Official System: Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF)
2026 Quick Answer
All foreign nationals and stateless persons entering or departing Lao PDR on a passport via participating international checkpoints (individual registration required per traveler for both arrival and departure). Travelers must submit the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) (Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival or departure (Today D through D+2)). This digital declaration replaces: Paper Lao Arrival and Departure Immigration Cards.
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in Laos so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 3-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Within 3 calendar days prior to arrival or departure (Today D through D+2) | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your LDIF confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / Laos arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify LDIF completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Covers BOTH arrival (Immigration Arrival Register) and departure (Immigration Departure Register); each crossing requires a separate submission and generates its own 10-character verification code and QR PDF.
Compliance tip: No email address is collected and no online QR retrieval lookup endpoint exists on immigration.gov.la — travelers MUST download the A4 PDF or screenshot the 10-character verification code before clicking Confirm (which clears browser storage).
Compliance tip: Passport expiry date must be strictly greater than 180 days from submission on Arrival (at least Today + 181 days) and strictly greater than 1 day on Departure (at least Today + 2 days).
Compliance tip: All text inputs enforce 7-bit ASCII (English letters/numbers only; accented characters and non-Latin scripts are rejected), and phone numbers allow only digits, '+', and '-' (6–15 characters, no spaces or parentheses).
Eligible Passports: Lao PDR international checkpoints do not currently operate automated biometric e-Gates for foreign visitors; present your LDIF 10-character verification code and QR code PDF (printed or on phone screen) along with your physical passport to the immigration officer.
How Airport Clearance Works: Lao PDR international checkpoints do not currently operate automated biometric e-Gates for foreign visitors; present your LDIF 10-character verification code and QR code PDF (printed or on phone screen) along with your physical passport to the immigration officer.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA-1 | Wattay International Airport (Vientiane) | Air | Active LDIF checkpoint (WATTAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT); e-Visa & Visa on Arrival supported |
| LA-2 | Luang Prabang International Airport | Air | Active LDIF checkpoint (LUANGPRABANG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT); e-Visa & Visa on Arrival supported |
| LA-3 | Pakse International Airport (Champasak) | Air | Active LDIF checkpoint (PAKSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT); e-Visa & Visa on Arrival supported |
| LA-4 | First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Vientiane – Nong Khai) | Land | Active LDIF land border checkpoint (FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE 1); e-Visa & Visa on Arrival supported |
| LA-5 | Savannakhet International Airport | Air | Paper arrival/departure card accepted until LDIF nationwide expansion |
| LA-6 | Second Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Savannakhet – Mukdahan) | Land | Paper arrival/departure card accepted until LDIF nationwide expansion |
| LA-7 | Third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Khammouane – Nakhon Phanom) | Land | Paper arrival/departure card accepted until LDIF nationwide expansion |
| LA-8 | Fourth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Bokeo – Chiang Khong) | Land | Paper arrival/departure card accepted until LDIF nationwide expansion |
| LA-9 | Boten International Checkpoint & Lao-China Railway (Luang Namtha) | Land | Land & rail border with China; paper card used until LDIF expansion |
| LA-10 | Vangtao International Border Checkpoint (Champasak – Chong Mek) | Land | Land border with Thailand; paper card used until LDIF expansion |
| LA-11 | Dansavan International Border Gate (Savannakhet – Lao Bao) | Land | Land border with Vietnam; paper card used until LDIF expansion |
Choose Immigration Arrival Register or Immigration Departure Register within 3 days of crossing, select your checkpoint (Wattay, Luang Prabang, Pakse, or Friendship Bridge 1), and enter your passport, personal, and transport details in English ASCII.
Upload a clear image of your passport bio-data page, specify your visa arrangement (pre-obtained visa, visa exemption, or Visa on Arrival), and provide your intended hotel/address in Lao PDR.
Confirm that all entries match your passport and click Submit to receive your 10-character alphanumeric LDIF Verification Code and QR code.
Download the A4 PDF (`immigration_arrival_form_<CODE>.pdf`) or screenshot the QR screen BEFORE clicking Confirm (no email is sent and Confirm clears browser storage), then present it with your passport at the Lao immigration counter.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Covers BOTH arrival (Immigration Arrival Register) and departure (Immigration Departure Register); each crossing requires a separate submission and generates its own 10-character verification code and QR PDF. No email address is collected and no online QR retrieval lookup endpoint exists on immigration.gov.la — travelers MUST download the A4 PDF or screenshot the 10-character verification code before clicking Confirm (which clears browser storage). Passport expiry date must be strictly greater than 180 days from submission on Arrival (at least Today + 181 days) and strictly greater than 1 day on Departure (at least Today + 2 days). All text inputs enforce 7-bit ASCII (English letters/numbers only; accented characters and non-Latin scripts are rejected), and phone numbers allow only digits, '+', and '-' (6–15 characters, no spaces or parentheses). Does not replace a Lao Visa, Lao e-Visa (laoevisa.gov.la), or Visa on Arrival; travelers requiring a visa must still obtain one.
All foreign nationals and stateless persons entering or departing Lao PDR on a passport through an active LDIF checkpoint (Wattay International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport, Pakse International Airport, and the First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge) must submit an individual LDIF.
You must submit the LDIF within 3 calendar days prior to your arrival or departure (Today D, Tomorrow D+1, or Day After Tomorrow D+2). You can also submit on the day of travel before approaching the immigration counter.
No. The official Lao immigration portal does not collect an email address and does not have an online QR retrieval lookup page. You must download the A4 PDF or screenshot your 10-character verification code and QR code immediately before clicking Confirm, as clicking Confirm clears local browser storage.
Yes. Laos requires a separate digital submission for departure ('Immigration Departure Register') when exiting through one of the 4 participating checkpoints, which generates a separate departure verification code and QR PDF.
No. The LDIF only replaces the paper arrival and departure immigration cards. If your nationality requires a visa, you must still hold a valid Lao Embassy Visa, Lao e-Visa (laoevisa.gov.la), or apply for a Visa on Arrival at the checkpoint.
For Arrival registrations, the LDIF system strictly enforces that your passport expiry date is more than 180 days from the date of submission (at least Today + 181 days). For Departure registrations, your passport must be valid for more than 1 day.