevisa.gov.la holiday table lists Lao National Day, Wednesday 2 December 2026 as a closure day for the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The portal states that processing may take longer during breaks.

Action: if you plan to arrive in early December, including on the new TG572 morning flight, submit the eVisa application well before the end of November.

Section 6 — LDIF (Lao Digital Immigration Form)

1. Go to immigration.gov.la.
2. Complete the arrival LDIF within 3 days before arrival.
3. Save the QR code to your phone and keep a screenshot available offline.
4. Complete the departure LDIF within 3 days before departure.

Per GOV.UK, the LDIF applies at Wattay International Airport, where it replaces paper arrival and departure cards. The LDIF does not replace the visa.

Section 7 — Passport requirements

• Valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive (GOV.UK).
• At least 2 blank pages (GOV.UK).
• Airlines will only let you board if the passport has enough blank pages (GOV.UK).
• Use the same passport for the eVisa application and for travel.

Section 8 — Procedure at Wattay (eVisa holders)

1. Go to the immigration area and enter the dedicated eVisa lane.
2. Present your passport and printed eVisa approval letter to the immigration officer.
3. Officers check the approval letter against the passport.
4. Receive final immigration approval and enter Laos.

Source: “At the Arrival Port” section, laoevisa.gov.la/info.

Section 9 — After entry

• Authorized tourist stay: 30 days from arrival.
• Extensions: GOV.UK states that a tourist visa can be extended twice in Laos, for a total of 60 additional days.
• Before departure: complete the departure LDIF within the 3-day window.
• Full procedures for extensions and longer stays: Laos visas hub.

Intake support

Send us on WhatsApp +856 20 9999 7573: (1) your approval letter PDF, (2) your flight number and arrival date, (3) a photo of your passport bio page. Desk: Harmony Hotel, Asean Road, Vientiane · contact@66visa.com · daily 9:00 AM–8:00 PM · walk-ins welcome · Maps.

Channels: Instagram @laosvisaservice · Facebook Laos Visa Service · TikTok @koihakpatedlao · YouTube @LaosVisaService.

FAQ

Is Wattay International Airport a designated Laos eVisa port?

Yes. It is listed first among the nine designated ports on laoevisa.gov.la/info.

What time does the new Thai Airways morning flight arrive in Vientiane?

TG572 is scheduled to depart Bangkok at 08:00 and arrive in Vientiane at 09:10 from 1 December 2026 (TTR Weekly).

How far ahead should I apply for the eVisa?

At least 5 days before travel (GOV.UK). Processing is usually 3 working days. Allow extra time around 2 December (Lao National Day).

Is LDIF required at Wattay?

Yes. GOV.UK lists Wattay among the checkpoints where the LDIF applies. Complete it within 3 days before arrival and within 3 days before departure.

What passport validity is required?

At least 6 months after arrival, with at least 2 blank pages (GOV.UK).

VisaGov.la — Harmony Hotel, Asean Road, Vientiane · contact@66visa.com · WhatsApp +856 20 9999 7573 · every day 9:00 AM–8:00 PM · walk-ins welcome · Maps