Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF): Arrival and Departure QR Registration

At the four checkpoints currently covered by the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF), all foreign nationals and stateless people using passports must register before entering or leaving Laos. The official registration portal is immigration.gov.la. Treat LDIF as an arrival/departure record, not as a visa or eVisa approval.

TL;DR: Go to immigration.gov.la. Lao Immigration says all foreign nationals and stateless people using passports must submit arrival and departure information within 3 days before travel when using Wattay International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport, Pakse International Airport, or Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge I. Save the generated verify code, which includes both a QR code and an alphanumeric code. This is not a visa. You still need a valid visa exemption, eVisa, Visa on Arrival, or other entry permission for your passport and route.

I. Lao LDIF Arrival and Departure Registration Rules

Item	Official Requirement	Practical Note
Official Portal	immigration.gov.la	Use the Lao Department of Immigration website.
Current Checkpoints	Wattay, Luang Prabang, and Pakse international airports; Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge I	The current LDIF arrival form lists these four checkpoints. Do not substitute the broader eVisa port list.
Submission Window	Within 3 days before arrival / departure	The official date picker only enables travel dates in the current three-day window.
Who Needs It	Foreign nationals and stateless people using passports at the four LDIF checkpoints	Applies separately from visa-free entry, eVisa, or Visa on Arrival permission.

II. How to Register and Get Your QR Code

Before you start, have your passport image, travel details, visa information, and intended address in Laos ready, then follow these steps:

Select the Registration Type: Visit the official website and select "Arrival Register" or "Departure Register" depending on your current journey.
Select Checkpoint and Transport: Choose one of the four checkpoints currently listed in the LDIF form: Wattay International Airport, Luang Prabang International Airport, Pakse International Airport, or Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge I. The transport menu offers flight, car, bus, train, and waterway, followed by a transport-number field.
Enter Passport Information: Enter your family name, given name, passport details, and other required personal information exactly as shown in your passport, then upload the passport image requested by the form.
Provide Visa and Address Details: Complete the Visa Information and Intended address in Laos sections shown in the official arrival-registration flow.
Save the Verify Code: Confirm your details and submit the form. The official flow generates a verify code containing a QR code and an alphanumeric code. Screenshot or download it, then show it at passport control.

III. Common Questions and Form-Filling Mistakes

Q: I already got my Laos eVisa. Do I still need to complete the digital arrival card?

Yes, if you use one of the four LDIF checkpoints. The eVisa application at laoevisa.gov.la is the visa process. LDIF registration at immigration.gov.la is the separate arrival/departure process required for foreign nationals and stateless people using passports at the four covered checkpoints.

Q: What should I do if the website is down, fails to load, or the form cannot be submitted?

Do not wait until the immigration desk to try the portal for the first time. If the page freezes, try a different browser, a desktop computer, or a more stable connection before travel. If you still cannot submit, check the official portal, your airline, or border staff instructions for your route instead of paying a third-party site that claims to "fix" LDIF access.

Q: What if there is no internet connection at the checkpoint?

Do not wait until you reach the border to load the website. Complete the form at your hotel or before boarding, then save the verify-code page as a screenshot on your phone or carry a printout so you can show the registration record even if mobile data is weak.

Q: Do I need to register when departing Laos?

Yes. The LDIF requires separate arrival and departure registrations. Before leaving the country, you must log back into the portal within 3 days of your departure date, select "Departure Register," and get a new departure verify code.

Q: How do I ensure my name spelling is correct?

Use the passport biodata page as your source. The official form has separate required fields for "Family name" and "Name" and also requires a passport image, so enter the names exactly as they appear in the passport.

Q: What should I prepare if I plan to get a Visa on Arrival (VOA)?

The digital arrival card does not replace a VOA. Before queueing at the VOA window, check the current visa-on-arrival requirements for your nationality and checkpoint, including photo, cash, fee, and passport-validity rules. Do not treat the LDIF QR code as proof that your visa fee or visa eligibility has been accepted.

IV. How to Improve Form Filling Efficiency?

The official arrival form asks for personal, passport, travel, visa, and intended-address details. If you are preparing registrations for several family members or travelers, entering those details repeatedly can be tedious.

eVisaFlow Southeast Asia can fill saved passport, traveler, trip, and intended address details on the official Lao Digital Immigration Form and eVisa websites, reducing manual typing errors and saving time.