Lao Info · GuidesSummary from the cited articles — not legal advice
Can a foreigner open a foreign-currency bank account in Laos, and what is needed?
Short answer
Yes. Under Bank of the Lao PDR Decision 155/ທຫລ (2025), both residents and non-residents of Laos may open a foreign-currency deposit account at a commercial bank, if they hold foreign currency or earn income in foreign currency. You apply on the bank’s form with a copy of your passport (and, if you work in Laos, proof of employment). The bank decides under its own rules and anti-money-laundering checks, and may ask for more documents.
- Applies to
- Foreign-currency accounts (USD, THB, CNY …) of individuals. Not Kip accounts, and not import-export or investment accounts.
- Checked against the sources
1. Are you a resident or a non-resident?
- Resident: a foreigner working in Laos for more than one year (not embassy or international-organisation staff), or a foreigner/stateless person living and earning a living in Laos permanently.
- Non-resident: a foreigner in Laos for one year or less, or here to study, travel, visit or for medical treatment; foreign embassy and international-organisation staff, consultants and experts, and their families.
- Both groups may hold foreign currency in a bank account in Laos.
Source:15/ສພຊ · Art. 3 (7)Original text (Lao) ▸
“ຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ເຄື່ອນໄຫວວຽກງານ ຢູ່ ສປປ ລາວ ເກີນ ໜຶ່ງປີ”Source:15/ສພຊ · Art. 3 (8)Original text (Lao) ▸
“ຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ມາຢູ່ ສປປ ລາວ ບໍ່ເກີນ ໜຶ່ງປີ”Source:15/ສພຊ · Art. 8Original text (Lao) ▸
“ດ້ວຍການເປີດບັນຊີເງິນຝາກໄວ້ນໍາທະນາຄານທຸລະກິດ ຢູ່ ສປປ ລາວ”2. Who may open one
Residents and non-residents may deposit foreign currency they hold at any commercial bank, which opens the account in their name. The condition is to hold foreign currency and/or have income in foreign currency. Account types: current, savings, fixed-term and other types the bank offers.
Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 4Original text (Lao) ▸
“ຜູ້ມີ ແລະ ບໍ່ມີ ພູມລຳເນົາ ຢູ່ ສປປ ລາວ ສາມາດນຳເອົາເງິນຕາຕ່າງປະເທດທີ່ຢູ່ໃນການຄອບຄອງຂອງຕົນ ໄປຝາກໄວ້ນໍາທະນາຄານທຸລະກິດໃດໜຶ່ງ”Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 5Original text (Lao) ▸
“ມີເງິນຕາຕ່າງປະເທດໄວ້ໃນການຄອບຄອງ ແລະ/ຫຼື ມີແຫຼ່ງລາຍຮັບເປັນເງິນຕາຕ່າງປະເທດ”3. Documents for an individual
- The bank’s own application form.
- Foreigner living permanently in Laos: a copy of your ID card, family book or passport.
- Foreigner working in Laos: a copy of your passport and proof of employment — a letter from your employer, your labour contract, or a labour certificate from the relevant government sector.
- Non-resident: the same documents as above. The decision lists no separate case for tourists, so ask the bank whether it accepts your situation.
- The bank decides under its own rules and anti-money-laundering law, and may ask for more documents or information.
Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 6 (1.1)Original text (Lao) ▸
“ສຳເນົາ ໜັງສືຜ່ານແດນ (Passport) ແລະ ເອກະສານຮັບຮອງການວ່າຈ້າງໃດໜຶ່ງ”Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 6 (2.1)Original text (Lao) ▸
“ບຸກຄົນ: ເອກະສານຕາມທີ່ໄດ້ກຳນົດໄວ້ໃນຂໍ້ 1.1 ຂອງມາດຕານີ້”Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 7Original text (Lao) ▸
“ທະນາຄານທຸລະກິດ ສາມາດຮຽກເອົາເອກະສານ ຫຼື ຂໍ້ມູນເພີ່ມເຕີມຈາກຜູ້ສະເໜີໄດ້”4. Using the account: transfers (individuals)
| Transfer | Rule |
|---|---|
| Between your own accounts (same name) | No amount limit; the bank’s normal fee |
| To another person, under $1,000 a day | State the purpose of the transfer |
| To another person, $1,000 a day or more | State the purpose and attach supporting documents |
| Fee for transfers to another person | At most 0.5% of the amount, minimum $1, maximum $50 per transaction (or equivalent) |
Transfers only within the same currency. Deposits earn interest under the bank’s rules; the bank sets withdrawal conditions, limits and fees.
Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 8–9
Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 10Original text (Lao) ▸
“ສູງສຸດເທົ່າ ສູນຈຸດຫ້າ ສ່ວນຮ້ອຍ (0.5%) ຂອງມູນຄ່າທຸລະກໍາ”5. Not allowed
- Hiding information, giving false information or forged documents when opening or using the account.
- Using the account to run a currency-exchange service without a licence.
- Using the account to manipulate the exchange rate.
Source:155/ທຫລ · Art. 17Original text (Lao) ▸
“ນໍາໃຊ້ບັນຊີເງິນຝາກເງິນຕາຕ່າງປະເທດ ເພື່ອບໍລິການແລກປ່ຽນເງິນຕາ ໂດຍບໍ່ໄດ້ຮັບອະນຸຍາດ”Not covered here: Kip accounts; accounts for import-export or investment (excluded by Art. 3 of 155/ທຫລ); each bank’s own requirements such as minimum deposits; carrying foreign cash into or out of Laos (see 140/ທຫລ, 2026).
Plain-language summary for information only — not legal advice. The authoritative text is the official document as published by the issuing body. Each bank applies its own rules on top; ask the bank before you go.