--- title: "Moving to Laos 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Haw Pha Bang temple lit up at night in Luang Prabang # Moving to Laos 7 ways to move to Laos in our guide: 3 investor routes, 1 pay-to-stay route, 2 work visas, 1 student visa. No digital nomad visa. Smallest investment: [Investor long stay · $15M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/investor-long-term-concession/), from $15M. Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. **Smallest investment needed:** **from $15M** Investor long stay · $15M **Longest first stay:** **10 years** SEZ property owner visa Laos offers a few clear routes for foreigners who invest, work or study, each tied to a specific purpose. The rules are set out in the records, and the figures for income, investment and stay lengths are inserted by the website. Investors with an approved project or concession Real-estate owners in a Special Economic Zone Directors and technical staff posted to approved companies Students enrolled in a recognised programme Families joining an investor or technical officer ## Investing · 3 ### [SEZ property owner visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/sez-real-estate-visa/) **Assets needed:** $100k+ Stay 10 yrs, renewable Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/sez-real-estate-visa/) ### [Investor business visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/ni-b2-investor/) **First stay:** 1 yr Work needs a permit [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/ni-b2-investor/) ### [Investor long stay · $15M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/investor-long-term-concession/) **Investment needed:** from $15M Stay 5 yrs, renewable Work needs a permit [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/investor-long-term-concession/) ## Retire or live on savings · 1 ### [Long-term visa I-B3](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/i-b3-long-term-visa/) **Savings needed:** from $20k Stay 1 yr [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/i-b3-long-term-visa/) ## Work · 2 ### [Expert visa E-B2](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/e-b2-expert-visa/) Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/e-b2-expert-visa/) ### [Technical staff visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/la-b2-technical-visa/) **First stay:** 1 yr Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/la-b2-technical-visa/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/st-b2-student/) Needs a place to live [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/st-b2-student/) ## Tax Promoted investments can enjoy a profit tax exemption, starting from the year revenue is generated, with the length depending on the zone and sector. Specialists in promoted sectors may have a personal income tax incentive at a reduced rate. Special regime ### [Profit tax exemption for promoted investments](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/#tax-la-profit-tax-holiday) Tax relief **Details** - On: Profit of the investment enterprise (corporate profit tax) Promoted investments in zone 1 enjoy a profit tax exemption of up to 10 years and zone 2 up to 4 years, with additional years for listed promoted sectors, starting from the year revenue is generated. #### Taxed on Profit of the investment enterprise (corporate profit tax). #### Who it applies to - Investment in a promoted sector or zone under Articles 9 and 10 of the Law on Investment Promotion. #### Exclusions - After the exemption ends the Law on Income Tax applies. #### Tax residence Applies to the enterprise; the zones are reassessed every five years. #### Visas Independent of the investor visa. #### Other taxes VAT incentives follow the Law on Value-Added Tax; customs duty exemptions for qualifying equipment and inputs. Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/) Special regime ### [Personal income tax incentive for specialists in promoted sectors](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/#tax-la-specialist-income-tax-5) 5% tax **Details** - On: Employment income of eligible specialists in promoted sectors - Who: Specialist working in a promoted sector under the Law on Investment Promotion Specialists working in promoted sectors enjoy a personal income tax incentive at a rate of 5%. #### Taxed on Employment income of eligible specialists in promoted sectors. #### Who it applies to - Specialist working in a promoted sector under the Law on Investment Promotion; the specialists and their eligibility are defined in a separate regulation. #### Visas Not linked to a particular visa. Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/) Standard rules ### [Laos personal income tax: progressive 0-25% on monthly employment income (Law on Income Tax No. 88/NA)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/#tax-la-resident-personal-income-tax-2026) Progressive rates **Details** - Who: Foreign nationals who come to work and earn income in Laos pay income tax in Laos - Limit: LAK 2.5M/mo ≈ $110 Monthly employment income up to LAK 2,500,000 (≈ $110) is taxed at 0%, with progressive rates of 5% to 25% above that. Income of foreign nationals working in Laos is taxed in Laos, and foreign nationals paid from abroad are taxed in Laos once they stay more than 183 days in a year. #### Taxed on Monthly employment income (salary, wages, overtime, allowances, bonuses and other benefits). Monthly scale in LAK: up to 2,500,000 0%; over 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 5%; over 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 10%; over 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 15%; over 25,000,000 to 65,000,000 20%; over 65,000,000 25%. The band thresholds are adjusted with the minimum wage set by the government. Top marginal rate shown as ratePercent. #### Who it applies to - Foreign nationals who come to work and earn income in Laos pay income tax in Laos. - Foreign nationals working in Laos but paid abroad pay income tax in Laos if they stay in Laos, continuously or not, more than 183 days within the year, unless a treaty avoids double taxation. - Persons domiciled in Laos who work and earn income abroad pay income tax in Laos unless a treaty avoids double taxation. - Start date: Article 74 of the law sets 1 September 2025 as its start, once it is promulgated and published in the Official Gazette. The promulgation decree is dated 6 August 2025; the gazette publication date could not be confirmed on an official page on 12 October 2026. The law replaces Law No. 67/NA of 18 June 2019. #### Exclusions - Salary and other income up to the minimum wage set by the government is exempt from income tax. - Non-residents (persons without a domicile in Laos) pay under Article 48: the progressive 0-25% scale on salary and similar income, 10% on directors' and artists' fees, dividends, interest, rent, commissions and consulting fees, 5% on teaching, research and royalties. #### Limits - LAK 2,500,000 a month (≈ $110) · Monthly income taxed at 0% - LAK 5,000,000 a month (≈ $230) · 5% band ends; 10% applies up to LAK 15,000,000 (≈ $680) - LAK 15,000,000 a month (≈ $680) · 10% band ends; 15% applies up to LAK 25,000,000 (≈ $1,130) - LAK 25,000,000 a month (≈ $1,130) · 15% band ends; 20% applies up to LAK 65,000,000 (≈ $2,930) - LAK 65,000,000 a month (≈ $2,930) · 25% applies to monthly income above this amount #### Days in the country - More than 183 days in within the year, continuous or not · Foreign national working in Laos but paid abroad becomes liable to Lao income tax (Law on Income Tax, Article 32). #### Tax residence Domiciled persons are taxed on income earned in Laos and abroad, subject to double-taxation treaties; foreign nationals are taxed on income earned in Laos, and on salary paid abroad after more than 183 days in a year. #### Visas Tax follows employment income and presence, not the visa category; specialists in promoted sectors can qualify for the 5% rate in “Personal income tax incentive for specialists in promoted sectors”. #### Other taxes Value added tax and social security contributions apply separately. Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/tax/) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **No digital nomad visa in Laos.** Remote workers usually look at [SEZ property owner visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/sez-real-estate-visa/), [Long-term visa I-B3](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/i-b3-long-term-visa/), or [nomad visas elsewhere](https://settleanywhere.com/visas/digital-nomad/). ## Arriving in Laos: first steps 1. Make sure your entry visa matches your purpose: investor, technical or student. 2. For investor routes, apply for the stay permit card after entry. 3. Keep your enterprise and tax registration certificates up to date each year. 4. If you will work, obtain the work permit card through the correct department. 5. Family members can be included in the investor or technical officer procedure. ## Questions people ask ### How much do you need to invest for residency in Laos? Laos has 3 investor routes. [SEZ property owner visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/sez-real-estate-visa/) asks for assets of at least $100,000 and gives a first stay of 10 years that can be renewed. [Investor business visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/ni-b2-investor/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. [Investor long stay · $15M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/investor-long-term-concession/) asks for an investment from $15,000,000 and gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. ### Can I retire or live in Laos on my savings or pension? Laos has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. [Long-term visa I-B3](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/i-b3-long-term-visa/) asks for savings from $20,000 and gives a first stay of 1 year. ### What work visas does Laos offer foreigners? Laos has 2 work visas. [Technical staff visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/la-b2-technical-visa/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. There is also [Expert visa E-B2](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/e-b2-expert-visa/). ### How do I get a student visa for Laos? Laos has 1 student visa. It is [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/laos/st-b2-student/). ## Compare with [🇹🇭 Thailand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/) [🇯🇵 Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/) [🇮🇩 Indonesia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/) [🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/) [🇸🇬 Singapore](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/) [🇲🇾 Malaysia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/) [🇻🇳 Vietnam](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/vietnam/) [🇰🇷 South Korea](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.