Foreign labour quota, work permit and stay permit
LA-B2 business visa for work
Employers in Laos must have an approved foreign-labour quota and a permit to import each foreign worker before that person can work. The worker comes in on a business visa for work (LA-B2). The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MLSW) then issues a work permit, and the Ministry of Public Security's Immigration / Foreign Control Department issues a stay permit. Each document is usually valid for up to 12 months and is renewed every year.
Life in Laos
Money
3
Currency
Laotian Kip
LAK
Laotian Kip
Cost of living
29
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
5–25%
Income tax (national)
VAT 10%
New income tax law from 1 July 2026: monthly salary up to LAK 2.5 million exempt; 25% above LAK 65 million per month.
Living
1
Happiness
#90 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign technical staff and employees recruited by a company legally established in Laos.
Eligibility
Employer is legally established
Your employer needs to meet three conditions in Laos before the worker applies.
- Fully and legally established in Laos
- Has an annual foreign labour utilisation plan
- Has a quota approved by the MLSW
Official wording
The employer must be fully and legally established in Laos, have an annual foreign labour utilisation plan, and have a quota approved by the MLSW.
Worker qualifications
The foreign worker must be over 20 years old and meet skill and health conditions.
- Technical capacity for the specific position
- Able to transfer technical knowledge to Lao workers
- In good health
Official wording
The foreign worker must have the technical capacity for the specific position, be over 20 years old, be able to transfer technical knowledge to Lao workers, and be in good health.
Blacklist check
The Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security, checks the worker against the blacklist.
- Applications are refused for a bad track record
- Applications are refused for a blacklist entry
- Applications are refused for an open dispute or case
Official wording
The worker is checked against the blacklist by the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Applications are refused for a bad track record, a blacklist entry or an open dispute or case.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementVisa
- Document checklistRequest for importation quota of foreign labour (with foreign labour utilisation plan)
- FeesWork permit (MLSW) – application and certificate fees
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 2 more requirements
- 6 documents
- 2 fees
- 7 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Laos
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Lao Trade Portal (MLSW datasheet) – Permit to Import Foreign Worker
- Lao Trade Portal (MLSW datasheet) – Permit for Foreign Labour to Work in Lao
- Lao Trade Portal (Ministry of Public Security datasheet) – Permit to Stay for Foreign Labor
- Lao Trade Portal – Request for Importation Quota of Foreign Labour
Work permits in other countries
- LebanonWork visa (Ministry of Labour approval) and annual work residence permit
- St. LuciaSaint Lucia Work Permit
- LiechtensteinResidence permit for EEA nationals
- Sri LankaResidence visa - employment category
- LesothoResidence permit for employees
- LithuaniaNational D visa and temporary residence permit for work
