Gov’t announces new passport fees

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will increase the cost of passports to US$60 for a passport containing an electronic chip (e-passport) and US$40 for a regular passport.
The new prices will come into effect on March 4.
Payment must be made in kip based on the current exchange rate as determined by the Ministry of Finance.
The increase in the processing fee will earn more revenue for the government’s coffers and ensure that sufficient funds are available to enable passports to be processed more quickly and efficiently.
The fees cover the cost of imported IT equipment that is used to produce passports, and the maintenance of this equipment and other systems used by Consular Department staff to ensure there are fewer holdups in the production process.
Starting from the date that the new fees kick in, a new passport can be issued in 10 working days.
The Consular Department can expedite the issuing of a passport if extra fees are paid. A service charge of one million kip will be added if a passport is required within one day, while an additional payment of 500,000 kip will see a passport issued within three working days, and an extra 300,000 kip will cut the processing time to five working days.
The fee increase and faster delivery times are in response to public complaints about the problems encountered when making a passport appointment online using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website as well as the long queues that form outside the Consulate Office in Vientiane and passport application centres in Khammuan, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

By Souksamai Boulom
 (Latest Update February 26, 2024)