Investor Visa (NI-B2)

The Investor Visa (NI-B2) is Laos's principal visa category for foreign nationals who have invested in a registered business in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Governed by the Investment Promotion Law No. 62/NA (28 June 2024, effective 16 December 2024) — which replaced the earlier 2016 law — the program is administered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) through its Investment Promotion Department (IPD) and One-Stop Service Office (OSSO). The visa is issued to foreign investors, stockholders, enterprise directors, deputy directors, and technical officers who hold investment licenses or enterprise registration certificates for businesses operating in Laos. The 2024 law significantly enhanced investor benefits, including extended visa durations of up to five years for outstanding investors and stronger tax incentives.

• Must be a foreign investor legally approved by the Government of Lao PDR, or a stockholder listed in the company's regulations and certified by the Investment Promotion Department
• Must hold a valid investment license or concession license and enterprise registration certificate issued by the relevant Lao authority
• To qualify for sector-based investment incentives, investment must be at least LAK 200 million (approx. USD 9,000) or the enterprise must employ 30+ skilled workers on contracts of at least one year
• For concession businesses, registered capital must represent at least 30% of total capital
• Valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and two blank pages

• Copy of foreign investment license or concession license
• Copy of business operation license or factory establishment license
• Copy of enterprise registration certificate (renewed annually)
• Original passport (valid 6+ months, at least 2 blank pages)
• Four passport photographs (3×4 cm)
• Company proposal form
• Copy of tax registration certificate

The NI-B2 visa is issued as a multiple-entry visa valid for 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year, and is renewable continuously under the same conditions. Outstanding investors under the 2024 Investment Promotion Law may receive multi-entry visas valid for up to 5 years, or up to 10 years for investments in Special Economic Zones. Renewal requires submission of an updated enterprise registration certificate (renewed annually) and a valid passport through the OSSO.

A separate stay permit card is also required for legal residence in Laos. It costs USD 120 per year (USD 10/month) and is applied for within 15 days of arrival on the NI-B2 visa at the Foreigner Management Department of the Ministry of Public Security (for central/Vientiane Capital-level investments) or the provincial Police Headquarters (for provincial-level investments). The stay permit card takes 5–10 working days to process.

Foreign investors' family members have the right to reside in Laos according to the terms of the investment and receive facilitation for entry, exit, and multi-entry visas. Family members are processed through the same OSSO application channel. Under the 2024 law, family members of outstanding investors also benefit from the extended visa duration provisions. No separate income requirement for dependants was specified in official sources.

Tax residency is triggered by spending 183 or more days in Laos per calendar year, with progressive personal income tax rates from 0% to 24%. The standard corporate income tax rate is 20%. Foreign investors in promoted sectors benefit from corporate income tax exemptions of up to 16 years in Zone 1 and 8 years in Zone 2 under the 2024 Investment Promotion Law. Qualifying investors are also entitled to duty-free and VAT-free import of machinery and equipment forming fixed assets, and zero-rated VAT on certain domestic raw materials for export production. Reinvestment incentives allow profit tax exemptions for businesses expanding operations or reinvesting profits.

The process has two main stages:

1. Obtain investment approval: The investor must first secure an approved investment in Lao PDR — this includes obtaining an investment license, concession license, and/or enterprise registration certificate from the relevant authority. Investors typically first enter Laos on a tourist or business visa to complete business registration.

2. Apply for the NI-B2 visa: Submit the visa request to the One-Stop Service Office (OSSO) at the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vientiane. For provincial-level investments, the application is submitted through the provincial Planning and Investment section. The OSSO coordinates with the Immigration and Emigration Department and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approval takes 8 official working days from the date of OSSO registration. The visa fee is approximately USD 40–50 depending on nationality.

3. Register stay permit card: Within 15 days of entry on the NI-B2 visa, apply for a stay permit card at the Foreigner Management Department (central-level investments) or provincial Police Headquarters (provincial-level investments).

Foreign nationals cannot own land in Laos, but may lease land use rights for up to 30 years from Lao citizens, 50 years from the government, or 30 years under concession agreements. Under the revised Law on Land, foreigners may purchase and own condominium units. The 2024 Investment Promotion Law allows investors to obtain land use through long-term leases or concessions, with the right to transfer lease interests provided the project is at least 50% complete.

The NI-B2 visa is tied to a specific investment — if the business ceases operations or the investment is withdrawn, the visa basis is lost. Directors, deputy directors, and technical officers who are not investors or stockholders require the separate LA-B2 labor visa instead.

For investors seeking permanent residency, a separate Honorary Citizenship program (Decree No. 14, 2020) is available, requiring a USD 1 million investment plus a USD 500,000 donation, and grants permanent residency and visa-free entry.