To visit Cambodia, whether for tourism or business, a visa is required. There are various procedures and documents to be provided in order to obtain the right to stay in the country. For all applications, a passport valid for six months after your return is essential. A visa application form for Cambodia must also be completed. An identity photograph is also required. Minors must present parental authorisation. Visa applications can be made online, by post or directly at certain border posts. Issuing a visa is an important step in travelling to Cambodia. Here's an overview of the steps you need to take to obtain your residence permit.
Apply for a visa for Cambodia: Key points
- It is required to apply for a visa to travel to Cambodia.
- There is an online procedure for applying for a tourist visa for Cambodia called e-visa.
- A valid passport is required to apply for a visa to Cambodia
- It is also required to apply for a visa for Cambodia for a minor child.
How do I apply for a tourist visa for Cambodia?
The tourist visa for Cambodia is valid for 30 days and can be extended on the spot once for a maximum of one month. Applications must be made to the Foreigners Department of the Ministry of the Interior (located opposite Phnom Penh airport). The tourist visa is valid for three months from the date of issue and costs 30 euros. Each day's delay in leaving the country incurs a penalty of US$10, to be paid on the spot before leaving Cambodia. For delays of more than 30 days, travellers are obliged to leave within seven days, after payment of the penalties. For security reasons, the authorities usually require travellers to have their return tickets when they apply for a visa.
Apply for your e-visa online or on arrival
For tourist visas, e-visa applications can be made directly on the website set up by the Cambodian authorities at www.evisa.gov.kh or through a private service provider. With the online procedure, the visa is sent by e-mail within a few days. All you need to do is print out two copies, the first for entry into the country and the second for exit. However, e-visa regulations and restrictions require travellers to enter via certain border posts. Not all of the country's border posts are equipped to read e-visas.
Only the international airports at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and the land border crossings with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos issue visas on arrival. No visas are issued at sea border crossings. The list of authorised land and sea border posts can be found on the e-visa website.
The Cambodian embassy in your home country also issues visas. Applications for business visas are required through this channel, which also issues tourist visas. An online form is available for travellers, who must then go to the embassy with the completed form, their passport and a photocopy of it. The visa service is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm. Travellers must pay a €5 handling fee in addition to the cost of the visa. Visas are issued within 48 hours. Applications can also be made by post by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. In this case, the document will take longer to be issued.
Anticipating your stay by opting for an e-visa is reassuring, as it allows you to make sure in advance that you can enter the country. Visa applications can be rejected for a variety of reasons. Once the e-visa has been obtained, it is essential to choose a point of entry where the authorities can check that the traveller is in order, which is impossible at some border posts. Alternatively, travellers can apply for a visa at the Cambodian Embassy. Although more restrictive in terms of issuing times and deadlines, it nevertheless offers an efficient and official service. You should, however, pay close attention to the conditions for entering the country with this type of visa. A third option for tourists is to obtain a visa on the spot. In this case, you need to be absolutely sure that you have the necessary documents, otherwise entry to the country may be rejected.
Requirements for entering Cambodia legally
As we have just seen, a trip to Cambodia requires careful preparation, particularly as regards the entry requirements. Here are a few important reminders to help you plan your trip with peace of mind.
First of all, all travellers to Cambodia must have a valid passport valid for more than 6 months after the date of return. But it is also essential to have an official travel authorisation such as a tourist visa. If you have already obtained such a visa in the past, you should be aware that you can only use it for a period of 3 months following the date of issue, and only for a stay of less than 30 days.
It is also important to note here that travellers under the age of 18 are also required to present certain official travel documents to visit Cambodia, even if they are travelling in the company of their parents. All travellers under the age of 18 must carry their own identity document, i.e. a valid passport that is also valid for 6 months after the date of return from the trip. It should also be noted that children travelling unaccompanied by one of their legal parents must have an exit permit signed by the parents. It should also be noted that each country is responsible for determining the regulations to be applied in such cases, regardless of the destination. To travel to Cambodia or elsewhere, a minor child who is not accompanied by his or her legal parents must therefore be in possession of a passport and a form signed by one of the parents holding parental authority. They will also need to present a copy of the identity document of the parent who signed the application.
Applying for a visa at the Cambodian consulate
Of course, you don't have to apply for a visa online if you want to visit Cambodia. You can apply at the Cambodian consulate in your country of origin. To do this, you will need to bring a number of documents and supporting evidence, including a passport photo, a photocopy of your passport and a completed and signed official application form. This form can be downloaded online to save you time on arrival. The form is the same for minors.
If you live a long way from the Cambodian consulate in your country, there are procedures for applying by post, i.e. sending your complete application by post.
On average, it will take between a few days and a few weeks to obtain a visa after applying to the Cambodian consulate. It is also possible to obtain this visa more quickly by requesting express delivery, provided you pay an additional fee.
Applying for a Cambodia visa on arrival
You may have heard of travellers who have visited Cambodia without first applying for a visa, simply requesting one on arrival. This procedure is indeed possible and is known as a visa on arrival.
You can obtain such a visa at any of Cambodia's land borders or at the country's international airports. However, this procedure is risky and we advise you to make sure you have your return ticket with you so that you can obtain it under the best possible conditions. Some airlines refuse to board passengers who do not have a visa or a return ticket.
To apply for your visa once you arrive at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports, you will need to present a passport photo in addition to your passport and pay around $36. It is also possible to have your photo taken on arrival for an additional fee.
If you choose to apply for your visa when crossing a land border, the price will be the same, although in reality the price you are charged may increase depending on the seriousness of the agents you meet, as scams are unfortunately common.
This is why we strongly recommend that you apply for your visa before you travel to Cambodia, to ensure that you don't encounter any problems during your trip and to avoid any unexpected costs.
A few tips for obtaining your visa for Cambodia online
As we've just seen, it's best to apply for your Cambodia visa directly online using the e-visa system, which you can obtain via the link on this website. Everything can be done online in just a few minutes, simply by providing your passport number and a passport photo and paying the required fees by credit card.
Within 3 days on average, you will receive your visa for Cambodia by email. All you then need to do is print out 2 copies, one for your departure and one for your return.
Remember, however, that this type of e-visa only works at airports and will not be accepted if you are entering the country via a land or sea border. If you are in any doubt about your destination airport, you can easily find a list of entry points where this type of visa is accepted online.
If you wish to stay longer in Cambodia once you arrive, you can go to the General Department of Immigration in Phnom Penh to apply for a one-off 30-day extension of your visa.
Finally, your e-visa will automatically expire when you leave the country. If you overstay your e-visa, you will have to pay a fine of $10 per day, and you may be liable to further penalties if you misuse it.
