Residency visa Laos

stumpy · 2011-03-20 11:58:24

I have heard that it may be possible to get aresidnecy visa for Laos.
I am interested in finding out more about this as I am married, living in Vientiane and will eventually settle there fulltime.
Anyone have any info on this !!!

garlicholan · 2012-07-11 11:36:16

Takes a long time, and a lot of money. You have to have lived in Laos for more than 6 years. You need references from all sorts of places village/district/province/police, further more guarantees of work or sufficient money on the bank in other word income.
Best is you find someone high up in the foreign office that can run the papers for you it can take over a year!

stumpy · 2012-07-14 01:39:55

Latest on residnecy visa for foreigners in Laos.

You have to reside in country for 11 months of each year for 5 years.

That leaves me out as I work overseas and come back to Laos on my leave breaks.

T-Lao · 2012-07-25 01:01:28

And you will have to pay 5,000 US unless you can by pass all the middle men. One of my fellow teachers just met all the requirements and the first thing said to him was Hah Paan Dollar.

stumpy · 2012-07-25 06:30:40

TLao,

That was the dollar figure I heard too. Don't make it easy do they. Seems everything to do with beaurocracy in Laos has a high dollar value attached to it.

somsanuk · 2012-08-29 12:51:47

That would buy you more than 10 years of business visas, although it's more difficult finding a sponsor than before. I wonder what advantage residency would bring.

stumpy · 2012-08-30 02:01:48

I would presume the residency visa would mean you could come and go without having to fill in forms, getting a whole page in your passport taken up with a temp visa and having to pay a fee each time you enter the country.

Hopefully the Govt may make it easier for other things like owning real estate or a business.

Knowing the Lao Govt I can safely say that the residency visa would have a renewal fee payable on some sort of time period

somsanuk · 2012-08-30 05:36:30

Not presuming to know the Lao government (or anyone of substance in it), but after nearly 8 years here, I know that anything that requires bureaucratic paperwork has a cash value - for fee plus facilitation. This is paid willingly by anyone (Lao or foreign resident or major investor or other government for that matter) who feels it's worth the extra to get what they want either fairly quickly - or even at all!

The money is divided between the legislated fee and the line of officials facilitating the process. It can be as little as 100 baht for personal transactions to save standing in a queue (line) for hours and possible returning in a few days to do the same, to hundreds, thousands even millions of dollars for major investment contracts. There's no way around it. It's not only in Laos, either. It's corruption of course, but so what? Other countries have it in various forms; it may not be as blatant or obvious, but it's there.

As far as a Lao residence visa is concerned, I imagine there would be requirements (like Thailand has) for assets, bank accounts and ongoing income, health, criminal history, maybe language proficiency etc. etc. to satisfy the legislation, but most of the fee would go to the facilitator(s), including a maintenance charge.

Any Lao visa takes up a passport page, and a visit to another country will still involve an exit and entry form and four immigration stamps at the border. Maybe more: e.g. Indonesia needs a formal tax clearance for foreign residents each time they leave.

I doubt the benefits, if any, would be worth the hassle and expense. The current multi-entry annual business visa with work permit needs no paperwork except passport copy and a few photos, and is usually issued about a month from submission. The only difficulty is finding a sponsor. You need a friend who knows someone who knows someone else who ...

T-Lao · 2012-08-31 13:24:50

My friend and coworker was quoted 5k for residentcy in Vientiane. But he had a friend that tried to do his work in Savannaket and got it done without going through Vientiane. He got his registration on his house for 500 dollars and residentcy for 500 also. Not believing this but being in the area my friend went to Savanneket and low and behold he got his residentcy for 500 dollars within 6 hours. So I guess if you can get away from the mafia, corruption controlled mentality of vientiane you can get things done a lot cheaper. worth a try. I will also try this soon when I go for my house registration.

somsanuk · 2012-08-31 13:55:16

$500 sounds like a good deal, but what are the benefits of the visa and also the house registration?

T-Lao · 2012-08-31 23:39:30

The house registration basically shows ownership if my wife died and ties me to the support of my children (all adopted Lao). The residentcy give me all the rights of a Lao except voting rights which are not an issue anyway due to my spouse being Lao and benefits they are gauranteed. The residentcy will save a tone of money in border crossing and trips I take that are job related and removes all immigration issues for a foreigner. It does pave the way for citizenship if I decide on that. For me it is a security/financial issue. So feel they need it some don't. If you are married and have children I see it as a must down the line to avoid complications in custody or property if my spouse died. Just my opinion but it also shows in my post that things can get done in other places at half the cost. VTN is less tourist friendly in cost and proof you are not a tourist does help somewhat.

T-Lao · 2012-08-31 23:40:51

Forgive my spelling errors in the above post. It is 3am.

Laughing Brook · 2012-09-16 17:21:58

This residency, with the required in-country presence of 11 months per year, at $500 or $5000, is it permanent residency, or just one year at a time.? And marriage to a Laotian necessary? And ownership of house necessary, or will a rented apartment do? Any idea the cost in Luang Prabang? And does one have to have a certain amount of time in-country before applying? Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

robert cooper · 2012-09-25 08:52:01

Never heard of a residency Visa. You can get a resident's permit but this needs renewal each year along with a business visa. Costs vary between $200-800/year. To be a permanent resident rending naturalisation (Lao citizenship) you need to be here some time, officially 5 years, and take a Lao language test which is equal to that a 12 year old Lao passes at school. Even if you are over 65 and married to a Lao and intend to live here you get a visa LA-B2 and a residents card for $200 (+). That resident's card is marked 'employment prohibited'.

T-Lao · 2012-09-25 23:58:15

Robert, they do exist. I have two coworkers that have them and my brother in law from China has one. The permanent residentcy is tied to family needs and/or business self-owned and operated. Most here are talking about work and the residentcy visa attached to it. If you are working no problem for as long as you work. But when you retire it is something different. Key word retire. My coworkers that have a permanent residentcy neither are married but have worked for 5 plus continous years at the same place. Not sure what other criteria they met. I asked about this same issue to my uncle in the bureau of foreign affairs here in Vientiane and was told by him and others that when I hit my 5 year mark, having a Lao wife for over 10 years and two Lao children that it will be easy for me. Again, we are not talking citizenship just the right to live here. Like all countries most issue a green card or work permit that allows you to stay in country. If you want to live forever then most try for citizenship or retirement visa (which does not allow you to work). My wife will have her own business where I am part owner and I will work for her probably until I die.

For those interested; I was told that the law has changed and a foreigner can own 800 sq mts of land. Any information on this?

somsanuk · 2012-09-26 04:02:48

Maybe the regulations are applied differently for returning ethnic Lao (T-Lao?) or other Asians than for 'real' foreigners.

One can only wonder how the massive influx of Chinese investors/workforce is being managed.

Last edited by somsanuk (2012-09-26 04:16:43)

robert cooper · 2012-09-26 05:18:00

Thanks. But I think things are very confused, and not just in my head. A German friend got a 5-year 'resident card' and a special 'family book' in addition to the normal one of his wife. He thought that was it, but when leaving the country his current Business visa was cancelled and on return he had to come in on a tourist visa, then pay as normal for a business visa, leave again etc. I have just renewed my stay permit and visa (not Business but one year)-- $200. The dor-mor police told me I could also have a family book and ID card valid 5 years, but that I would still need a visa in the passport if I wanted to leave the country. It appeared to me it would just be more documentation serving no useful purpose -- and cost an extra $1,400. No doubt things are changing but as yet have to be clarified.

somsanuk · 2012-09-26 06:18:19

Life in Lao for a foreigner can be relatively simple - with luck - if you can keep your nose clean and don't upset anyone important for any reason; also pay what's asked of you or face delays and added expense. There are complicated alternatives if you want! Decide if potential benefits (never guaranteed) are really worth the hassle or money.

Last edited by somsanuk (2012-09-26 06:21:09)

T-Lao · 2012-09-26 11:55:36

Samsanuk,
Well, said....Oh, and by the way I am not Lao. But as time goes by and I know more people it seems to be easier. But I can not agree more with what you said above. Stay clean, respectful, and don't cause problems. Be prepared to pay the price if you can. I have stalled before until I found the person or persons in a higher position and paid less but your right, you will have to pay.

Last edited by T-Lao (2012-09-26 12:01:42)

somsanuk · 2012-09-26 12:14:39

Thanks, and well done T-Lao, you seem to be 'working the system' pretty well. Knowing people like your uncle by marriage at MoFA can certainly help - if they are senior enough and not too greedy.

T-Lao · 2012-09-26 14:00:45

You got it. I hope that people realize inspite of all the hassels you encounter here in Lao, it is far easier to live, work or do business than in Thailand.

somsanuk · 2012-09-26 15:02:43

I'd basically agree with you, having had enough years in Thailand to see that a one-party state may not be such a bad thing. It's a devil you can get to know.

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Residency visa Laos

#1 2011-03-20 11:58:24

Residency visa Laos

#2 2012-07-11 11:36:16

Re: Residency visa Laos

#3 2012-07-14 01:39:55

Re: Residency visa Laos

#4 2012-07-25 01:01:28

Re: Residency visa Laos

#5 2012-07-25 06:30:40

Re: Residency visa Laos

#6 2012-08-29 12:51:47

Re: Residency visa Laos

#7 2012-08-30 02:01:48

Re: Residency visa Laos

#8 2012-08-30 05:36:30

Re: Residency visa Laos

#9 2012-08-31 13:24:50

Re: Residency visa Laos

#10 2012-08-31 13:55:16

Re: Residency visa Laos

#11 2012-08-31 23:39:30

Re: Residency visa Laos

#12 2012-08-31 23:40:51

Re: Residency visa Laos

#13 2012-09-16 17:21:58

Re: Residency visa Laos

#14 2012-09-25 08:52:01

Re: Residency visa Laos

#15 2012-09-25 23:58:15

Re: Residency visa Laos

#16 2012-09-26 04:02:48

Re: Residency visa Laos

#17 2012-09-26 05:18:00

Re: Residency visa Laos

#18 2012-09-26 06:18:19

Re: Residency visa Laos

#19 2012-09-26 11:55:36

Re: Residency visa Laos

#20 2012-09-26 12:14:39

Re: Residency visa Laos

#21 2012-09-26 14:00:45

Re: Residency visa Laos

#22 2012-09-26 15:02:43

Re: Residency visa Laos

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