Chapter 1: General

1.1 Obligations of Travelers
1.2 The Traveler Declaration Form
1.3 Travelers arriving by Air
1.4 Travelers arriving by Highway or River

With the adoption of the new economic mechanism of Lao P.D.R and with our membership with ASEAN which integrates our community with the regional and international communities, tourism will become a major sector of our economy. The influx of tourists at our land, river and airports will have a considerable effect on our work since travelers with their goods, and sometimes with their means of transport, must pass through customs control during their journey. The responsibilities assigned to customs for the control of the movement of travelers are numerous. Customs has to facilitate movement of persons, protect the fiscal and economic interests of Lao P.D.R, prevent the importation and exportation of prohibited goods and narcotic drugs and repress other offenses.

Travelers may enter Lao P.D.R through our international airports at Wattay and Luangprabang and in a near future at Pakse, through designated highway and river customs stations. The customs offices, so designated, shall clear travelers during the official hours of business, and exceptionally in cases of emergency outside these hours. Some travelers may cross the borders with their means of transport, especially automobiles.

Travelers include Lao P.D.R residents, foreign travelers, non-residents, persons crossing the borders frequently, staff of diplomatic missions and international organizations and businessmen.

At major ports or airports, an occurrence book shall be kept to enter all activities carried out at these posts.

1.1 Obligations of Travelers.

Any traveler on arrival from a foreign territory, at the International Airports of Wattay and Luang Prabang or at any other highway or river post shall be liable to declare to Customs all goods he has in his baggage, and to open, unpack or repack any packages as shall be required by Customs.

A written declaration for goods carried by travelers shall be made on the travelers declaration form, where required.

1.2 The Traveler Declaration Form

The traveler declaration form as at Annex I, shall be distributed to travelers when arriving into Lao P.D.R. Arrangements can be made with airline companies to have them distributed on board the aircraft to facilitate clearance of passengers on ground.

A brochure has been designed to help travelers to fill the declaration form. However, any assistance should be offered to a traveler when so requested.

The traveler declaration form will allow the customs officer to decide on the inspection the baggage of the traveler.

When a traveler has no goods to declare, he will inscribe a 4 in the green octagon provided and he will leave the airport by using the green channel.
When a traveler has goods to declare, he will leave the airport by using the red channel (see also Chapter 3: Inspection of Traveler's Baggage).

The Traveler Declaration Form after it has been handed over to customs, shall be filed in a sequential manner and shall be examined by the officer in charge to build up intelligence on travelers.

1.3 Travelers arriving by air.

a) Any traveler arriving at the International Airports of Wattay and Luang Prabang shall leave the through a green or red channel.

b) A green channel in an international airport is a channel or area for use by inbound travelers who have no goods liable to duty and taxes or prohibited or restricted goods.

c) A red channel in an international airport is a channel or area for use by inbound travelers who have in their possession goods liable to duty and taxes or prohibited or restricted goods.

d) Each channel shall be clearly and distinctively marked so that the choice between the red and green channels can be easily made by travelers.

e) Any traveler who enters the green channel shall be deemed to have declared that he has no goods to declare nor restricted or prohibited goods.

f) Any traveler who enters the green channel and is found, after a check, to be in possession of any undeclared, restricted or prohibited goods shall commit an offence and the goods shall be liable to seizure.

1.4 Travelers arriving by highway or river

Travelers arriving from a foreign territory by highway or river shall land at places designated by the Director-General of Customs.

The baggage or goods landed by a traveler shall be removed from the designated place after they have been cleared by Customs and after any liable duty or taxes have been paid.

The hours of business of such offices shall be specified by the Director-General during
which travelers may enter or leave Lao P.D.R.