The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet is Thailand's career consular post for southern Laos, sitting across the Mekong from Mukdahan. It handles Thai visas for foreigners staying in six southern provinces, from Khammouane down to Champasak and Attapeu. For anyone in the Pakse or Thakhek area it is the right mission, and applying through Vientiane instead will not work.
What most applicants get wrong here is the payment window. You file online, but the fee is paid in cash, in Thai baht, at the consulate, only between 09:00 and 11:00 on weekdays, and processing takes about 5 to 10 working days from the day you pay. Miss the two-hour window and your clock does not start until the next working morning.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet |
| Address | No. 9 Road, Ban Huameuang N, Kaysone Phomvihane City, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR |
| Phone | +856 41 212 373 |
| Fax | +856 41 212 370 |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 08:30-16:30 |
| Visa fee payment | Cash, Thai baht only, 09:00-11:00, Monday to Friday, at the consulate |
| Closed | Weekends and Thai and Lao official holidays |
| Who can apply | Non-Thai nationals currently residing in the six provinces below |
| How to apply | Online only, at thaievisa.go.th |
| Stated processing time | About 5-10 working days from fee payment, if documents are complete |
| Fees | Tourist 1,000 THB single / 5,000 THB multiple; Non-Immigrant 2,000 THB single / 5,000 THB multiple; DTV 10,000 THB; Transit 800 THB (announcement 6/2567, effective 15 July 2024, read 16 Sep 2026) |
Which Areas This Mission Covers
The consulate's e-Visa notice applies to non-Thai nationals in these provinces:
| Province | Province | |
|---|---|---|
| Savannakhet | Champasak | |
| Khammouane | Sekong | |
| Saravanh | Attapeu |
Everywhere else in Laos, including Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang and the north, belongs to the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane.
Rules for Foreign (Non-Lao) Applicants
The consulate's English notice says the e-Visa rule covers "non-Thai nationals currently residing in" its six provinces. The Thai text uses พำนักอยู่ ("staying in"). Vientiane's notice says "currently in". Neither mission defines a minimum period. Here is what the consulate publishes, visa by visa:
| Visa | Can a foreign visitor in southern Laos apply? | What the consulate says |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa, single entry | The published rule is location-based; no residence permit is listed for it | 90-day validity, up to 60 days per stay; proof of funds of at least 20,000 THB with three or more months of bank statements |
| Tourist visa, multiple entry | No, unless you live in Laos | Granted "only to Lao nationals or to non-Thai nationals who hold valid authorization to reside in the Lao PDR" (tourist visa page, updated 10 March 2026) |
| Non-Immigrant (B, O, ED) | Location rule applies; each category has its own document list | See the consulate's Types of Visa pages |
| DTV | No, from 31 August 2026 | Applicants "must be Lao nationals or permanent residents of Lao PDR", with a criminal record certificate from Laos or their country of nationality and funds of not less than 500,000 THB |
The consulate asks for proof of residence only for the multiple-entry tourist visa. That suggests an ordinary visitor staying in the south can still apply for single-entry visas. If your situation is borderline, email the consulate before you pay, because fees are not refunded.
The DTV restriction follows a rule the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane says took effect worldwide on 31 August 2026: DTV applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of the country where they apply. A tourist in Savannakhet can no longer get a DTV here.
Do You Need a Visa?
Lao citizens on ordinary passports can stay in Thailand for up to 30 days under a bilateral agreement (Department of Consular Affairs list, 24 February 2025). That arrangement is separate from the new exemption lists.
Western passport holders crossing back into Thailand get a 30-day visa exemption since 15 September 2026, down from 60. One extension of up to 30 days is available at any Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB (TM.7). The exemption is for tourism only. Details: visa exemption and the 30-day rule explained.
Returning over the Mukdahan bridge is a land entry, and visa-exempt entries by land are now limited to two per calendar year for most nationalities. Only nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore are outside that cap.
You need the consulate for:
- A single-entry Tourist Visa
- Non-Immigrant visas for business or work, family or retirement or study
- A DTV, if you are a Lao national or permanent resident
- Legalisation of documents (600 THB per stamp)
How to Apply
- Be in one of the six provinces before you start.
- Apply at thaievisa.go.th and select the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet. Since 1 January 2025 this is the only way to apply for any visa category here; passports are no longer handed in.
- Upload the documents for your category. For a single-entry tourist visa: passport biodata page, a photo taken within six months, your travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, and bank statements showing at least 20,000 THB.
- Pay in cash at the consulate, Thai baht only, 09:00-11:00 on a weekday. You or an authorised representative can pay.
- Wait about 5 to 10 working days from payment. The consulate may ask for more documents or call you for an interview.
Practical Notes
The payment window is short. Two hours a day, weekdays only, closed on both Thai and Lao official holidays. Arrive with exact baht if you can.
No refunds. The consulate states that visa fees are non-refundable in all circumstances, including refusals.
Approval is not entry. The consulate reminds applicants that Thai immigration officers at the border make the final decision to admit you.
Older appointment instructions. Before the e-Visa, the consulate ran an online appointment system for counter submissions. Its current "Applying for Visa" page (updated 10 March 2026) describes only the e-Visa and cash payment.
Arrival card. Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before crossing back. For crossing logistics on the Laos side, see our Laos visa run guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Thai consulate in Savannakhet?
Yes. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Savannakhet is a full Thai government consular post, not an honorary consulate. It is at No. 9 Road, Ban Huameuang N, in Kaysone Phomvihane City, and it issues Thai visas for the six southern provinces of Laos.
Which Thai consulate covers Pakse?
Savannakhet. Pakse is in Champasak Province, which is inside the Savannakhet consulate's area along with Savannakhet, Khammouane, Saravanh, Sekong and Attapeu.
Can foreigners get a Thai tourist visa in Savannakhet?
The consulate takes e-Visa applications from non-Thai nationals staying in its six provinces, and it restricts only the multiple-entry tourist visa to people with authorization to live in Laos. A single-entry tourist visa costs 1,000 THB, paid in cash.
Can I apply for a DTV in Savannakhet?
Not unless you are a Lao national or a permanent resident of Laos. The consulate applied that rule, plus a criminal record certificate requirement, from 31 August 2026.
How long does a Thai visa take in Savannakhet?
About 5 to 10 working days from the date you pay, provided your documents are complete. The consulate can take longer if it requests more documents or an interview.
What time can I pay the visa fee at the Savannakhet consulate?
Between 09:00 and 11:00, Monday to Friday, except official holidays. Payment is cash in Thai baht only.
Sources
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet: Applying for Visa (provinces, e-Visa, payment, processing)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet: Tourist Visa (multiple-entry restriction, documents)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet: Destination Thailand Visa (31 August 2026 requirements)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet: Visa Fee (announcement 6/2567)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Savannakhet: Location and office hours
- Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane: Applying for a Visa (worldwide DTV rule from 31 August 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane: Contact Us (lists 212 370 as the Savannakhet consulate's facsimile)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington: MFA summary of the 2026 schemes, incl. bilateral 30-day list with Laos
- Department of Consular Affairs, MFA: Bilateral visa exemption agreements for ordinary passports (24 Feb 2025)
- TAT Newsroom: New 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September 2026
