Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) in Laos: statutory documents, competent authority and legal basis

Who can apply

Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ.

Competent authority: IEE → the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located; detailed ESIA → the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environment Department, central); the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (EIA Decree Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: authority names changed with the 2025 reorganisation; confirm the current counter name locally.

At a glance

Where to apply: IEE → the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located; detailed ESIA → the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environment Department, central); the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (EIA Decree Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: authority names changed with the 2025 reorganisation; confirm the current counter name locally.

Steps:

Use the Grouping Catalogue (Arts. 2/3) to decide whether the project is group 1 (IEE) or group 2 (detailed ESIA); if unsure, screen it with the Environment Department (Art. 4)
IEE: prepare the IEE report (with the management and monitoring plan) yourself or through a service provider, and hold the village consultation
Detailed ESIA: first prepare the scope/ToR report for the Ministry to review, then have a licensed provider produce the full report

The full list has 6 items; work through them in the guided form — Open the guided form

How long: All limits are working days and exclude the applicant's revision time. IEE (provincial department): 5 (attachments) + 25 (content review) + 20 (consultation) + 5 (final review) (Arts. 15–18). Detailed ESIA (Ministry): 10 for the scope/ToR review (Art. 21) + 10 (attachments) + 50 (report review) + 40 (consultation) + 10 (final review) (Arts. 26–29).

Cost: In kip (Instruction on NRE-sector fees Arts. 3 and 4, implementing fee Decree 002). Certification fees: IEE report certificate 500,000; detailed ESIA report certificate 1,000,000. Review service charges: IEE report review 3,000,000; ESIA report and management-monitoring plan review 10,000,000. Totals: about 3,500,000 (IEE), about 11,000,000 (detailed ESIA). Renewals: certificate renewal 1,000,000 (service charge); IEE cert renewal 100,000, ESIA cert renewal 500,000 (fees). Excludes the service provider's private fee and self-borne costs; the posted rate prevails.

Statutory document list

Lao applicant

[IEE, if a service provider is hired] Copy of the environmental technical service operating licence (optional)
If someone acts for you: a power of attorney (optional)

Foreign applicant

[IEE, if a service provider is hired] Copy of the environmental technical service operating licence (optional)
If someone acts for you: a power of attorney (optional)

Statutory requirements

Any individual, legal entity or organisation, domestic or foreign, carrying out an investment project or business activity in the Lao PDR must complete an environmental impact assessment and obtain an environmental certificate before starting; the certificate is issued before the investment licence (EIA Decree Arts. 8 and 9; Environmental Protection Law Arts. 6 and 36).
Assessment has two groups and two types: smaller/non-severe impact (group 1) → Initial Environmental Examination (IEE); major/severe impact (group 2) → detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Which group a project falls in is set by the Grouping Catalogue Decision Art. 2 (IEE list, e.g. hydropower 1–5 MW) and Art. 3 (detailed-EIA list, e.g. hydropower above 5 MW); projects not listed are screened with the Environment Department (Art. 4) (EIA Decree Arts. 9, 10; Grouping Catalogue Arts. 2, 3, 4).
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE): file with the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located (Decree Art. 14 lists 6 documents). Statutory limits for the department (working days, excluding the applicant's revision time): 5 days to check attachments, 25 to review content, 20 for public consultation, 5 for final review (Arts. 15, 16, 17, 18). An IEE may be prepared by the owner or by a hired environmental technical service provider (Art. 58).
Detailed ESIA: handled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (central level). A scope-of-study and terms-of-reference (ToR) report must be prepared and reviewed first (Arts. 20, 21; 10 working days), then the full report is submitted (Art. 25 lists 6 documents). Ministry limits (working days): 10 to check attachments, 50 to review the report, 40 for consultation, 10 for final review (Arts. 26, 27, 28, 29). A detailed ESIA must be carried out only by a licensed environmental technical service provider; the owner may not do it himself (Arts. 58, 69).
On approval an environmental certificate is issued, valid for the entire life of the project or business (EIA Decree Arts. 43, 44; Environmental Protection Law Art. 38). If no operation begins within two years of the permit, the certificate is revoked (Art. 50); breaching environmental law or the certificate conditions can lead to suspension or revocation (Arts. 48, 49, 50).
The owner of a large or high-impact project must provide an environmental financial guarantee for restoration from construction through closure (Environmental Protection Law Art. 67).
Fees (Instruction on NRE-sector fees and service charges Arts. 3 and 4, implementing Presidential fee Decree 002; kip) — certification fees: IEE report certificate 500,000 each; detailed ESIA report certificate 1,000,000; IEE renewal 100,000; ESIA renewal 500,000. Review service charges: IEE report review 3,000,000; ESIA report and management-monitoring plan review 10,000,000; certificate renewal 1,000,000. Total payable to the state: about 3,500,000 for IEE and about 11,000,000 for a detailed ESIA (excluding the service provider's private fee and village-consultation and other self-borne costs). The rate posted at the counter prevails.
Competent authorities per the decree text: IEE → provincial / capital NRE Department; detailed ESIA → Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: this platform's records list the issuing body of these laws as the "Ministry of Agriculture and Environment" (post-2025 reorganisation); confirm the current counter name locally. Also: the 2019 No. 2 EIA Decree was replaced by the current 2022 decree (Art. 82); this service follows the current 2022 decree.

Common issues

Assessment before licence: the environmental certificate is issued before the investment licence — without it you cannot get the investment licence or start work (Arts. 8, 9)
Do not confuse the level: IEE goes to the provincial / capital department, detailed ESIA to the Ministry (central) — different authorities (Arts. 15, 26, 71, 73)

The full list has 7 items; work through them in the guided form — Open the guided form

Legal basis (Lao Official Gazette texts)

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 6 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Excerpt: Article 6 (Amended). Obligations for Environmental Protection Individuals, legal persons, and organizations, both domestic and foreign, bear the obligation to protect the environment, to prevent, improve, restore, contro …

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 17 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Excerpt: Article 17 (Amended) Preliminary Environmental Impact Study A preliminary environmental impact study refers to a study, survey, and analysis of data to predict potential non-serious preliminary impacts on the social and …

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 18 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Excerpt: Article 18 (Amended) Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental impact assessment refers to the process of studying, investigating, and analyzing data to predict the potential impacts (including issues related to clim …

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 36 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Excerpt: Article 36 (Amendment) Environmental Certification Environmental certification means the approval of the preliminary environmental impact study report, the environmental impact assessment report, and the environmental ma …

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 38 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Excerpt: Article 38 (Amended) Environmental Nuclear Certificate and Pollution Discharge Control Permit The environmental nuclear certificate approving the preliminary environmental impact study report or the environmental impact …

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 39 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 40 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 67 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 83 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) · Article 99 (2024-06-28) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 8 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 9 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 10 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 14 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 15 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 18 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 21 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 25 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 27 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 43 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 44 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 50 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 58 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 69 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 71 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 73 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 74 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment · Article 82 (2022-10-20) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) · Article 2 (2023-02-24) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) · Article 3 (2023-02-24) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) · Article 4 (2023-02-24) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Instruction on Collection of Fees and Service Charges by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment · Article 3 (2021-08-03) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Instruction on Collection of Fees and Service Charges by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment · Article 4 (2021-08-03) — Read the law · Lao Official Gazette

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for a Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) in Laos?

Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ. Competent authority: IEE → the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located; detailed ESIA → the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environment Department, central); the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (EIA Decree Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: authority names changed with the 2025 reorganisation; confirm the current counter name locally..

What documents are required for a Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) in Laos?

0 statutory items: . Competent authority: IEE → the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located; detailed ESIA → the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environment Department, central); the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (EIA Decree Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: authority names changed with the 2025 reorganisation; confirm the current counter name locally..

What is the legal basis for a Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) in Laos?

Based on Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 6; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 17; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 18; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 36; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 38; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 39; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 40; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 67; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 83; Law on Environmental Protection (Amended) Article 99; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 8; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 9; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 10; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 14; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 15; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 18; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 21; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 25; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 27; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 43; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 44; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 50; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 58; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 69; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 71; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 73; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 74; Decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Article 82; Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) Article 2; Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) Article 3; Decision on the Categorized List of Investment Projects or Activities Subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) Article 4; Instruction on Collection of Fees and Service Charges by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Article 3; Instruction on Collection of Fees and Service Charges by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Article 4. The full texts are available in the LaoPaniti law library, sourced from the Lao Official Gazette.

Are there time limits or hard requirements for a Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) in Laos?

Any individual, legal entity or organisation, domestic or foreign, carrying out an investment project or business activity in the Lao PDR must complete an environmental impact assessment and obtain an environmental certificate before starting; the certificate is issued before the investment licence (EIA Decree Arts. 8 and 9; Environmental Protection Law Arts. 6 and 36). Assessment has two groups and two types: smaller/non-severe impact (group 1) → Initial Environmental Examination (IEE); major/severe impact (group 2) → detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Which group a project falls in is set by the Grouping Catalogue Decision Art. 2 (IEE list, e.g. hydropower 1–5 MW) and Art. 3 (detailed-EIA list, e.g. hydropower above 5 MW); projects not listed are screened with the Environment Department (Art. 4) (EIA Decree Arts. 9, 10; Grouping Catalogue Arts. 2, 3, 4). Initial Environmental Examination (IEE): file with the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located (Decree Art. 14 lists 6 documents). Statutory limits for the department (working days, excluding the applicant's revision time): 5 days to check attachments, 25 to review content, 20 for public consultation, 5 for final review (Arts. 15, 16, 17, 18). An IEE may be prepared by the owner or by a hired environmental technical service provider (Art. 58). Detailed ESIA: handled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (central level). A scope-of-study and terms-of-reference (ToR) report must be prepared and reviewed first (Arts. 20, 21; 10 working days), then the full report is submitted (Art. 25 lists 6 documents). Ministry limits (working days): 10 to check attachments, 50 to review the report, 40 for consultation, 10 for final review (Arts. 26, 27, 28, 29). A detailed ESIA must be carried out only by a licensed environmental technical service provider; the owner may not do it himself (Arts. 58, 69). On approval an environmental certificate is issued, valid for the entire life of the project or business (EIA Decree Arts. 43, 44; Environmental Protection Law Art. 38). If no operation begins within two years of the permit, the certificate is revoked (Art. 50); breaching environmental law or the certificate conditions can lead to suspension or revocation (Arts. 48, 49, 50). The owner of a large or high-impact project must provide an environmental financial guarantee for restoration from construction through closure (Environmental Protection Law Art. 67). Fees (Instruction on NRE-sector fees and service charges Arts. 3 and 4, implementing Presidential fee Decree 002; kip) — certification fees: IEE report certificate 500,000 each; detailed ESIA report certificate 1,000,000; IEE renewal 100,000; ESIA renewal 500,000. Review service charges: IEE report review 3,000,000; ESIA report and management-monitoring plan review 10,000,000; certificate renewal 1,000,000. Total payable to the state: about 3,500,000 for IEE and about 11,000,000 for a detailed ESIA (excluding the service provider's private fee and village-consultation and other self-borne costs). The rate posted at the counter prevails. Competent authorities per the decree text: IEE → provincial / capital NRE Department; detailed ESIA → Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: this platform's records list the issuing body of these laws as the "Ministry of Agriculture and Environment" (post-2025 reorganisation); confirm the current counter name locally. Also: the 2019 No. 2 EIA Decree was replaced by the current 2022 decree (Art. 82); this service follows the current 2022 decree.

How much does a Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) cost in Laos and how long does it take?

Cost: In kip (Instruction on NRE-sector fees Arts. 3 and 4, implementing fee Decree 002). Certification fees: IEE report certificate 500,000; detailed ESIA report certificate 1,000,000. Review service charges: IEE report review 3,000,000; ESIA report and management-monitoring plan review 10,000,000. Totals: about 3,500,000 (IEE), about 11,000,000 (detailed ESIA). Renewals: certificate renewal 1,000,000 (service charge); IEE cert renewal 100,000, ESIA cert renewal 500,000 (fees). Excludes the service provider's private fee and self-borne costs; the posted rate prevails.. How long: All limits are working days and exclude the applicant's revision time. IEE (provincial department): 5 (attachments) + 25 (content review) + 20 (consultation) + 5 (final review) (Arts. 15–18). Detailed ESIA (Ministry): 10 for the scope/ToR review (Art. 21) + 10 (attachments) + 50 (report review) + 40 (consultation) + 10 (final review) (Arts. 26–29)..

Can LaoPaniti obtain the Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) for me?

LaoPaniti organises the document list, offers online form filling, document upload and pre-check hand-off by staff. It is not a government filing, does not represent acceptance or approval by any authority, and promises neither results nor expedited handling. Formal processing follows the current requirements of the IEE → the provincial / capital Natural Resources and Environment Department where the project is located; detailed ESIA → the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Environment Department, central); the district NRE Office handles local management and monitoring (EIA Decree Arts. 71, 73, 74). Note: authority names changed with the 2025 reorganisation; confirm the current counter name locally..

Organise documents online and submit for pre-check →

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