Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) in Laos: statutory documents, competent authority and legal basis
Who can apply
Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ.
Competent authority: Quota: the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Department (Arts. 18, 19). Entry approval and work permit: the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department and employment service centres (Arts. 22, 25, 38, 39). The labour authority runs: ministry → provincial department → district office → village unit (Labour Law (revised), Art. 155).
At a glance
Where to apply: Quota: the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Department (Arts. 18, 19). Entry approval and work permit: the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department and employment service centres (Arts. 22, 25, 38, 39). The labour authority runs: ministry → provincial department → district office → village unit (Labour Law (revised), Art. 155).
Steps:
- Draw up the unit's Lao and foreign labour-use plan and report it to the labour authority (Labour Law Art. 37)
- Apply to the Skills Development & Employment Dept for the annual foreign-labour quota and get the quota permit (Art. 19; allocation within 15 working days)
- Against the quota, apply for entry approval at the provincial/Vientiane dept or an employment service centre (Art. 22; entry approval within 3 working days)
How long: Quota allocation within 15 working days; entry approval within 3 working days; work permit issued/renewed within 5 working days (2021 Decision, Art. 38). Apply for the work permit within 30 days of entry (Art. 25); the quota permit lasts up to 1 year and ends on 31 December (Art. 21); contract terms of 1/3/6/12 months, up to 5 years total (Art. 10).
Cost: Work-permit issue/renewal fee: 85,000 kip per person per month = 1,020,000 kip per person per year (2021 Decision, Art. 31); service charges: quota/entry/work-permit forms 10,000 kip per set each, issue/renew/replace service 50,000 kip per person each time, quota-entry permit 50,000 kip per set for 1–10 workers or 5,000 kip per person for 11+ (Art. 32). The posted rate prevails.
Statutory document list
Report the unit's labour-need plan (incl. Lao and foreign labour plan)
- Art. 20.2 Plan for the use of Lao and foreign labour (positions, numbers, nationality, term) (required)
- Arts. 20.4 / 24.3 Colour copies of both sides of the enterprise registration certificate and investment licence, or the business-operation permit (required)
- Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend (optional)
- Art. 7 Conditions for entry to work, not an application document under Arts. 20/24/26/28: aged 20 or over, skills matching the post, a clear record and fit health (optional)
- Arts. 11.3 / 13.7 Employer conditions and duties, not an application document: pass professional skills to Lao workers and plan their year-by-year replacement of foreign labour (optional)
- Labour Law, Arts. 63-65: the unit internal work rules, not an application document under law 1014; must be published once approved (optional)
Apply for the annual foreign-labour quota
- Art. 20.1 Application letter for a foreign-labour quota (to the Skills Development & Employment Dept) (required)
- Art. 20.2 Plan for the use of Lao and foreign labour (positions, numbers, nationality, term) (required)
- Art. 20.3 Notice of vacancies for Lao workers (the vacancies must first be entered on the website) (required)
- Art. 20.5 Colour copy of the tax registration certificate, with the most recent month of payroll tax listing the Lao employees (required)
- Art. 20.6 Copy of the project contract or concession contract (if any) (optional)
- Arts. 20.4 / 24.3 Colour copies of both sides of the enterprise registration certificate and investment licence, or the business-operation permit (required)
- Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend (required)
- Art. 7 Conditions for entry to work, not an application document under Arts. 20/24/26/28: aged 20 or over, skills matching the post, a clear record and fit health (optional)
- Arts. 11.3 / 13.7 Employer conditions and duties, not an application document: pass professional skills to Lao workers and plan their year-by-year replacement of foreign labour (optional)
- Labour Law, Arts. 63-65: the unit internal work rules, not an application document under law 1014; must be published once approved (optional)
Apply for entry approval of a foreign worker
- Art. 24.2 Copy of the foreign-labour quota permit (issued by the Skills Development & Employment Dept) (required)
- Art. 24.4 Roster of the foreign workers put forward for entry (required)
- Art. 24.5 Guarantee letter issued by the employer (required)
- Art. 24.6 Health certificate issued by the foreign worker country of origin (required)
- Arts. 20.4 / 24.3 Colour copies of both sides of the enterprise registration certificate and investment licence, or the business-operation permit (required)
- Arts. 24.7 / 26.5 / 28.3 Copy of the foreign worker passport (plus the labour visa when applying for the work permit) (required)
- Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend (optional)
- Art. 7 Conditions for entry to work, not an application document under Arts. 20/24/26/28: aged 20 or over, skills matching the post, a clear record and fit health (optional)
- Arts. 11.3 / 13.7 Employer conditions and duties, not an application document: pass professional skills to Lao workers and plan their year-by-year replacement of foreign labour (optional)
- Labour Law, Arts. 63-65: the unit internal work rules, not an application document under law 1014; must be published once approved (optional)
Apply for the work permit
- Art. 26.2 Foreign-labour entry permit issued by the provincial or Vientiane Capital Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre (required)
- Art. 26.4 Record-check certificate (roster certificate) from the Immigration Police Department, Ministry of Public Security (required)
- Arts. 26.3 / 28.5 Labour contract (for renewal, the continuing contract; in writing where either party is a legal entity) (required)
- Arts. 24.7 / 26.5 / 28.3 Copy of the foreign worker passport (plus the labour visa when applying for the work permit) (required)
- Arts. 26.6 / 28.8 Two 3x4 cm photographs (required)
- Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend (optional)
- Art. 7 Conditions for entry to work, not an application document under Arts. 20/24/26/28: aged 20 or over, skills matching the post, a clear record and fit health (optional)
- Arts. 11.3 / 13.7 Employer conditions and duties, not an application document: pass professional skills to Lao workers and plan their year-by-year replacement of foreign labour (optional)
- Labour Law, Arts. 63-65: the unit internal work rules, not an application document under law 1014; must be published once approved (optional)
Renew a work permit
- Art. 28.2 The foreign worker current work permit (required)
- Art. 28.4 Copy of the payroll-tax payment receipt (required)
- Art. 28.6 Certificate of enrolment in social insurance (required)
- Art. 28.7 Health examination certificate (required)
- Arts. 26.3 / 28.5 Labour contract (for renewal, the continuing contract; in writing where either party is a legal entity) (required)
- Arts. 24.7 / 26.5 / 28.3 Copy of the foreign worker passport (plus the labour visa when applying for the work permit) (required)
- Arts. 26.6 / 28.8 Two 3x4 cm photographs (required)
- Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend (optional)
- Art. 7 Conditions for entry to work, not an application document under Arts. 20/24/26/28: aged 20 or over, skills matching the post, a clear record and fit health (optional)
- Arts. 11.3 / 13.7 Employer conditions and duties, not an application document: pass professional skills to Lao workers and plan their year-by-year replacement of foreign labour (optional)
- Labour Law, Arts. 63-65: the unit internal work rules, not an application document under law 1014; must be published once approved (optional)
Statutory requirements
- The basis for employment registration: every form of investment, including all employers, must draw up a phased labour-need plan and report it to the relevant labour authority to plan the labour supply (Labour Law (revised), Art. 37).
- Lao workers come first: the employer must plan its labour needs, use Lao workers as a priority, and take on foreign workers only where genuinely necessary (Art. 68).
- Foreign-worker quota (current; source: 2021 Decision on permitting foreign workers to work in Laos, Art. 17): as a share of the unit's total Lao workers — 15% for foreign professionals doing manual work, 25% for those doing mental/skilled work. Large investment projects and government-priority projects follow the project owner–government contract or a special government instruction; occupations mobile under cooperation frameworks (e.g. within Southeast Asia) follow their special regulations if any.
- Foreign-worker conditions: at least 20 years old, with skills and a professional level matching the post (Labour Law (revised), Art. 43).
- Not covered (no permit needed): diplomats, official delegations and their families, persons on duty under a government agreement, those attending meetings and training, foreign investors named in the operating licence, and UN/international-organisation staff (2021 Decision, Art. 6).
- Current three steps (2021 Decision): ① apply to the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Dept for the annual foreign-labour quota (Art. 19); the quota permit lasts up to one year, ends on 31 December, and unused quota does not carry over (Art. 21); ② against the quota, apply to the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre for entry approval, processed through the MoLSW database system, with multiple entries allowed within the year up to the quota (Art. 22); ③ obtain the work permit after entry (see below).
- Work-permit deadline: an employer that has lawfully obtained entry approval must apply for the work permit at the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre within 30 days of the foreign worker's entry into Laos; lateness incurs a fine (2021 Decision, Art. 25).
- Permit term: contract terms of 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, renewable up to 12 months each time and up to 5 years total; after 5 years the worker must return home and may reapply 30 days after expiry (2021 Decision, Art. 10; consistent with Labour Law Art. 45).
- Contract and internal rules: the labour contract must be in writing where a party is a legal entity or organisation (Art. 77); the unit must draw up internal work rules and, once approved, publish them to workers in an appropriate way (Arts. 63 and 65).
- This is not social-security (NSSF) registration: here you file the labour plan and register the foreign-labour quota, entry approval and work permit (labour side of MoLSW); social-security (NSSF) enrolment is a separate matter handled elsewhere and is not duplicated here.
- Fees (current, 2021 Decision): the work-permit issue/renewal fee is 85,000 kip per person per month, i.e. 1,020,000 kip per person per year (Art. 31); plus service charges — quota, entry and work-permit forms 10,000 kip per set each, issue/renew/replace service 50,000 kip per person each time, and issuing the quota-entry permit 50,000 kip per set for 1–10 workers or 5,000 kip per person for 11+ (Art. 32). The posted rate at the counter prevails.
Common issues
- Foreign labour is capped (current): 15% manual and 25% mental/skilled of the unit's total Lao workers; large investment/government-priority projects follow the project contract or a special government instruction — over-quota hiring is not registered (2021 Decision, Art. 17)
- Lao workers first: prioritise Lao workers and plan to transfer skills to them (Labour Law Art. 68)
Legal basis (Lao Official Gazette texts)
Excerpt: Article 37. Labor Demand Plans All forms of investment (including all employing entities) must formulate labor demand plans for each phase. …
Excerpt: Article 43. Conditions for Foreign Workers Coming to Work in Laos Foreign workers coming to work in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic must meet the following conditions: 1. Be at least twenty years of age; 2. …
Excerpt: Article 45. Duration of Use of Foreign Labor Foreign workers coming to work in Laos under a contract shall be permitted for a period not exceeding twelve months per authorization, and may apply for extensions, each not e …
Excerpt: Article 63 (New). Internal Regulations of the Employer Internal regulations of the employer are regulatory documents that the employer must formulate to implement the Labor Law and to stipulate specific regulations for t …
Excerpt: Article 65. Publication of Internal Regulations After the internal regulations of the employer are approved, the employer must organize their publication, making them generally known to workers through appropriate means, …
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for a Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) in Laos?
Both Lao citizens and foreigners may apply; the documents differ. Competent authority: Quota: the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Department (Arts. 18, 19). Entry approval and work permit: the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department and employment service centres (Arts. 22, 25, 38, 39). The labour authority runs: ministry → provincial department → district office → village unit (Labour Law (revised), Art. 155)..
What documents are required for a Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) in Laos?
19 statutory items: Art. 20.2 Plan for the use of Lao and foreign labour (positions, numbers, nationality, term); Arts. 20.4 / 24.3 Colour copies of both sides of the enterprise registration certificate and investment licence, or the business-operation permit; Art. 20.1 Application letter for a foreign-labour quota (to the Skills Development & Employment Dept); Art. 20.3 Notice of vacancies for Lao workers (the vacancies must first be entered on the website); Art. 20.5 Colour copy of the tax registration certificate, with the most recent month of payroll tax listing the Lao employees; Art. 20.7 Authorisation letter from the employing unit to the person filing (original, for the quota application); for the other matters attach it plus the proxy ID or passport copy if the applicant does not attend; Art. 24.2 Copy of the foreign-labour quota permit (issued by the Skills Development & Employment Dept); Art. 24.4 Roster of the foreign workers put forward for entry; Art. 24.5 Guarantee letter issued by the employer; Art. 24.6 Health certificate issued by the foreign worker country of origin; Arts. 24.7 / 26.5 / 28.3 Copy of the foreign worker passport (plus the labour visa when applying for the work permit); Art. 26.2 Foreign-labour entry permit issued by the provincial or Vientiane Capital Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre; Art. 26.4 Record-check certificate (roster certificate) from the Immigration Police Department, Ministry of Public Security; Arts. 26.3 / 28.5 Labour contract (for renewal, the continuing contract; in writing where either party is a legal entity); Arts. 26.6 / 28.8 Two 3x4 cm photographs; Art. 28.2 The foreign worker current work permit; Art. 28.4 Copy of the payroll-tax payment receipt; Art. 28.6 Certificate of enrolment in social insurance; Art. 28.7 Health examination certificate. Competent authority: Quota: the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Department (Arts. 18, 19). Entry approval and work permit: the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department and employment service centres (Arts. 22, 25, 38, 39). The labour authority runs: ministry → provincial department → district office → village unit (Labour Law (revised), Art. 155)..
What is the legal basis for a Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) in Laos?
Based on Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 37; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 43; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 45; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 63; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 65; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 68; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 77; Labour Law (Amended Version) Article ມາດຕາ 155; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 6; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 10; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 17; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 18; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 19; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 21; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 22; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 25; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 31; Decision on Permitting Foreign Workers to Enter the Lao People's Democratic Republic for Employment Article 38. 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 Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) in Laos?
The basis for employment registration: every form of investment, including all employers, must draw up a phased labour-need plan and report it to the relevant labour authority to plan the labour supply (Labour Law (revised), Art. 37). Lao workers come first: the employer must plan its labour needs, use Lao workers as a priority, and take on foreign workers only where genuinely necessary (Art. 68). Foreign-worker quota (current; source: 2021 Decision on permitting foreign workers to work in Laos, Art. 17): as a share of the unit's total Lao workers — 15% for foreign professionals doing manual work, 25% for those doing mental/skilled work. Large investment projects and government-priority projects follow the project owner–government contract or a special government instruction; occupations mobile under cooperation frameworks (e.g. within Southeast Asia) follow their special regulations if any. Foreign-worker conditions: at least 20 years old, with skills and a professional level matching the post (Labour Law (revised), Art. 43). Not covered (no permit needed): diplomats, official delegations and their families, persons on duty under a government agreement, those attending meetings and training, foreign investors named in the operating licence, and UN/international-organisation staff (2021 Decision, Art. 6). Current three steps (2021 Decision): ① apply to the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Dept for the annual foreign-labour quota (Art. 19); the quota permit lasts up to one year, ends on 31 December, and unused quota does not carry over (Art. 21); ② against the quota, apply to the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre for entry approval, processed through the MoLSW database system, with multiple entries allowed within the year up to the quota (Art. 22); ③ obtain the work permit after entry (see below). Work-permit deadline: an employer that has lawfully obtained entry approval must apply for the work permit at the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department or an employment service centre within 30 days of the foreign worker's entry into Laos; lateness incurs a fine (2021 Decision, Art. 25). Permit term: contract terms of 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, renewable up to 12 months each time and up to 5 years total; after 5 years the worker must return home and may reapply 30 days after expiry (2021 Decision, Art. 10; consistent with Labour Law Art. 45). Contract and internal rules: the labour contract must be in writing where a party is a legal entity or organisation (Art. 77); the unit must draw up internal work rules and, once approved, publish them to workers in an appropriate way (Arts. 63 and 65). This is not social-security (NSSF) registration: here you file the labour plan and register the foreign-labour quota, entry approval and work permit (labour side of MoLSW); social-security (NSSF) enrolment is a separate matter handled elsewhere and is not duplicated here. Fees (current, 2021 Decision): the work-permit issue/renewal fee is 85,000 kip per person per month, i.e. 1,020,000 kip per person per year (Art. 31); plus service charges — quota, entry and work-permit forms 10,000 kip per set each, issue/renew/replace service 50,000 kip per person each time, and issuing the quota-entry permit 50,000 kip per set for 1–10 workers or 5,000 kip per person for 11+ (Art. 32). The posted rate at the counter prevails.
How much does a Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) cost in Laos and how long does it take?
Cost: Work-permit issue/renewal fee: 85,000 kip per person per month = 1,020,000 kip per person per year (2021 Decision, Art. 31); service charges: quota/entry/work-permit forms 10,000 kip per set each, issue/renew/replace service 50,000 kip per person each time, quota-entry permit 50,000 kip per set for 1–10 workers or 5,000 kip per person for 11+ (Art. 32). The posted rate prevails.. How long: Quota allocation within 15 working days; entry approval within 3 working days; work permit issued/renewed within 5 working days (2021 Decision, Art. 38). Apply for the work permit within 30 days of entry (Art. 25); the quota permit lasts up to 1 year and ends on 31 December (Art. 21); contract terms of 1/3/6/12 months, up to 5 years total (Art. 10)..
Can LaoPaniti obtain the Employment registration and foreign-worker permit (quota · entry approval · work permit · renewal) 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 Quota: the MoLSW Skills Development & Employment Department (Arts. 18, 19). Entry approval and work permit: the provincial/Vientiane Labour and Social Welfare Department and employment service centres (Arts. 22, 25, 38, 39). The labour authority runs: ministry → provincial department → district office → village unit (Labour Law (revised), Art. 155)..
Organise documents online and submit for pre-check →
Other matters
Taxpayer identification number (TIN) · tax registration · Land title (land use certificate): registration / transfer / inheritance / mortgage / reissue · Business licence (enterprise registration certificate): new / change / reissue / dissolution · Business operating licence (sector licence) · Driving licence (civil vehicle) · Investment licence · Construction (building) permit: new build / extension / change of use / repair / rebuild / demolition · Environmental certificate · Environmental impact assessment of an investment project (IEE / detailed ESIA) · Social security registration (employer registering the unit and its workers / individual voluntary enrolment) · Certificate of Origin for exports (preferential origin: Confirmation of Product Originality + preferential Certificate of Origin / exporter self-certification) · Import-export licence and trader registration certificate · Mineral licences: field data collection, prospecting, exploration, feasibility study and mining · Tourism business licence: accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, guiding, travel agency and other categories · Electricity business licence: general electricity services, specific power generation, and transmission line concessions · Food registration certificate for industrial plants, family-scale workshops and imported food · Road transport business licence: passenger transport, freight, terminals, vehicle hire and logistics · Licence for a pharmaceutical or medical product business, and product registration · Sign permits: use, installation and the sign business licence · Insurance business licences: insurer, reinsurer, broker and agent · Printing and publishing: the printing permit and the licences for publishers, print shops and distributors · Internet service business licence: domestic, international and satellite · Postal service business licence: international, nationwide, provincial and postal financial or product services · Setting up and operating a wood-processing factory: sawmills, processing plants and furniture factories · Divorce registration and the divorce certificate, by agreement or by court judgment · Inheritance: opening a will, certifying estate documents and registering the transfer of property · Tourist visa T-B3: where to apply, how it may be extended, and when it is the wrong visa · Health checks and health certificates: who must be examined, and how often · Household book reissue / update · Birth certificate · Single / marital status certificate · Marriage registration · No-criminal-record certificate · Residence / address certificate · Kinship certificate · Land / house basic documents · Vehicle sale / transfer documents · Stay permit / residence permit card · Work visa / work permit pre-check