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Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
ລັດຖະມົນຕີກະຊວງການຕ່າງປະເທດ; Ministre des affaires étrangères
	Emblem of Laos
	Incumbent; Saleumxay Kommasith; since 20 April 2016
Style	His Excellency
Member of	Cabinet
Reports to	The Prime Minister
Seat	Vientiane
Nominator	The Prime Minister
Appointer	Bounnhang Vorachit; The President
Term length	No fixed term
Inaugural holder	Prince Boun Oum
Formation	1948; 76 years ago

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ກະຊວງການຕ່າງປະເທດ; Ministère des affaires étrangères
	Emblem of Laos
Ministry overview
Formed	1948; 76 years ago
Jurisdiction	Government of Laos
Headquarters	Vientiane Laos
Minister responsible	Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Website	www.mofa.gov.la

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lao: ກະຊວງການຕ່າງປະເທດ, French: Ministère des affaires étrangères) is the government ministry responsible for representing Laos to the international community. The ministry oversees the foreign relations of Laos, maintains diplomatic missions in other countries, and provides visa services.^[1]

As of 2016^[update], the minister of foreign affairs was Saleumxay Kommasith. The ministry's main offices are located in Vientiane.

Organization

Departments of the ministry include:^[2]

Personnel and Staff Department
Asia, Pacific and Africa Department
Europe and America Department
ASEAN Department
Economic Affairs Department
International Organizations Department
Law and Treaties Department
Protocol Department
Press Department
Consular Department
Economic Department
Overseas Lao Affairs Department
Institute of Foreign Affairs Department
Diplomatic Service Bureau Department
The Office of the National Boundary Committee

e-Visa system

The official Lao e-Visa logo

Since July 2019, an e-Visa system has been launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which enables visitors to apply for a Laos tourist visa online.^[3]^[4] Instead of applying through the Laotian Embassy, all that is needed to be done is to complete the online application form and pay with a credit card. After receiving the Visa through email, it should be printed and brought along when traveling to Laos. Tourists can apply for an online visa to Laos at the official website.

List of ministers

This is a list of ministers of foreign affairs of Laos:^[5]

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Tenure
Kingdom of Laos (1947–1975)
1	Prince Boun Oum (1912–1980)	1948–1950
2	Phoui Sananikone (1903–1983)	1950–1951
3	Nhouy Abhay (1909–1963)	1951–1954
(2)	Phoui Sananikone (1903–1983)	1954–1956
4	Prince Souvanna Phouma (1901–1984)	1956–1957
(2)	Phoui Sananikone (1903–1983)	1957–1958
5	Khamphan Panya (1917–1994)	1958–1959
(2)	Phoui Sananikone (1903–1983)	1959
(5)	Khamphan Panya (1917–1994)	1960
(4)	Prince Souvanna Phouma (1901–1984)	1960
(1)	Prince Boun Oum (1912–1980)	1960–1962
6	Quinim Pholsena (1915–1963)	1962–1963
(4)	Prince Souvanna Phouma (1901–1984)	1963–1964
7	Pheng Phongsavan (1910–1979)	1964–1965
(4)	Prince Souvanna Phouma (1901–1984)	1965–1974
8	Phoumi Vongvichit (1909–1994)	1974–1975
Lao People's Democratic Republic (1975–present)
9	Phoun Sipaseuth (1920–1994)	1975–1993
10	Somsavat Lengsavad (b. 1945)	1993–2006
11	Thongloun Sisoulith (b. 1945)	2006–2016
12	Saleumxay Kommasith (b. 1968)	2016–present