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Laos

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
6,551
Top destination, 2023
South Korea
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,372
UK visas issued, 2025
677
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
11.6%
NationalityLAISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<LALAOS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LA7<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Laos need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Laos move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. South Korea3,532
  2. Japan1,665
  3. United States810
  4. France136
  5. Hungary97
  6. New Zealand93
  7. Australia75
  8. Germany65
  9. Canada20
  10. Switzerland14
  11. Sweden8
  12. Belgium7
  13. Netherlands6
  14. Italy5
  15. Austria4

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

3,2766,551200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,2766,5512000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,673
20011,746
20021,684
20031,306
20041,534
20051,699
20064,136
20073,864
20084,422
20093,292
20102,548
20112,545
20122,525
20132,466
20142,188
20152,638
20162,604
20172,619
20182,809
20193,188
20201,437
20211,167
20223,413
20236,551
Share going to the top destination
53.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Laos who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Thailand285,819
  2. United States176,588
  3. Bangladesh118,769
  4. France36,591
  5. Canada13,292
  6. Australia11,771
  7. China9,927
  8. Japan3,865
  9. French Guiana1,049
  10. New Caledonia656
  11. Argentina618
  12. Cambodia294

Living abroad by year

330k660k19901995200020052010201520202024
330k660k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990311,756
1995359,736
2000363,370
2005471,052
2010563,709
2015598,860
2020609,093
2024660,258
Living abroad, 2024
660,258
Change since 2000
+81.7%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
43.3%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Laos by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. K1720
  2. B1/B2254
  3. G281
  4. K255
  5. A253
  6. A148
  7. J146
  8. G135
  9. G423
  10. F122

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,5633,125201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,5633,12520172019202120232025
Data table
20171,760
20182,446
20192,530
2020869
2021125
20221,603
20233,125
20242,121
20251,372
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR5198
  2. CR176
  3. IR156
  4. IR244
  5. F333
  6. FX23
  7. GV315
  8. CR214
Immigrant visas, FY2025
525
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
11
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Laos who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Laos with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

5001,0002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5001,000201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015920
2016860
2017690
2018860
2019850
2020490
2021350
2022620
2023730
20241,000
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens780
  2. Family-sponsored preferences180
  3. Employment-based preferences20
  4. Refugees and asylees20
  5. Other classes10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Laos)
1,000
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Laos)
1,710
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
2,220
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Laos (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Laos (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor594
  2. Study54
  3. Other12
  4. Work10
  5. Family7

Visas issued by year

446891201020122014201620182020202220242025
446891201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010153
2011151
2012226
2013327
2014563
2015523
2016587
2017709
2018695
2019891
2020150
2021109
2022483
2023652
2024673
2025677
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
40
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Laos, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

6112005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142016–172019–202021–222023–242025–26
6112005–062009–102013–142019–202023–242025–26
Data table
2005–061
2006–076
2007–0811
2008–092
2009–105
2010–111
2011–121
2012–131
2013–141
2015–165
2016–171
2017–182
2019–201
2020–211
2021–221
2022–231
2023–245
2024–255
2025–2611
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills5
  2. Labour Agreement3
  3. Medium-term1
  4. Specialist Skills1
  5. Short-term1
Granted, 2025–26
11
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Laos living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

2,4974,9932012201420162018202220242025
2,4974,9932012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20122,521
20132,564
20142,556
20152,592
20162,668
20172,745
20182,842
20192,965
20223,297
20233,859
20244,442
20254,993
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Technical Intern Training1,827
  2. Permanent Resident1,430
  3. Specified Skilled Worker453
  4. Student358
  5. Long-Term Resident281
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National177
  7. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services150
  8. Dependent109
  9. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident94
  10. Designated Activities53
Residents, December 2025
4,993
In work-related statuses
2,476
Share in work-related statuses
49.6%
Students
358
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Laos

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Laos, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France2,4321,96541717.1%
Germany2,2522,1201255.6%

Applications by year

2,6025,2032009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2,6025,203200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009649
20102,017
20112,263
20122,559
20132,620
20142,834
20153,424
20163,601
20174,252
20184,640
20195,203
2020797
2021324
20223,007
20234,327
20244,684
Refusal rate, 2024
11.6%
Refusal rate, 2019
8.5%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Laos in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education267
  2. Family208
  3. Other reasons53
  4. Work40
First permits by country
  1. Hungary219
  2. France169
  3. Germany55
  4. Switzerland32
  5. Norway17
  6. Sweden16
  7. Netherlands13
  8. Belgium7
  9. Italy7
  10. Austria6
  11. Poland5
  12. Greece4
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)9
  3. Other paid activities30
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
1
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
157
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
451
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
7,941
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
105
Changed status into work, 2025
11
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
16
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Laos in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025511300
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria202512210
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Laos

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Laos, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Australia1——
China12—
France1——
Germany1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Japan1——
Malaysia1——
Russia1——
Singapore1——
Thailand1——
Türkiye1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
13
Missions
15
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Laos, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

2374732000200320062009201220152018202120242025
237473200020052010201520202025
Data table
20001
20011
20021
20031
20041
20051
20064
20076
200818
200938
201042
2011110
2012203
2013170
2014188
2015189
2016189
2017243
2018240
2019297
2020232
2021220
2022240
2023287
2024371
2025473
Remittances received, 2025
US$473 million
Share of GDP, 2025
2.6%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Laos, 2023
4.9%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Laos

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Laos → South Korea
  • Laos → Japan
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more