Health and Travel Alert – U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Laos (June 24, 2020)
Event: Survey of U.S. Citizen Interest in Chartered Flight
The July 5 Lao Airlines flight from Vientiane (VTE) to Seoul (ICN) referenced in the Embassy’s June 22 Health and Travel Alertis sold out.
The organizer, TicketLao, is exploring options to arrange additional flights from VTE to ICN in the same timeframe. TicketLao is asking interested U.S. citizens to contact it via WhatsApp at +856 (0)20 52 558 787 and specify the number of tickets they wish to purchase and their final destination.
Please note that this flight is arranged by a private business. The Embassy makes no guarantee of quality of service or availability of tickets for U.S. citizens. The Embassy cannot answer questions about the flight or seat availability; please direct such questions to the contact details above. The Embassy also will not make travel arrangements on your behalf.
Event: Government of Laos Announces Updated Entry and Exit Regulations
On June 1, the Government of Laos announced new entry and exit regulations to reduce and contain the spread of COVID-19. These regulations complement the measures that the Government of Laos announced on May 29 and that the Embassy described in a June 1 Health and Travel Alert. These regulations will be in effect until June 30. The following is a general summary of the regulations that may be of interest to U.S. citizens:
· All land border crossings and airports will remain closed;
· Entry into Laos is granted only in very limited circumstances;
· All entrants will be subject to COVID-19 testing and a 14-day self-quarantine requirement at their own expense;
· All U.S. citizens who wish to depart Laos must inform the Embassy. The Embassy will then formally notify the Government of Laos.
In light of these new procedures, we urge all U.S. citizens who plan to depart Laos before June 30 to inform the Embassy at their earliest possible convenience so that we may assist them in requesting exit permission from the Government of Laos. Please note that all requests for exit permission must include specific travel plans, including time and point of departure and mode of transportation. Please do not contact the Embassy for assistance until you have specific travel plans.
The full text of the announcement in English can be found here. (PDF 506 KB)
Extending Visas in Laos
According to the Lao Department of Immigration, U.S. citizens seeking to extend visas that have expired due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID-19 can do so at the Department of Immigration Office in Vientiane. U.S. citizens outside Vientiane can request extension at provincial Public Security Offices. Extension can be requested in one-month increments, at a rate of 20,000 kip (around USD $2.50) per day of extension. Thus, one month of extension should cost around USD $75, plus a nominal administrative fee. Though not required, some immigration officers may request a letter from the Embassy in support of visa extension requests. The Embassy can provide such a letter if necessary; please direct requests to conslao@state.gov.
Actions to Take:
Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Laos.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Laos
+856 (0)21 487 000
conslao@state.gov
la.usembassy.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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