No. Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Sri Lanka all run official online portals where you can apply yourself and pay the government fee directly. A visa agent is worth paying for when you want your eligibility, dates, port of entry and photo checked before a non-refundable fee is spent. The main risk is not the agent question but landing on a look-alike site that is not the government portal at all.
The official e-visa portals
| Country | Official application site | Run by | Also needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | evisa.gov.vn[1] | Vietnam Immigration Department | |
| Cambodia | evisa.gov.kh | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation | Free e-Arrival form, ideally within 7 days before arrival |
| Laos | laoevisa.gov.la[2] | Lao eVisa | |
| Indonesia | evisa.imigrasi.go.id[3] | Directorate General of Immigration | All Indonesia arrival card |
| Sri Lanka | eta.gov.lk[4] | Department of Immigration and Emigration |
How to spot a look-alike e-visa site
- Type the address yourself. Start from the address in the table above rather than an ad or a search result.
- Check the whole domain, not the logo. The official sites sit on government domains: .gov.vn, .gov.kh, .gov.la, .go.id and .gov.lk. A site on any other domain is not the government portal, however official it looks.
- Know the real fee before you pay. For example, Cambodia's tourist eVisa is US$30, Indonesia's B1 e-VOA is IDR 500,000[3], and 40 nationalities pay nothing for Sri Lanka's tourist ETA[4]. If a site charges more, the extra should be named as that site's own service fee, separate from the government fee.
- Watch for "free" schemes that still need an application. Sri Lanka's free ETA still has to be applied for[4]; Cambodia's e-Arrival form is free.
- Remember the fee rules. Lao eVisa fees are non-refundable under any circumstances[2], and Vietnam does not refund the fee if an application is refused[1]. A mistake on the wrong site, or on the right one, can cost the whole fee.
For more, see our page on recognising fake visa service websites.
When a visa agent is worth it
- Your nationality is a question mark. Indonesia's B1 is only for nationals on its visa-on-arrival list[3]; nine ASEAN nationalities do not need a Cambodian tourist visa; some nationalities need extra checks for Vietnam.
- Your route matters. The Lao eVisa works at only 9 ports[2]. As of 16 October 2026, Cambodia's land crossings from Thailand at Poipet and Cham Yeam are closed for eVisa entry.
- Your dates matter. A Vietnam e-visa starts on the entry date you choose. A Lao eVisa must be used within 60 days of approval[2].
- Photos get rejected. Laos specifies a 4 x 6 cm colour photo on white, taken in the last 6 months[2]; Cambodia often rejects photos cropped from a passport scan.
How to choose a visa agent
A good agent, for any of these countries:
- Files on the official portal and tells you which one.
- Names two figures: its service fee and the government fee, separately, before you pay.
- Says who decides. Only the destination country's authorities approve a visa. Anyone promising approval is promising something they cannot control.
- Publishes its terms, including what happens if you change dates or are refused.
- Is a real, registered company you can check, with reviews on independent platforms.
- Is honest about limits, such as extensions that have to be done in person inside the country.
Where Issa Compass fits
We pre-check your passport, photo, dates and port of entry, then file on the official portal for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Our service fee and the government fee are shown separately on each country page: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. For Thai visas, see Do you need a DTV visa agent?. Questions? Book a free consultation.
Country guides
- Vietnam e-visa: official portal or visa agent?
- Cambodia e-visa and e-Arrival card
- Cambodia business visa (Type E)
- Laos eVisa ports of entry
- Indonesia e-VOA (B1)
- Sri Lanka ETA
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa agent for a Vietnam e-visa?
No. You can apply yourself on evisa.gov.vn, the Vietnam Immigration Department's portal[1]. An agent mainly adds a pre-check before you pay.
What is the official Cambodia e-visa website?
evisa.gov.kh, run by Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Every traveller also completes the free e-Arrival form.
How can I tell if an e-visa website is fake?
Check the full domain. The official portals sit on .gov.vn, .gov.kh, .gov.la, .go.id and .gov.lk. Any other domain is not the government portal.
Can a visa agent guarantee my e-visa is approved?
No. Only the destination country's immigration authorities decide. An agent can check your application before it is filed, not promise the outcome.
Is the Sri Lanka ETA free?
For nationals of 40 countries since 25 May 2026, yes, but you still have to apply on eta.gov.lk before you travel[4].
References
- Vietnam Immigration Department: Vietnam Electronic Visa Portal notice (immigration.gov.vn)
- Lao eVisa: Frequently Asked Questions (laoevisa.gov.la)
- B1 Tourism Visitor Visa, Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id)
- Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization: Alert 01 (eta.gov.lk)