Laos: Local and central authorities tightening restrictions as of April 1 due to increased COVID-19 activity /update 45

Event

Officials in Laos have tightened restrictions as of April 1 due to increased COVID-19 activity. Preschools and primary schools have suspended on-site teaching activities for levels 1 to 4. Classes that remain on-site must observe health protocols, such as not sharing meals.

Additionally, local officials in some areas have implemented stricter curbs. Some localities, including Houaphan, Savannakhet, and Vientiane provinces, have suspended entertainment venues like pubs and bars. Vientiane Province allows weddings and festivals to occur only with advance approval from local officials. Luang Namtha Province requires domestic entrants to be fully vaccinated and has enacted a 23:00-05:00 curfew, with exceptions for good transport and emergency vehicles, among others. Similar measures may be in effect in other provinces.

Domestic Measures
Factories manufacturing products like consumer and pharmaceutical goods, shopping malls, retail establishments, supermarkets, and sporting facilities can operate with restrictions, like opening hour limits. Officials will prohibit all gatherings celebrating the Lao New Year April 14-16 as a precaution. People must wear facemasks and observe social distancing rules when in public, though the enforcement level of curbs is unclear.

Authorities continue to categorize districts into red, yellow, and green zones, in decreasing order of strictness. Red zones typically enforce stay-home rules and limit the entry and exit of people into red zones, though exemptions are possible. Business conferences and meetings may occur in locations not designated as red zones; participants must be fully vaccinated.

International Travel Restrictions
Tourist visas, visas on arrival, and standing visa exemptions from most international locations remain suspended. State and private entities may apply for entry approval for foreign essential workers, technical experts, and investors. People who can enter Laos must provide a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure, present a completed health declaration form, and download the LaoKYC application. If applicable, foreign nationals must also provide a valid entry visa and have insurance coverage for COVID-19 treatment. Reports indicate eligible visa holders must register for a QR code at the Green Pass online visa portal by clicking here; it is unclear if officials still require arrivals to also present a Certificate of Entry (COE) issued by the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Arrivals must undergo a COVID-19 test and quarantine at a designated facility for 48 hours upon arrival; travelers who obtain a negative result from the on-arrival test must then quarantine for another seven days at their own residence. Exceptions are possible for resident diplomats and international organization employees and their family members, who may quarantine at their own residences. Business travelers who receive a negative result from the on-arrival test can exit their quarantine but must wear a health monitoring device.

Tourists from several locations may enter Laos as part of the Green Travel Zone international travel reopening scheme. The locations include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Thailand, and Vietnam. Travelers must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival, have a health insurance policy with a coverage of at least USD 50,000, obtain a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before departure, undergo an on-arrival PCR test, and remain at their accommodation for 48 hours until they receive a negative result from the on-arrival test. Tourists under the program can visit the Green Travel Zones (vaccination rates of at least 70 percent) of Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vientiane Province's Vang Vieng District, as well as the Green Travel Trails areas (vaccination rates of below 70 percent) of Champasack, Khammouane, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, and Xieng Khouang provinces. Entrants can enter only through Wattay International Airport (VTE) and Vientiane's First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. The government may categorize other localities as Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails areas and announce additional entry points in the coming weeks.

Officials allow some border checkpoints, including those with Thailand, to open. Border checkpoints with China are closed due to the Chinese authorities' COVID-19 concerns.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.