Comprehensive Guide on Cambodian Visa in 2024

Cambodia is increasingly receiving attention as a travel destination in Southeast Asia. Described as ‘South-East Asia’s enticing new travel frontier’, and rated by TripAdvisor for winning the best hotel in the world in 2020. Airlines such as Emirates, Cambodia Angkor Air, and Laos Airlines expanded their services and routes to Cambodia enhancing its accessibility. Tourism is poised to see improvement with these initiatives,  and visitors must be well-informed about the entry requirements, especially regarding visas. 

This article aims to offer a detailed guide on the visa process for entering the Kingdom.

Phnom Penh Airport (Supplied from STPM)

Types of visas for Cambodia

The two most common visas in Cambodia: are tourist visas (T visa) and ordinary visas (E visa).

Tourist visa (T visa)

A tourist visa is provided for foreign citizens travelling to Cambodia. It can be applied for in advance or obtained directly at the airport or border port upon arrival in the kingdom. The tourist visa is limited to a single entry and can only be renewed once. After renewal, visitors can stay for another 30 days. The holder must leave Cambodia after the 30 days are up, and if they want to re-enter, it is necessary to apply for a new visa.

Therefore, if one plans to stay in Cambodia for a long time, a tourist visa may not be the best option. It is preferable to consider applying for an ordinary visa (E visa).

Sample of Extension of stay. (Supplied)

Ordinary visa (E visa)

There are 4 types of Ordinary visa also known as E visa 

Cambodia Business Visa (EB)

• Applicable groups: Foreigners who intend to conduct business, investment or work in Cambodia, including their partners and children, freelancers and volunteers can also apply for this type of visa.
• Validity period: Valid within 1 month from the date of entry into Cambodia and can be extended for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months in Cambodia. Only 6-month and 12-month EB visas are allowed multiple times.
• Requirements: The company’s employment contract or invitation letter is required.
• Note: The EB visa does not give you the right to work in Cambodia. You also need to hold a work certificate issued by the Ministry of Labor.

Cambodia Employment Visa (EG)

• Applicable people: Foreigners who are not yet employed in Cambodia but are actively looking for work.
• Validity period: Usually valid for 1 month
• Requirements: The visa can only be renewed once, up to 6 months. You can apply for an EB visa after expiration.

Cambodia Retirement Visa (ER)

• Applicable people: Foreigners who want to retire in Cambodia
• Validity period: Valid within 1 month from the date of entry into Cambodia. It can be extended in Cambodia, and each extension can be up to 1 year.
• Requirements: Applicants must be over 55 years old and demonstrate sufficient pension or savings to support life in Cambodia.

Cambodia Student Visa (ES)

• Applicable group: Foreign students studying in educational institutions registered in Cambodia.
• Validity period: The initial visa is valid for 1 month, and can be extended in Cambodia according to the study period.
• Requirements: Admission letters or supporting documents from the school are required.

Visa Application Methods: 

There are three ways to apply for a Cambodian visa: visa on arrival, electronic visa and embassy. Both visa types can be applied for through these three methods.

1. Visa on arrival

Passengers entering by air, land, or sea can apply for a visa on arrival at the border port. A visa on arrival provides great convenience to international passengers travelling to Cambodia, making tourism or temporary business visits simpler and more flexible.

Cost: 30 USD for a tourist visa (T Visa),  35 USD for an ordinary visa (E Visa)

Application Process:

1. Arrive at the port of entry (such as Phnom Penh New International Airport, or Siem Reap New International Airport);
2. Fill in the immigration card, which can be obtained on the plane. If you do not receive it, you can get it at the entry point;
3. Submit the completed entry card, visa application form, passport and fee to the designated service window;
4. Take photos and fingerprints under the instructions of the immigration officer, and then wait for review and issuance;

Precautions:

1. Prepare a complete set of information in advance to facilitate smooth entry;
2. You must pay cash in US dollars when applying for a visa on arrival. It is best to prepare enough cash in advance to avoid delays caused by payment problems

2. Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Cambodia Electronic Visa (e-Visa) is a convenient way to obtain a visa. Travellers can apply online to obtain permission to enter Cambodia.

Official website: www.evisa.gov.kh

Sample of e-visa. (Supplied)

Application Process:

Step 1: The first step is to log in to the official website, click to enter the application page, and fill in the information truthfully;

Step 2:  is to upload the scanned copy of the original passport and photos;

Step 3: is to pay the fee, which supports credit card (Visa), MasterCard (MasterCard), China UnionPay (UnionPay), Alipay or WeChat payment;

Step 4: Submit after confirmation and wait for the approval. The processing time is about 3 working days. 

Step 5: Print the electronic visa. Once the application is approved, the Immigration Bureau will send the electronic visa to the applicant's email address, and travellers need to print it out and carry it with them to present it when entering the country.

Cambodia tourist visa (T visa)

• Fee: USD 30 + USD 6 (handling fee)
• Validity period: 3 months (from the date of issue)
• Entry: Single entry only
• Length of stay: 30 days
• Review time: 3 working days
• Required materials: Copy of original passport (valid for more than 6 months), electronic white background photo (size 3.5 x 4.5cm), valid email address, itinerary information (such as planned stay date, port of entry, hotel, etc.)

Cambodia Ordinary Visa (E Visa)

• Fee: USD 35 + USD 7 (handling fee)
• Validity period: 3 months (from the date of issue)
• Entry: Single entry only
• Length of stay: 30 days
• Review time: 3 working days Requirements: Copy of original passport (valid for more than 6 months), electronic white background photo (size 3.5 x 4.5cm), valid email address, itinerary information (such as planned stay date, port of entry, check-in hotels, etc.)

It is worth noting that electronic visas are only applicable to ports of entry designated by the Cambodian government. Before travelling, it is best to verify carefully to confirm that your intended port of entry.

List of Cambodia’s ports of entry that support electronic visas:

• Phnom Penh International Airport
• Siem Reap International Airport
• Sihanoukville International Airport
• Cham Yeam (Kong Kong) Port-Thailand Border
• Poipet (Banteay Meanchey Province)-Thailand Border
• Bavet (Svay Rieng Province)-Vietnam border
• Tropaeng Kreal Border Post (Stung Treng Province)-Laos border

3. Embassy Application 

An embassy visa refers to the visa applied at the nearest Cambodian consulate in your home or visiting country. 

Application process

1. Determine the visa type: First, determine the type of visa you need (such as tourism, business, student, etc.), because different types of visas have different application requirements and procedures.
2. Preparation materials: Generally speaking, applicants need to provide a valid passport, visa application form, passport-size photos, invitation letters, hotel reservations, round-trip air tickets, etc. The specific requirements depend on the visa type.
3. Apply: Submit your complete visa application and relevant documents to the nearest Cambodian embassy or consulate. Some states may allow submission by mail.
4. Pay the visa fee: Pay the corresponding visa fee according to the type of visa applied for. For fee standards, please refer to the official announcement from the Cambodian embassy or consulate to which you are applying.
5. Waiting for approval: After applying approval times can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the processing speed of each embassy or consulate.

Other visa types in Cambodia

In addition to the visas mentioned above, other visa types are available for different groups of people.

Official Visa (B Visa): Applicable to employees of organizations stationed in Cambodia at the invitation of the government, such as the United Nations or the World Health Organization.

Visitor Visa (C Visa): This is a free visa for employees of international NGOs who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Long-term residence visa (K visa): Applicable to Cambodian people holding foreign passports, this visa can obtain a lifetime visa for free.

Cambodian Child Visa: All non-Cambodian children must have an E visa to enter Cambodia. If one of the child's parents is Cambodian, a K visa is applicable.