🇰🇭 Cambodia visa requirements

Most nationalities get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival. US, EU, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens are among them.

Who Gets a Visa, and How?

Okay, let’s cut to the chase. If you're from the US, EU countries, UK, Canada, or Australia, you’re looking at a 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Phnom Penh (PNH) or Siem Reap (REP) airports. Same deal for citizens of many other countries. The fee is generally $30 USD. Just have a passport valid for at least six months, a recent passport photo, and cash for the fee. Easy enough.

There are a few exceptions. Citizens of certain Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines often get visa-free entry for a set period, typically 14 to 30 days depending on the country. Always double-check the latest bilateral agreements before you fly. For the vast majority of remote workers looking to spend more than a month, the tourist visa is your starting point, even if you’re not technically "touring."

For those few nationalities not covered by the visa-on-arrival policy, you'll need to apply for a visa before you arrive, usually at a Cambodian embassy or consulate in your home country or a neighbouring country. This process can take longer and might involve more paperwork, so plan ahead.

Overstaying Your Welcome: The Real Costs

That 30-day tourist visa is exactly that – a tourist visa. You can extend it, but there are limits and penalties. The standard tourist visa can be extended for one additional 30-day period. This is a single-entry extension. If you leave Cambodia and want to come back on another 30-day tourist visa, you can, but you'll pay for it again.

Now, what happens if you overstay? It gets expensive fast. Cambodia tends to be pretty lenient if you're only a few days over, but don't push it. The official penalty is usually around $10 USD per day of overstay. However, be warned: this can be enforced differently. Some people report paying the fine at the airport with no issues, while others have faced longer delays or even detention for significant overstays. It's best to avoid overstaying entirely. If you need more time, get your extension sorted before your current visa expires.

Working Remotely on a Tourist Stamp

This is where it gets murky. Technically, working on a tourist visa is a grey area. Cambodia isn't like some countries with specific digital nomad visas (yet). Most remote workers I’ve met just use the tourist visa. The reality is, unless you’re conspicuously working from a co-working space with a local business, or you run into specific immigration checks that are uncommon for tourists, nobody is likely to question you.

The Immigration Department could technically enforce rules against working on a tourist visa. But enforcement seems to be focused on actual employment with Cambodian companies or other more serious immigration violations. For simply logging into your laptop and doing your day job, most people don't have problems. Just be discreet and don't advertise your remote work status to immigration officials.

Recent Changes and What to Watch For

Cambodia has been slowly modernizing its visa processes. The biggest recent development was the full rollout of the e-Visa system. This allows you to apply for and receive your tourist visa online before you travel. It’s generally for a 30-day stay and costs around $36 USD (including processing fees), which is slightly more than the on-arrival visa. It can save you time at the airport, though sometimes the on-arrival process is still quicker if there are no queues.

There have been occasional reports of suspensions or changes to visa policies, especially around major holidays or during global events, but the standard tourist visa and e-Visa remain the main options for short-term stays. Keep an eye on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website for any official announcements, but for most people, the $30 on-arrival tourist visa remains the simplest and cheapest way in.