How to get a Cambodia visa: a detailed guide for tourists

Cambodia, a country located in Southeast Asia, visited by more than 5.5 million tourists a year. A country strongly shaken by war and the Khmer Rouge dictatorship, but which has bet on growth and tourism and has become one of the essential countries to visit in Asia.

Cambodia is the country with the most temples in the world. The famous temples of Angkor are one of the seven wonders of the world. Besides its temples, Cambodia is a paradise of virgin beaches, since they are not as exploited as those of Thailand or Vietnam.

Dressed in impressive nature and bathed by the Mekong River, there are so many things to do in Cambodia! 

But before exploring, you need to know how to get a Cambodia visa. Find out here.

Do I need a visa to travel to Cambodia? 

Yes, all nationalities travelling to the country for tourism or any other reason are required to know how to get a Cambodia visa.

The people from Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand are exempt from the visa aspect of the Cambodia travel requirements for stays not exceeding 20 days.

Nationals of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Nigeria cannot apply for visas online and must apply in person through the embassy. 

All other nationalities can apply online if the reason for their visit is tourism. 

Types of visas

To be able to travel, pretty much every tourist needs to know how to get a Cambodia visa. There are several different types.

There is an electronic visa, which you can apply for depending on the port of entry through which you enter the country. This visa that is requested online is called the eVisa. It is the most comfortable and simple one so, as long as your port of entry is one of the allowed ones, it is the most recommended option.

Electronic visa- E-Visa

This visa can only be applied for online. It is a single entry visa, valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in the country. The E-Visa can only be used at the following ports of entry:

By air

• Phnom Penh International Airport
• Siem Reap International Airport
• Preah Sihanouk International Airport

By land

• Cham Yeam (Koh Kong) -via Thailand
• Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey) -through Thailand
• Bavet (Svay Rieng) -through Vietnam
• Dong Tropaeng Kreal Border Post, (Stung Treng) -through Laos

If you enter the country through a port of entry other than those named, then you must apply for a tourist T visa.

Tourist visa (T or B)

This visa is for people who are travelling to the country for tourism purposes and whose port of entry to the country does not allow them to make an application online.

This tourist visa must be applied for on arrival in the country (tourist visa on arrival), or by going to the embassy nearest to your place of residence.

Like the e-Visa, it is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in the country and is a single entry. If you want to apply for this visa on arrival, you can do so at any international airport in Cambodia, but if you are going to enter the country by sea or land, these are the border ports where you can apply for it:

By land

Cambodia-Vietnam border:

• Bavet/ HoaLu international checkpoint, Binh Phuoc province, Vietnam
• International checkpoint Prek Chak/ Xa Xia, Kien Giang, Vietnam (Ha Tien crossing)
• Phnom Den/ Tinh Bien International Checkpoint, An Giang, Vietnam
• Oyadav / Le Tanh international checkpoint, Gia Lai province, Vietnam
• International Checkpoint Tropieng Phlong/XaMat, Vietnam
• Banteay Chakrey/Dinh Ba International Border Checkpoint, Dong Thap
• International checkpoint of Samrong / My Quy Tay, Long An province, Vietnam

Cambodia-Thailand border:

• Cham Yeam International Checkpoint ( Koh Kong Province ) / Had Lek, Trat, Thailand
• International checkpoint Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey province) / Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo, Thailand
• Osmach International Checkpoint (Odor Meanchey Province) / Chong Jom, Surin, Thailand
• Anglong Veng International Checkpoint (Banteay Meanchey Province) / Chong Sa Ngam, Sisaket, Thailand
• International checkpoint Prum (Pailin province) / Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand
• Doung International Checkpoint (Battambang Province) / Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand

Cambodia-Laos border:

• Dong Krolar International Checkpoint ( Steung Treng Province ) / Voeung Kam, Champasack, Laos

By sea

• Sihanoukville Seaport

Other visas

The other visas listed below must be applied for through the embassy or consulate:

Commercial/Business Visa - E

It is valid for 30 days and does not allow you to work in the country. You must provide the embassy with all the documentation for the commercial activity that you are going to carry out. To be able to work, it is necessary to process a work permit and present the contract and the data of the contracting company.

Visa for retirees - ER

To apply for this visa, it is necessary to present the documentation proving that you are a retired person or one who has permanently retired from his or her job and that you can prove your ability to support yourself economically in the country without working. You can apply for a stay of between 1 and 12 months.

Student visa - ES

To study in Cambodia, it is necessary to obtain this visa. It is necessary to present the registration documentation of the educational centre or university in question, attaching a letter of invitation from the centre in addition to the passport in force for the entire time you will be in the country. The embassy may ask for additional documentation.

Visa for children of Cambodians with foreign passports - K

This visa is only issued to children of Cambodian citizens with foreign nationality. To apply for this visa, you need to show evidence that one of your parents is of Cambodian origin or birth. The birth certificate of the parent must be attached.

Official visa, NGO employees and volunteers - B

This visa is requested through the embassy or immigration offices and is only for foreign nationals coming to the country on special missions, whether they are workers of international organizations or volunteers.

Diplomats - A

The diplomatic visa is only granted to persons with a diplomatic passport.

Special or courtesy guests - C

This visa is only granted if you are a direct guest of the Cambodian government.

Transit – D

The visa for stopover or transit in the country is valid for 3 months from the time it is approved and allows transit through Cambodia for a maximum of 3 days.

How to apply for a Cambodia visa?

The answer to how to get a Cambodia visa varies according to the type of visa you need. You can apply online, on arrival or at the embassy.

• The e-Visa is processed online. It is a procedure that will take little time and you can process it ourselves, or order it from a third party such as Visagov.com, which will speed up and ensure the whole process.
• The tourist visa can be processed on arrival by air, sea or land from various border ports.
• All other visas must be processed in person from an embassy or consulate.

You must be very aware of the reason for travel and the place of entry, because if you do not apply for the right visa, you may not be able to enter the country.

Who needs to know how to get a Cambodia visa?

All foreign citizens who travel for any reason need to know how to get a Cambodia visa. Only Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand can do so without a visa and can visit the country only with a valid passport. All other nationalities must apply for a visa.

What are the requirements to apply for a visa to Cambodia?

First of all, you must know what kind of visa you will need. Check if your nationality is eligible for the visa you need to apply for. If you are eligible to apply for a Cambodian visa online (e-Visa), you will need a recent passport photo, a passport valid for at least 6 months before the departure date and a credit card to make the payment online.

In the case of a Visa on Arrival, you must provide a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months at the time of entry into the country, and 36 US dollars in cash to pay the visa fees. You can also pay in the local currency, but it will be easier to move with dollars.

If you need to apply for a visa in person, you must ask the embassy for all the necessary documentation, as this varies depending on the reason and type of visa.

Can I change my visa once it has been issued?

It is possible to modify some fields before it is approved.

Once you have the resolution it is not possible to modify anything. In case your data is wrong and you have received the approved visa with incorrect data, you will not be able to make another application online until the validity of the first one has passed. In this case, you should go to the embassy.

Therefore, you must check the data well before sending the application.

How much does a visa to Cambodia cost?

The cost of government fees for the visa online and the visa on arrival is $36. All other visas vary and you must check with the nearest embassy.

How far in advance do I need to apply for a Cambodia visa?

The estimated time to receive an approved visa online is 3 working days. It is always recommended to apply for your visa at least 15 days in advance. You can apply for the visa well in advance (up to 1 year), but if you do so, you should know that your approval will not arrive until 30 days before your departure.

What are the entry borders to Cambodia?

Cambodia has three international airports:

• Phnom Penh International Airport.
• Siem Reap International Airport.
• Sihanoukville International Airport.

It can also be accessed by land from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and by sea from Sihanoukville.

Do I need a transit visa to travel to Cambodia? 

If Cambodia is not your final destination and you need to transit through the country, you will need a transit visa that has a validity of 3 months. Once you get the transit visa you can remain in Cambodia for 3 days.