Royal Thai Embassy: Expat-Friendly Visa Options- Vientiane, Laos

Arrive early! I arrived there at 8:15 AM and was the 2nd person to enter the gates when they opened it at 9:00 AM. Even though my online appointment said my queue number is 39, they let me in and I was the 2nd person to submit my application. They follow the first come - first served rule, no matter what queue number you got on your appointment letter. They only check if you got an appointment for the day, but don't care about your queue number on the appointment letter.Couple Tips:1.) There are scammers outside the gates acting like some agents. Ignore the people outside the gates approaching you and offering to check the documents for you, or selling you the visa forms for 100 THB. Visa forms are available for free inside the gate, or can be downloaded for free from the Thai Embassy, Vientiane website.2.) There are print booths outside, but they ask 10 THB per print. So, only use them if you are in a pinch and forgot some documents.3.) There is a sign outside the gates that says "No Baggage Allowed", but they allowed everybody to bring their baggage with them inside. I saw people with backpacks, and even foreigners with their big check-in trolleys inside standing in queue.4.) There are glue sticks, scissors, staplers and pen available to use in the waiting area.5.) There's no drinking water available inside. Since you can be waiting in the queue for quite long if you arrive late, it's better to have a small bottle of water with you.6.) Bring Thai Baht for your visa fees and make sure the currency notes are not old, torn or have any marks on them.7.) There is a Thai Bank (Kasikorn Bank) across the street opposite to the Thai Embassy which opens at 8:30 AM. In case you don't have Thai Baht for visa fees, you can visit the bank and exchange money or use ATM here.8.) For certain type of Thai visas applications that require you to have the required bank balance, the embassy person checking your documents will ask you to show the real-time bank balance on your mobile banking app. So, be sure to have 4G/5G internet connection. I person next to me had just arrived from the airport and he didn't had a Laos Sim card to use 4G/5G on his smartphone. The embassy person asked him to show his bank balance on his mobile banking app and he was clueless on what to do. If I hadn't shared my internet via mobile hotspot, his visa application would have been rejected.9.) Once you're done, and are heading out the gates, there will be some tuk-tuk guys approaching you and offering you to take you back to your hotel. Ignore them and just keep walking. Book your transportation using Loca App once you're some distance away from tuk-tuk guys.10.) The visa processing time is 2 working days (not including the day you submit your documents, so essentially is 3 working days), but it can be delayed if there are public holidays falling in between. So do check there website for the holiday list and plan/book your travels accordingly.

After reviewing the documents, you can submit them. There are copy places nearby, so you can prepare any missing documents. There is a Thai bank across from the embassy.

Check requirements for visa not only on their website. I was denied a visa because one of the requirements I was asked for is not one that is on their website, but it is listed on other countries websites where you can apply for this visa. So how should someone know. I know there are other sources but I think the embassy website itself should not leave out information if it’s a requirement no matter which country you’re applying from. Something I now know after the fact. So the long trip I made to apply for my visa ended up being a waste of time and money. Staff was dismissive and not in any way helpful. After hearing that Laos is an easier place to do visa, after my experience I would not agree. Vietnam has been a better place

Must book an appointment. However, the appointments are all booked up weeks in advance even though there were only a few people getting their visas. Do not go unless you have an appointment because they won't help.

My first appointment took 53 minutes. If you arrive late it can take a lot longer though so make sure to arrive early. Don’t get scammed by the people outside in the tents. If you have to interact with them make sure to count the money. They tried to steal from me and when I asked for the rest of my money they just laughed.