The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness have likewise not been ratified, meaning that no specific statelessness determination procedure exists in domestic law, and protections for individuals without nationality depend on constitutional guarantees and immigration regulations.

Those seeking asylum in Laos originate primarily from neighbouring contexts and, to a lesser extent, from further afield. Montagnard groups displaced from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, along with occasional arrivals from other regional conflicts, submit claims under the administrative framework; recognized asylum-seekers and refugees reside in private housing in Vientiane and other urban areas. 

Statelessness in Lao PDR primarily affects individuals of ethnic minorities, such as the Hmong, who may have been born in the country but lack formal recognition under national laws. The Law on Lao Nationality includes provisions that, if implemented effectively, could prevent statelessness. Children born to stateless parents who are permanent residents and have integrated into Lao society may acquire citizenship. However, the process is not automatic and requires multiple levels of administrative approval, which can be a barrier for many. 

The constitutional framework—strengthened by the insertion of a Chapter on fundamental rights in 2015—explicitly protects stateless persons by granting them the right to seek judicial remedy and access legal services equivalent to those afforded to citizens. Recognizing gaps in vital registration, the State developed a National Strategy and Plan of Action on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, accompanied by a landscaping report on digital birth registration, to improve coverage across both urban and remote districts. Despite these initiatives, challenges persist: as of 2017, a significant proportion of children under five remained unregistered, particularly among rural and ethnic minority communities, exposing them to the risk of statelessness and limiting their ability to access basic rights and services.

Laos has experienced internal displacement primarily due to environmental factors such as floods and landslides. For instance, between 2008 and 2014, six disaster events led to approximately 98,000 internally displaced persons. From 2015 to 2022, this number increased, with 14 more disaster events causing over 147,000 internal displacements. In 2019, severe flooding affected 580,000 people, with 100,000 displaced.