Thai Visa At Vientiane Thai Embassy Guide

-- Last Updated on March 9, 2023 by Jonesy

Update: You now have to book an appointment online first before attending the Embassy/Consulate in Vientiane. It’s better to plan ahead and book as soon as possible. Book using this link https://thaivisavientiane.com/ (official website).

Whether applying for a single-entry 60 day Thai tourist visa or a Non-immigrant visa – the process of applying that day and returning the next to collect your passport and visa is the same.

As with any Thai consulate/embassy, it all makes sense after the process.

I have arrived at the Vientiane Thai Consulate after taking the overnight Bangkok to Nong Khai train and tuk-tuk from the border a fair few times. It’s a painless and pleasant journey.

From the Laos border or from Vientiane city tuk-tuks cost around 100 – 200THB. It’s more expensive in Laos than in Thailand for transport, but if they start quoting 300THB and over, they’re trying to rip you off or waiting for you to reduce their offer.

Consular Times

Application: You can apply for the visa at Vientiane from 8.30am -12.00pm (Monday – Friday) after booking an appointment online with them.
Collect visa: Collect the visa the following day 13.00pm – 15.00pm (Monday – Friday).
Holidays: The Embassy is closed on weekends and during holidays. Check with the consulate for Thai holiday dates, it’s easy to arrive and find it closed, as I have experienced (lesson learned – check first).

The Process at the Embassy

When you have gone through the process once, it’s easy. My first time, I was like, where first, where and what now, and then where now again (total confusion).

If you arrive early at the gate of the Thai Embassy you’ll join a queue of visa-hungry applicants waiting in line. Touts outside might ask if you want to fast-track the queue or buy a visa application form, and it is best to just politely decline.

If you have time, you can print and complete the visa application form before you arrive.

—Download Thai Visa Application Form

Complete your form: First, you will need to complete a form. I took a form from the table within the building where applicants were filling in forms.

Have your passport photos x 2: Have these ready with your form and papers, or you can have your pictures taken at the Embassy. You pay a fee for the photos taken.

Photocopies: Photocopies of the important inner workings of your passport need to be photocopied for the application. Main page, Laos visa/stamp, last Thai visa and TM6 (Thai arrival/departure card). The photocopies can be done at the Embassy for a small fee.

Counter ticket number: On the right-hand side you will see a queue of applicants and a table. This is where you get a counter-ticket number, and they quickly check your documents before you hand them in at the counter. You will hand the ticket number to the next counter with all documents and passport when they call your number.

Keep the ticket number when the officials hand it back to you. When returning the next day, your number will be called, and your passport can then be collected with that ticket.

Queue For Ticket Number — Queue for Ticket Number

Vientiane Thai Embassy Ticket Number — Ticket Number

After collecting your ticket number, go to the left counter for tourist visas and the right for other visa applications. The window on the left states it’s for tours; however, it seemed that all tourists were queuing there, and the queue on the right that I joined was for other visas (I could be wrong, and it could be for tour groups only – check yourself).

Queue On Right Side — Queue on Right Side

I’ve applied for visas here more than a few times, and small aspects of the process do change –mostly to do with the queuing system. The fundamentals have remained the same in terms of what is required for many years, apart from having to book an appointment now.

See You Tomorrow

Once your documents and passport are handed in, and you have your ticket number you’re free to spend a night on the Vientiane side of the Mekong river and return the next day to collect your passport between 13.00pm – 15.00pm (Monday – Friday).

Returning, you will need to pay the visa fee, which must be in Thai Baht.

My number was 103 on one of the visits, and I was called to the counter at about 14.00pm. I could have attended an hour later, but I did not want to risk being late.

The whole process was easy enough, and a night in Vientiane made a nice change from the Penang (Malaysia) visa trips. This place has developed very well over the last few years and will develop much more in the near future.