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Visa requirements · updated Aug 2026

Do Laos citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?

Visa required

Laos citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSAug 2026
Visa required
Laos → United Kingdom
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Everything for your trip to United Kingdom

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Laos vs United Kingdom: passport comparison

Laos

20

visa-free countries

Global rank: #167 · mobility 75.8

United Kingdom

118

visa-free countries

Global rank: #31 · mobility 167.6
16

countries both Laos and United Kingdom can enter visa-free together

Laos + United Kingdom: passport compatibility

36%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Laos and United Kingdom travel together — by entry type:

16 both visa-free
18 both visa on arrival
21 both e-visa / eTA
15 both need a visa
127 access differs

Where Laos and United Kingdom can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (16)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Only Laos is visa-free (4)

UK visa refusals for Laos citizens

The Home Office publishes the outcome of every visa application — issued and refused — broken down by nationality. These are visitor visas: tourism, family visits and business trips.

13.6%
of visitor-visa applications from Laos citizens were refused in 2025
-14.1 pp below the all-country median (27.7%) — refused less often
-7.4 pp year-over-year: 2024 was 21.0%, now 13.6%
689decisions in the year
94of them refusals
#99strictest of 119 countries
89countries saw UK refusals rise year-over-year

Home Office data for 2025, visitor visas (applications made from outside the UK). Only countries with at least 200 decisions in the year are ranked — below that the percentage swings on small numbers. The median, rank and year-over-year change are our own calculations on top of the official figures. Source: UK Home Office  ·  All countries →

How the entry rule changed: Laos → United Kingdom

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Laos → United Kingdom rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

0passports gained easier entry to United Kingdom
1passports saw United Kingdom tighten its rules
1rule changes for the Laos passport, 1 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

United Kingdom: good to know

London

Capital

British Pound (GBP)

Currency

Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)

Time zone

+44

Calling code

G

Power plug

230V / 50Hz

Voltage

Left-hand

Driving side

Where else Laos goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for United Kingdom

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Laos citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?
Laos citizens need a visa to enter United Kingdom. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Laos or United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom passport is stronger: 118 visa-free countries versus 20. Global rank: Laos #167, United Kingdom #31.
Where can Laos and United Kingdom citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 16 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for United Kingdom?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Laos and United Kingdom?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Aug 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Laos passport ranking

Where else the Laos passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport