Online procedure for entry into Laos explained

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Foreigners wanting to enter Laos need to register to get a QR code (Vaccine ID) online at ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ in order to certify their vaccination status and RT-PCR test result, authorities have announced.

The QR code also enables Lao authorities to track the risk status of circle 1 (C1) and circle 2 (C2) of foreign arrivals.

To register for the QR code, an applicant needs to fill out a form online, giving passport details, a vaccination or treatment certificate issued not less than six months ago, a hotel booking, life insurance/Covid-19 insurance, and a Covid-19 test certificate issued not more than 72 hours earlier, which can be sent later.

To proceed with registration, applicants must go to the ‘‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ website, fill in the information fields and upload the application form.

Once the form has been successfully uploaded, the applicant must wait until the Covid-19 taskforce has checked that the form has been filled in correctly. Once the form has been accepted, the applicant will receive an email with a QR code.

For more information, applicants are advised to visit the ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ website or call mobile number 020 28800262.

As of March 4, some 22 applications had been approved. Another 156 applications are pending and one was rejected, according to authorities in charge.

The entry procedures and steps were outlined after the government recently launched the ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ app to ease entry for foreign nationals.

The government has authorised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue entry visas for certain groups who have registered through the QR code (Vaccine ID) on ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ without having to request approval from the Covid-19 taskforce, as was previously the case.

Meanwhile, Lao nationals are advised to register online for the QR code Vaccine ID using the mobile app ‘LaoKYC’, which has been in use for several months.

To use the app, applicants must have registered their mobile phone Sim card.

At least 12,000 QR codes have been issued to LaoKYC users. Some applicants were rejected because their Sim card was not registered or because the information provided was not found in the database of the Ministry of Health, according to authorities.