Service passport holders heading to Laos or Azerbaijan no longer need visas

Azerbaijan and Laos have exempted holders of service passports from visa requirements when travelling between the two countries. The formal exchange of documents on the agreement took place in Baku on 13 October 2026, in the presence of the two countries' presidents.

Key facts

• Date of the document exchange: 13 October 2026
• Place: Baku
• Who benefits: holders of service passports
• What was exchanged: the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on the mutual exemption of holders of service passports from visa requirements
• Officials involved: Azerbaijan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov and Deputy Prime Minister and Lao Minister for Foreign Affairs Thongsavan Phomvihane

What was agreed?

The two governments exchanged documents on an agreement that mutually exempts service passport holders from visa requirements. The exchange was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and was carried out by the two foreign ministers.

Who is affected?

The exemption applies to travellers holding service passports. The announcement makes no mention of ordinary passport holders, and it gives no details on permitted length of stay, number of entries, fees or application procedures.

When does it take effect?

No start date for the visa exemption has been announced. Only the date of the document exchange, 13 October 2026, is given.

What this means for travellers

Travellers who hold a service passport and plan to travel between Azerbaijan and Laos are the group this agreement concerns. Those holding ordinary passports should check the visa rules that apply to their own document type, since the announced agreement covers service passports only.

No further steps, timelines or implementing details have been announced.