You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

April 13, 2020

Laos Announces Exemptions from Visa Overstay Fines

On April 7, 2020, the Immigration Department of the Lao Ministry of Public Security issued Notification No. 740 announcing updated regulations relating to the renewal of permits and visas which may expire during the lockdown period. The notification came into effect on the same date.

As the Immigration Department has suspended visa renewal services until April 20 (subject to any further extensions), the USD 10 per day overstay fine that is usually imposed on those who do not renew their visas on time will be suspended for the period from April 4 to April 20, 2020. However, for those whose visas expire during this period, the normal visa extension fee of approximately USD 2.3 per day will continue to accrue. The notification is applicable to all persons, regardless of whether they are in Laos for business or tourism.

Although the Immigration Office is closed, they may extend stay permits and visas in specific circumstances where it is necessary for the holder to provide them to a third party (e.g., where required by a hospital to continue providing treatment, or by a bank to execute a transfer).

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

June 22, 2021
The latest updates to the Employment and Employee Benefits Global Guide, a Thomson Reuters Practical Law online publication that provides an overview of employment and employee benefits in jurisdictions worldwide, includes a revised chapter on employment regulations in Myanmar. The Myanmar chapter was written by members of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Yangon office, including Yuwadee Thean-ngarm, director, Nwe Oo, attorney-at-law, and Sher Hann Chua, consultant. The chapter covers a wide range of key employment topics, including employment status, background checks, regulation of the employment relationship, minimum wage, working hours and holidays, illness and injury of employees, discrimination and harassment, termination of employment, resolution of employer-employee disputes, redundancy/layoffs, employee representation and consultation, business transfer and insolvency, employee relocation, health and safety obligations, taxation of employment income, intellectual property issues, and more. Practical Law, produced by Thomson Reuters, is the world’s leading legal resource for business lawyers, publishing a huge range of guides for hundreds of jurisdictions and practice areas. The Employment and Employee Benefits Global Guide covers 42 jurisdiction around the world, with Tilleke & Gibbins also providing the Vietnam chapter of the guide. To view the latest version of the Myanmar chapter, please visit the Practical Law website.
May 20, 2021
Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in Thailand since March 2021, the Cabinet has approved new reductions in employers’ and employees’ mandatory contributions to the Social Security Fund (SSF). Contribution rates will be calculated as a percentage of each employee’s monthly wages, based on a minimum and maximum monthly wage that will be confirmed in the formal regulation published in the Government Gazette. Effective May 18, 2021, the new contribution rates for mandatory SSF contributions approved by the cabinet are as follows: From June 1 to August 31, 2021 From September 1, 2021, onward The approval of the cabinet will now be considered by the Office of the Council of State. Thereafter, the new regulation will be published in the Government Gazette before formally coming into effect. For more information on this issue, or any other aspect of labor law in Thailand, please contact Chusert Supasitthumrong at +66 2056 5793 or [email protected].