Property
All land is owned by the national community; only rights are held
Under the Land Law, land belongs to the national community with the State as administrator. Lao citizens hold land use rights that function much like ownership, but foreigners and foreign entities cannot. Foreigners may lease state land for up to 50 years, and the 2019 Land Law introduced a limited route for foreign individuals to hold rights over residential units against an investment threshold.
Governing law
- Land Law, No. 70/NA of 2019 — Replaced the 2003 Land Law; land use rights and leases.
- Law on Investment Promotion, No. 14/NA of 2016 — Concessions and land access for investors.
In practice
Land is nationally owned; citizens hold transferable and inheritable land use rights. Foreigners and foreign entities may lease state land, generally up to 50 years, extendable. Concessions for large projects are granted under the Investment Promotion Law. Land titles are registered, but a large proportion of rural land remains untitled. Untitled land held by customary use is common; acquiring rights over it carries significant risk of competing claims. Village and district authorities must certify many transactions, which adds real time to transfers.