Lao People's Democratic Republic · residence general
Stay Permit Card for Investors and Family
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Stay Permit Card route for foreign investors and qualifying family after entry on the correct Lao business visa.
- Processing time
- Apply after entry on the correct NI-B2 or LA-B2 visa through OSS/IPD/MPI, provincial planning and investment, or the relevant police foreigner-control channel.
- Government fees
- Confirm current stay permit and service fees. The page lists separate multiple-entry visa levies for 3, 6 and 12 months and says other service fees may apply.
- Typical duration
- Generally no longer than 1 year and renewable year by year; provincial police may issue 6 to 12 months. Qualifying government concession agreements of 10 years or more can support 3-5 year validity.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
Laos is covered from the official Lao eVisa portal, the Department of Immigration site and the Invest Laos one-stop service guidance. The public eVisa pages are detailed for tourism entry, while business-investor, foreign technician and stay-permit guidance is concentrated on the Invest Laos visa and stay-permit card page. Applicants should confirm live nationality eligibility, fee, filing location and document upload requirements before paying or travelling. The Invest Laos page explains that after entering with NI-B2 business visa, investors can apply for the stay permit card via the Investment One-Stop Service Office, Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment when the investment was approved at central or Vientiane Capital level. For provincial approvals, the page describes submission through provincial planning and investment sections or foreigner control police sections. It says investors and family generally receive stay permit card and multiple-entry visa validity of not more than 1 year unless a qualifying long concession agreement applies.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The applicant entered with the correct NI-B2 or LA-B2 visa according to status.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- ✓The investor has the required investment, concession or enterprise registration evidence.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- ✓The filing channel matches whether approval was central, Vientiane Capital or provincial.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
Common blockers
- !The applicant entered on a tourist eVisa or other visa not accepted for the stay permit card request.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- !The applicant uses a tourist eVisa for work, investment residence or technical employment.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- !The applicant relies on old fees or validity periods instead of confirming the current amount and issuing channel.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- !The applicant cannot show the investment, enterprise, quota, employment or family basis required for the selected route.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Company proposal for stay permit card and visa.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- ·Visa used to enter Lao PDR, with NI-B2 required for investors and family and LA-B2 for directors, deputy directors or technical officers where applicable.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
- ·Foreign investment licence or concession licence and enterprise registration certificate evidence.Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the investor approval level and correct filing office.
Build the evidence pack
Enter on the visa type required for the stay permit card basis.
Submit through the official channel
Prepare company proposal, entry visa and investment or enterprise evidence.
After approval
Submit through OSS/IPD/MPI, provincial planning and investment, or the relevant police foreigner-control channel.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantUse stay permit card guidance for investors and family ↗
Use this official Lao PDR source to confirm the current route, filing channel and supporting documents. Laos is covered from the official Lao eVisa portal, the Department of Immigration site and the Invest Laos one-stop service guidance. The public eVisa pages are detailed for tourism entry, while business-investor, foreign technician and stay-permit guidance is concentrated on the Invest Laos visa and stay-permit card page. Applicants should confirm live nationality eligibility, fee, filing location and document upload requirements before paying or travelling.
Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Lao PDR · verified
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Frequently asked questions
Can investor family members apply for a Lao stay permit card?+
The Invest Laos page describes stay permit card procedures for foreign investors and family members.
How long is the stay permit card normally valid?+
The page says investors without a qualifying long government concession generally receive stay permit card and multiple-entry visa validity of not more than 1 year, while provincial police may issue 6 to 12 months.
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We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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