Lao visa for South African citizens
A visa is REQUIRED for South African passport holders visiting Laos for tourism and business purposes. See detailed requirements below:
Visa requirements:
| Visa type | Purposes | Visa requirements | Allowed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | For South African citizens to enter Laos for a short-term tourism purpose. | Visa required | N/A |
| Evisa | Laos e-visa for South African citizens | Eligible | |
| Visa on arrival | Laos visa on arrival for South African citizens | Eligible | |
Laos tourist visa requirements:
- Holding South African passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Laos.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Laos.
If you are looking for Laos visa information, such as available types of visas, or how to apply from South Africa, we recommend you visit or contact the embassy or consulate of Laos nearest your place of residence.
- Kuwait City: The Embassy of in Kuwait City, ~ 7168.18 kilometers (4454.10 mi) away from Pretoria, South Africa. (Working hours: Close now. Open in 7 hours 38 minutes).
- Geneva: The Permanent Mission of in Geneva, ~ 8705.31 kilometers (5409.23 mi) away from Pretoria, South Africa. (Working hours: Close now).
Laos visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Laos diplomatic mission offices to South Africa for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from South Africa traveling to Laos from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (South Africa) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 10,749 | N/A |
| 2009 | 10,284 | -4.33% |
| 2010 | 13,861 | 34.78% |
| 2011 | 15,720 | 13.41% |
| 2012 | 19,015 | 20.96% |
| 2013 | 22,410 | 17.85% |
| 2014 | 26,261 | 17.18% |
| 2015 | 29,407 | 11.98% |
| 2016 | 27,515 | -6.43% |
| 2017 | 27,033 | -1.75% |
| 2018 | 31,291 | 15.75% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Laos & South Africa comparison
Laos's area is approximately 236,800 km2 (91,428 sq mi), while the area of South Africa is approximately 1,213,090 km2 (468,376 sq mi). This means South Africa is 5.12 times bigger than Laos.
As of October 2025, Laos's population is ~7.8 million people - 55,290,495 fewer people than the population of South Africa.
We have highlighted Laos & South Africa’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Laos | South Africa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 7,813,951 | 63,104,446 | 55.3 million fewer people live in Laos than South Africa |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 39 | 124 | Laos has 85 fewer diplomatic representations abroad compared with South Africa. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 20 | 67 | Laos passport holders visit 47 fewer countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 37 | 197 | Lao hosts 160 fewer foreign missions than South Africa. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from South Africa travel to Laos in one year?
The number of visitors from South Africa visiting Laos in 2018 was approximately 31,291.
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- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Northern Mariana Islands
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Today’s Forecast
| 16.71°C | ||
| Humidity | 99% | |
| Wind | 6.4 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 10:19 AM | |
Useful Information
- Vientiane to Pretoria: 9418.72 km (5852.52 mi)
- Travel time: 19 hours 37 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025