Cambodia is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia. Known for it’s amazing ancient sites like Angkor Wat, as well as for being a very affordable place to travel, more than 2 million people a year travel there.
But, chances are good that you are from a country that is required to get a visa for Cambodia before you can go there. Don’t worry, it’s super easy to get and I’ll tell you exactly how to do it!
Entry Requirements for Cambodia
Anytime I book a trip, one of the first things I look at is what the country’s entry requirements are. I can only imagine how awful it would be to fly halfway around the world only to not be let in. Always check those requirements.
So, what does Cambodia require in order to visit their country? Obviously, you have to have a passport but even your passport has to meet certain requirements to be able to set foot in Cambodia.
Passport Requirements for Cambodia
Yes, you do have to have a passport in order to visit Cambodia but your passport has to have at least 6 months remaining before it expires. Most countries around the world have this requirement.
I know, it feels like you’re getting ripped off! You spent money for a passport that is supposed to last for 10 years but those remaining 6 months on your passport are pretty much no good. You basically have a passport that is only good for 9 1/2 years.
You also need to have at least one blank page per entry stamp. This means that if you have only one blank page, you can enter Cambodia just one time with your passport. Now, for most people that rule is just fine. But if you plan on bouncing around to neighboring countries and back to Cambodia again, you’ll need a second blank page for your entry stamp.
Visa Requirements for Cambodia
Only NINE countries, all belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), can travel to Cambodia without a Visa. If you are a passport holder from any of the following countries, you currently do NOT need a visa for Cambodia for short-term stays.
- Vietnam
- Thailand
- Singapore
- Philippines
- Myanmar
- Malaysia
- Laos
- Indonesia
- Brunei Darussalam
If you’re not from one of those places then you DO need a visa to cross the border into Cambodia. Thankfully it’s super easy to get and you have a few different ways to get that visa.
When to Apply for your Cambodia Visa
It’s recommended to apply for your visa to Cambodia around 2 months before you’re trip. Once approved your visa will be valid for 90 days. That means that you should be traveling to Cambodia sometime within those 90 days.
Types of Visas for Cambodia
There are 2 types of visas for short-term travelers to Cambodia. There is a tourist visa, or Type-T visa and a business visa, or Type-E visa. There is also a special visa for long-term travelers to Cambodia called a Type-C visa as well as one for people who want to retire or at least live in Cambodia long-term called an ER visa.
Most people traveling to Cambodia will get the Type-T visa but I will cover all of them below.
Type-T Visa for Cambodia
If you’re traveling to Cambodia for a vacation then you’ll need to get a Type-T visa. It will cost $30 and will also allow you to stay in Cambodia for up to 30 days.
If 30 days isn’t enough time for you to see everything, like that Angkor Wat Sunrise, you can extend your visa AFTER you’re in the country. All you need to do is go to a local travel agency and apply. It will cost between $45-60, depending on the agency. This will give you another 30 days in the country.
If you decide you want to stay longer than the 60 days, you’ll have to leave Cambodia and apply for a new visa. I’ll talk about that more down below under Visa Run.
Type-E Visa for Cambodia
If you’re traveling to Cambodia for business then you’ll need an ordinary visa called a Type-E visa. It will cost $35 and will allow you to stay in Cambodia for up to 30 days.
The Type-E visa cannot be extended but if you decide you want (or need) to stay in Cambodia longer than your 30 day Type-E visa, you can convert the visa into another type of visa.
- EB Visa: a Business/Work extension for those working or freelancing in Cambodia
- ER Visa: a retirement visa for people ages 50+
- EG Visa: a job-seeking visa for those looking for work
- ES Visa: a student visa for those enrolled in a Cambodian school
You can apply for the extension through a licensed visa agent and it will cost around $300 for a 1 year extension, depending on the visa type.
Type-C Visa for Cambodia
The Type-C visa is for those who have obtained a job or for volunteer work in Cambodia. With this visa you can stay in Cambodia for up to 3 months. This type of visa is a courtesy visa granted to specific individuals such as government officials and those working for international organizations.
If your visa needs to be extended to continue your work in Cambodia, that would generally be handled through the organization sponsoring the visa. This would usually happen through an embassy or the non-profit group you are associated with for your work in Cambodia.
The amount of time the extension is valid would be based on the length of the official mission. If you want to stay beyond the official mission then you would need to switch to another type, such as the tourist visa.
Retirement Visa (ER Visa)
For retirees (50+ years old) who want to retire or at least stay in Cambodia longer than the tourist visa, you can apply for an ER visa once you’re already in the country. To do this you’ll first need to enter the country on the Type-E visa and then you can apply for the ER visa.
There are some specific rules for getting the ER visa in Cambodia.
- You must be 50 years old or older.
- You will need proof of retirement such as a pension statement or even just a self-declartion statement that you’re retired.
- You’ll need to show some kind of proof of income such as bank statements, pension payments, or something showing your monthly income if from another source.
- A valid passport with at least 6 months validity.
- A passport size photo.
The ER visa will allow you to stay in Cambodia for either 6 months or 1 year and will cost around $300 for the 1 year visa. Unlike the tourist visa, the ER visa allows you to leave and re-enter Cambodia without having to get a new visa.
Benefits of the ER Visa
How to Apply for a Cambodian Visa
There are three ways to apply for a Cambodian visa and that is a Cambodia e-visa, a Visa On Arrival, or by mail through the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington D.C. for U.S. citizens.
Cambodia e-Visa Process
Applying for a Cambodia visa online, known as an e-Visa, is probably the easiest way to get your visa for Cambodia. You will need your passport and a passport size photo (you’ll bring this with you to Cambodia) for your e-Visa application.
Step 1: Head over to the Kingdom of Cambodia Government website, which is the ONLY website you can get your e-Visa.
Step 2: Scroll down on the main page and you’ll see a big blue button that says “Apply now“. Click that and you’ll be taken to the actual application. You need to scan or take a photo of your passport AND take a photo of your passport photo. You will upload these to your application. You will also need to have the address of the hotel you’ll be staying at in Cambodia.
Step 3: Attach your photos and fill out all of the information it asks for.
Step 4: Click “next” and review your information. Make sure it’s all correct because if something is not right, you’ll have to re-apply and pay another fee. You’ll also have the option to add another application so that everyone you are traveling with can apply at the same time. You cannot register more than 10 applications at a time.
Step 5: When you’re done with all of the applications you’ll make your payment and wait for your e-visa certificate to arrive in your email. This shouldn’t take any more than 3 business days. Print it out and bring it with you, along with your passport photo and passport.
When you arrive in Cambodia you’ll show your e-Visa certificate to immigration at the checkpoint along with your passport and passport photo.
If you’re planning a visit to Angkor Wat, I’ve written a guide to Angkor Wat that tells you what you need to know about visiting the ancient site.
Entry Points where the e-Visa is accepted
There are multiple ports of entry where you can get in with an e-Visa. Not every entry point will accept the e-Visa so make sure you know which one you’re traveling through before you apply. The following points of entry are the ones that accept the e-Visa.
- Phnom Penh International Airport
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport
- Sihanoukville International Airport
- Cham Yeam (Koh Kong)
- Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey)
- Bavet (Svay Rieng)
- Tropaeng Kreal Border Post (Stung Treng)
You can see where the entry points are on the map of Cambodia below.
Cambodia Visa on Arrival
If you’re not exactly sure when you’ll arrive in Cambodia or simply don’t want to apply online, you can show up at an entry point (airports included) and get a visa on arrival in Cambodia.
The cost of the visa is the same as applying online, however it could add a little more time at the airport or border crossing. It just depends on how many other people are going to apply for their visa on arrival for Cambodia. You might have to wait several hours at a border crossing or at the airport.
Step 1: Download and print your visa application form before you leave home and fill it out to save some time. If you forget you can get one at the airport or border you arrive at.
Step 2: You will need to bring the EXACT change in U.S. dollars. Not every border will accept a credit card or other currencies.
NOTE: Cambodian currency is the Riel, but US dollars are used everywhere in the country.
Cambodia Visa at the Embassy
Your third option is to get your visa through the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C. Again, this is only for U.S. citizens but you can check with the embassy in your home country as well.
Step 1: Download the application form and fill it out.
Step 2: You’ll still need at least 6 months on your passport from the date of entry in Cambodia and 1 blank visa page for your visa sticker. You’ll also need a passport size photo stapled to the application form.
Step 3: Get a $30 money order or cashier check payable to Embassy of Cambodia. No personal checks, credit cards, or cash is accepted.
Step 4: Get a prepaid self-addressed return envelope so your passport(s) and visa can be mailed back to you. Yes, you will be mailing your passport to the Embassy and then they will mail everything back to you within 7-10 business days.
You can use UPS, FedEx, or USPS for this. Do NOT put the Embassy address on the envelope, just yours. Keep a copy of your receipt and tracking number so you know when the Embassy receives your application.
If you happen to live in or near Washington D.C., you can walk into the Embassy on Wednesdays with your application, fee, passport and passport photo and walk out with your visa. Walk-in hours are between 10am – 12:00 and 1pm – 3pm.
Extending Your Cambodia Visa
Do you want to stay in Cambodia longer than your visa allows? The standard tourist and business visas allows you to stay in Cambodia for up to 30 days. You can extend both for another 30 days through a travel agency.
However, if you decide you want to stay longer than the 60 days that both visas would give you, you can do that with a visa run.
A visa run is when a traveler temporarily leaves a country to reset or renew their visa status and then re-enters, often on a new visa or visa-free entry. This is commonly done by expats, long-term travelers, or digital nomads who want to extend their stay without applying for a long-term visa or residency.
How a Cambodia Visa Run Works
If you entered Cambodia on a 30 day visa and extended it for another 30 days but still aren’t ready to leave Cambodia, you will have to leave the country and apply for another one. This is a popular thing to do in Cambodia and other countries in Southeast Asia.
Step 1: You will need to exit the country either by crossing a border by land or flying to another country. The easiest and cheapest way would be to cross over to one of the neighboring countries of Thailand, Vietnam, or Laos.
Step 2: You can either stay in the neighboring country for a few days or just a few hours. It’s possible to get a new visa through the visa on arrival path and you’ll quickly be back on your way to wherever you need to go.
Risks of Visa Runs
There’s always a possibility that you will be denied entry back into Cambodia if you get a border agent that thinks you may be abusing the tourist visa system. It’s hard to know when or if this will happen but I certainly wouldn’t try this every 30 days. You can probably get away with doing it once, maybe twice, but you just never know.
The border agent may ask you for some additional information such as proof of funds, proof of future travel outside of Cambodia (such as a plane ticket), or they might even question you about why you keep extending your stay.
You’ll definitely want to take all of your belongings with you if you’re doing a visa run. Don’t leave anything behind that you care about because there’s always a risk you could get denied an extension.
Cambodia Visa Issues
There’s a few things you should be aware of when it comes to your visa and crossing the border in Cambodia.
Visa Scams
There have been some border scammers in the past who might tell you that you need to pay an extra fee for your visa at that particular border. You may be told that they can get you through much faster if you pay a little more.
Typically this will happen if you’re entering through a border entry point by bus or on a tour. Do not pay anything extra for that. It’s a scam and you will not get through any faster.
Overstaying Your Welcome
Another thing you need to know is that you need to leave Cambodia when your visa is up. You will go through some type of border control, either a border crossing or airport, and if you’ve stayed longer than you were supposed to you will be fined $10 a day.
If you’ve stayed a lot longer than you were supposed to, you could be arrested, detained, and prohibited from every returning back to Cambodia again. And you’ll have to pay deportation fees. It’s not worth it, do not abuse the visa system in Cambodia.
Visa for Cambodia – Final Thoughts
Navigating Cambodia’s visa options is essential for a hassle-free trip. Whether you’re visiting for work, vacation, or looking to stay long-term, Cambodia offers several visa choices to suit different needs.
The e-Visa is the easiest way to get your Cambodian Visa without having to worry about getting your passport back in time or whether or not you have all the information and things you need once there. Just avoid any issues and get the e-visa, print out your visa certificate and enjoy your trip!
