How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)

Bangkok, Thailand
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How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Hello, my girlfriend and I arrived in Vientiane and applied for an Indian tourist Visa. After one full week of travelling up north to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang, we are now back in Vientiane with our tourist visas. The whole process was absolutely hassle free, with no questions asked, and also reasonably cheap compared to where we are from (Australia). We noticed that a lot of people were getting sent back and having the applications rejected because they didn't have the necessary information. It is also good to use forums as a guide from people's experiences for this kind of thing rather than the official websites, as the sites may not be up to date, nor may the information be easy to find. Here is a very simple checklist of what you need to attain a 6 month tourist visa for India:

1. Firstly, you need two 2"x2" (5cm x 5cm) passport photos. If you are in the city centre or along the Mekong river, it is very easy to get these done at any Fujifilm store. If you cannot find one, ask any local and they should be able to help. If not, check google maps for Rue Setthathilath (this road runs parallel to Fa Ngoum Rd, which runs along the Mekong river). There are a couple of stores there. While you are getting this done, ask the store workers if you can use their computer to send the passport photos as a file to your email (or Facebook). This is for your application.

2. Flight itinerary. Though this may seem optional, this is a keystone to achieving your visa. Book in advance to make sure that if you do not get the application sorted, you do not start stressing out!!! If you do not feel like booking in advance, there are a few websites that give you an itinerary if you fill out all the necessary information. Print this out in colour.

3. Reservation of first night accommodation in India. Though optional, this still is extremely helpful in attaining your visa without any questions. There are plenty of websites that allow you to book hostels, guest houses and hotels anywhere in the world. However, if you do not want to be a room in advance (just like the flight), you should check the cancellation policies of those websites. Most websites, however, give you a full refund, so you can cancel after you print out the booking. Print this out in colour.

4. Application filled in and printed out. This is done online on the official indian visa website. Fill in the information to the best detail that you can. Most people are a bit baffled by the references section. This is rather easy. Just get a business card from where you are staying in Vientiane and the name of someone at reception, and add their name, accommodation address and phone number in the columns provided. Similarly, for your Indian reference, simply use the information from your booking. If you do not have a booking, you can always find information about almost all guest houses to wherever your flight is arriving in India with a simple search online. There is no need to stress about this. The most important part of the application is uploading your passport image. Download the photo that you sent to yourself, and resize it to 350x350 pixels (completely necessary) and upload into the application. Print the application in colour and sign below on the bottom of the back page and just below where the embassy will stick the photo on the front page.

5. Scan and print (in colour) copies of your Laos visa and your main passport page.

6. Make sure you have at least two blank pages on your passport with at least 6 months validity.

7. Payment is only in USD, and varies from country to country. Some information is on the Indian Embassy Vientiane website, but it is also good to call them to confirm. Make sure the money is crispy and clean, which should not be a problem if you get the cash from any currency exchange. For Australians, it is $58 USD.

A few last pointers, applications are received between 9-11am on weekdays and usually take 5 business days to process. Pick up is between 4-5pm on weekdays. The embassy is closed on weekdays. Print everything in colour! This helps immensely with them asking less (if any) questions. There is a coffee shop on Rue Setthathilath Rd that prints in colour for 4000 kip per page, and is located near the temple. If you have difficulty finding it, just ask around for a Internet cafe with colour print. The tuk-tuk ride from centre of town takes around 10 minutes, or 15 if there is traffic. We payed 60000 kip for a return trip for two people, but you may be able to get this cheaper. When you give your passports away, go and travel for a full week, and then come back to grab your passports!

So, long story short!

1. Two 2"x2" (5cmx5cm) passport photos.

2. Copy of flight itinerary (in colour).

3. Copy of first night accommodation in India (optional but highly recommended (in colour))

4. Application form filled in and printed out (in colour). Make sure to upload passport photo into the form in 350x350 pixels (very important)

5. Scan and copy Laos visa and main passport page (in colour)

6. Have to blank pages in passport.

7. Payment in USD.

8. Give application to embassy between 9-11am on weekdays.n

Thank you!

Asia
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538 posts
99 reviews
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1. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Hi - do you have any other Indian visas in your passport, and if so how recent are they? I gather this can also be a factor in the decision to grant 6 months (ie if you have recent previous visas you only get 3 months)

Bangkok, Thailand
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2 posts
8 reviews
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2. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Yes I have a previous visa for India that was made just over a year ago. However, this visa that I have received is 6 months as well. There are I am sure a few factors that attribute to different visa lengths, and I am sure that the attitude of the workers at the embassy on certain days can cause this haha

To update, the Internet cafe is called Chan Coffee, and is located in between the two Fujifilm stores on Rue Setthathilath.

Dali, China
1 post
3. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Great info and very detailed, thank you! I will apply for the Indian visa too in Laos next month. May I ask you if on your visa it mentions a port of entry or anything? I will enter by bicycle from Burma, but I may just book some flight tickets for the application and cancel later. But I really have to make sure the port of entry is not stated on the visa. Thank you.

Buenos Aires...
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17 posts
1 review
4. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Hi, Rocio and everybody

Did you apply for indian visa in Laos finally ???

I m chiang mai. i came to thailand to make it but now is not possible. Just e-visa but is for 30 days. And i want to apply for six months.

I checking where is the best country to make it for six months. Between laos or Cambodia.

This post is great but i need update te info.

Thanks in advance !!!

Wanhua, Taipei
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1 post
15 reviews
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5. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Hi Everyone,

YES! As of December 2015, you can in fact get your 6 month Indian tourist visa in Vientiane Laos. EVEN if you are in Laos on a 30 day visa. We are US Citizens.

Edited: 5 years ago
Hetauda, Nepal
1 post
2 reviews
6. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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09. Bring a statement of your bank acount, with 2 - 3000 USD!

7. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)

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Mortsel, Belgium
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68 reviews
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8. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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Hey!

This is a good guide on applying indeed!

I would however add a copy of your Bank Statement since they ask for that from now on.

And stress that the uploaded picture on the form has to be straight. With several people the website uploaded it sideways, and they do NOT accept your form like that.

And I would also suggest to give the short version first and the detailed after, because that's what people are looking for first :) and lazy as people are, if they have to scroll down they will likely close the tab beforehand...

Hopefully people start reading your post because while I was applying I've seen more than 80% of the people, including myself, have to return at least ones because some documents were missing.

Thanks for writing it down!

Cheers

Abel

Vientiane, Laos
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6,893 posts
81 reviews
56 helpful votes
9. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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The Indian embassy in Vientiane is incompetent and extremely unhelpful. Ensure you dot your i s and coss your t s on the application.

Shanghai, China
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305 posts
1 review
10. Re: How to get an Indian tourist Visa in Vientiane (very easy!)
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If you have the option available (US citizens) wouldn't it be better or easier to proceed that way? Also, doesn't the visa expire from the time it is issued not used? So, that would mean less time with this method if you don't plan on visiting there right away (30 day tourist visa).

I post because I will be in Laos in a couple of hours (one week stay) then I'll be off to Bangladesh for another week before arriving in India. I'm not sure if it's better to get the visa in Laos, Bangladesh, or just do the online visa thing...?

Edited: 4 years ago
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