Different Visa Types for Cambodia
VISA TO CAMBODIA
Covid-19 pandemic visa update – updated Nov 17, 2021
As of November 15, 2021, Cambodia is allowing quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travelers, and tourist (T-class) visas are now easily available through the electronic visa system. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travels will still need to follow the quarantine rules enacted last month.
Tourists visas are now available again online. Most other visas to Cambodia can only be obtained at a Cambodian embassy or consulate. Visa-on-arrival is currently suspended.
Land borders with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam are closed, but those with proper visas and travel documents can still enter Cambodia by plane. Visas that are currently accepted are E-class “ordinary” visas, and EB, EG, ER, or ES extensions of stay (EOS), A-class diplomatic visas, B-class, C-class visas, and K-class visas. As of October 19th, T-visas (tourist visas) are also being issued.
Updated information on Cambodia tourist visas during Covid-19
From October 19, 2021, Cambodia began offering tourist visas (T-visas) after more than 18-months of a tourist-free Kingdom. Tourists can now apply in advance for a 30-day visa on the official site:
The cost is $30 plus a $6 processing fee, with a 3-day processing time. The visa is a 30-day visa valid for 90 days (meaning you must enter Cambodia within 90 days of the visa being issued, but can only stay for 30 days).
There is a requirement of 14 days of hotel quarantine for those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. In order to apply for a tourist T-visa, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated passengers must pre-book a quarantine hotel. Currently, the hotels available are: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Sokha Hotel, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. There are also rumors that the Himawari will be added to this list shortly. These hotels are much nicer than the randomly assigned “mystery bus” hotels, but are also more expensive, starting at $2,300 for a 14-day quarantine. The option of a randomly assigned hotel for a $2,000 deposit is not available to T-visa applicants.
Citizens and those born in the United States and all European countries are now able apply for a tourist T-visa as of October 20th.
Travelers are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior to travel*. The test results must also include a “medical certificate” that is signed and stamped by the doctor and clinic (and it’s highly advisable to get a red stamp if at all possible, because immigration takes these more seriously. This is actually true.) It’s also best if the word “negative” is used to describe your test results as opposed to “not detected” or other vague language. Test results should be in English or Khmer.
Requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:
In addition to the PCR test, fully vaccinated travelers will need to present a vaccination card or certificate and will be required to take a rapid test on arrival (offered at no charge). After they receive their negative results, passengers are free to travel throughout Cambodia.
What qualifies as fully vaccinated?
Two shots of any two-shot vaccination, or one shot of Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik Light or CanSinoBio. Boosters are not required for now.
Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 can travel with their vaccinated parents. (And conversely, vaccinated children will still be required to quarantine with their unvaccinated parents.) But all children, regardless of age, are required to get a PCR test before travel, and some clinics do not offer PCR tests for infants.
Requirements for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers:
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers will continue to be required to do a 14-day hotel quarantine. Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior to flying, have a Covid-19 health insurance, and either evidence of a pre-booked hotel (known as an AQS, or alternative state quarantine hotel) or a $2,000 USD in cash for hotel deposit. Travelers will be required to take a rapid test on arrival, and a PCR test at the end of their 14-day quarantine.
Cambodia Quarantine Hotels
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers entering Cambodia have three options for quarantining. Family members who are traveling together can quarantine in the same hotel room.
1. Randomly assigned hotels: This is a less expensive option for those who arrive without a pre-booked hotel, and instead opt to bring cash. Passengers are asked to deposit $2,000 in cash for a 14-day quarantine, before boarding a bus and being dropped at a randomly assigned hotel — this process is known in the expat community as “mystery bus roulette” and the hotels are called “mystery bus hotels.”
This is a less-expensive option and passengers will often get some of their deposit back at the end of their stay — most hotels charge $50-60 per day for the hotel, $30 per day for meals, and assorted other padded fees for testing and nurses. Some hotel rooms have small refrigerators in them, others do not. As of December 4, 2020, the Ministry of Health has prohibited outside food or other deliveries to people quarantining in hotels.
To be very clear, if you choose this route you cannot choose your own hotel.
Deposits can be made at the airport on arrival to ABA, CAB, or Canadia. The banks charge a $30 fee for this service. Deposits are usually returned 3 days after the quarantine period is over after all testing and quarantine fees are subtracted.
2. Pre-booked hotels, known as AQS (alternative quarantine state) hotels. These are four- and five-star luxury hotels offering rooms at a reduced price (as compared to the before-times). Prices range are all ++, meaning there is another 20% in taxes and fees added to the listed price. These packages usually include airport transfers, free mini-bar (but no alcohol), set meals, and discounts on their regular meal menus.
Currently, the hotels available are:
There are also rumors that the Himawari will be added to this list shortly. These hotels are much nicer than the randomly assigned “mystery bus” hotels, but are also more expensive, priced upwards of $2,300 for a 14-day quarantine. The option of a randomly assigned hotel for a $2,000 deposit is not available to T-visa applicants.
Applying for a Cambodia visa during Covid-19
Tourist visas are again being offered. Other visa types can only be obtained at a Cambodian embassy or consulate. Visa-on-arrival are currently suspended, as are most electronic visas.
Visa types during Covid-19
Electronic visas are only available for Taiwan passport holders. All others will need to contact your local embassy or consulate for their requirements for applying for a visa, as each embassy and consulate is handling it differently. The standard requirement is your passport, passport photos, evidence of health insurance coverage, and a letter of invitation from a registered Cambodian business or school.
Bangkok, and perhaps other embassies, are requiring evidence of sufficient quota for foreign workers from companies who are inviting staff for visas in 2021. This is probably a way to crack down on people paying for invitation letters, so don’t do that. They also require business registration documents, the most recent year patent tax, and three months of bank statements from the applicant.
Types of Cambodia visas
Cambodian “ordinary” visas (E class)
Cambodian “ordinary” visas (E class). If you are considering staying in Cambodia for an extended period of time, you will need to apply for a 30-day E-class visa (not an online e-visa) when you arrive. This is also valid for 30 days and costs $35. The difference between the ordinary visa and the tourist visa is that the ordinary one can be extended indefinitely. After 30 days, when you go to extend your visa, you can choose an EB, EG, ER, or ES visa extension, known as an EOS, or extension of stay.
Previously, there used to be only one E-class visa extension, known as the “business” or “ordinary” visa. In 2017 a new set of E-class extension of stay types became available. (These are in no way related to the electronic visa, also confusingly known as the e-visa).
The four E-class visas are:
EB visa extension- The EB business EOS covers most Cambodia expats, including those who are working and their partners and children, freelancers, and volunteers. The current rules (as of January 2019) require applications to provide a stamped letter verifying their employment with a Cambodian company). This renewable visa extension can last for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, although only the 6- and 12-month visa extension allow multiple entries.
Spouses and children of EB visa holders can submit the visa-holder’s employment letter, which should state that the company supports the application for the spouse’s EB EOS as a non-working dependent, and include the dependents’ passport information. They should also bring proof of their relationship to the visa holder to renew their own visa extensions.
Those who are self-employed and have registered a business can write a letter confirming their own employment. This letter must be stamped with a business stamp that can be purchased at any stamp shop for less than $15. Other self-employed people who do not have a business registered have had success getting a stamp with their name on it and writing a letter confirming that they are self-employed, but your mileage may vary if you have not registered a business.
Be aware that the EB visa extension does not confer the right to work in Cambodia. In order to be legally employed, you will need a Cambodian work permit. Once you have the EB visa extension, at any point in the future the immigration police may ask to see your business license, work contract, and work permit, or a letter confirming the purpose of your stay
EG visa extension- The EG visa extension is intended for those searching for employment, and can last 1, 3, or 6 months. Those who have had previous EB visa extensions may or may not be granted an EG visa, as they are not intended for those who have already been in the country long term. Many people have been able to renew the EG visa extension once, but as always, your mileage may vary. It is unknown if it can be renewed more than once.
ER visa extension- The new retirement visa extension is meant for those of retirement age who can show documentation of retirement in their home country (such as a pension or Social Security) and prove that they have the funds to support themselves. ER visa extensions are usually only granted to those who are 55 and up, but some have reported being able to get one at a younger age. Those 55 and up are not usually asked to show evidence of retirement, but those under 55 will be asked. Often, proof of savings is enough. The criteria for those under 55 have not been defined and varies depending on which agent you use to apply. The ER visa extension cannot be used if the visa holder is employed, but holders of this visa extension do not need to get a work permit. The ER retirement visa extension can be issued for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months.
ES visa extension- The ES visa extension is a student visa. Applicants for the ES visa extension need to provide a letter from a registered Cambodian school, as well as evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves. The ES student visa extension can be issued for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months.
Once you have your first 30-day E-class visa for Cambodia, you can apply for one of the extension of stay visas listed above from inside the country for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months.
It’s advisable to extend it for 6 or 12 months, as these visa types are multiple-entry. The 1- and 3-month visas are single-entry only, meaning that if you leave for a weekend trip to Vietnam, you’ll need to get a new Cambodian visa when you return.
Note: It’s important to note that if you are planning on getting a visa on arrival, some airlines will not allow you to enter the country on a one-way ticket. If you are planning on getting a one-way ticket, give yourself extra time at the airport so that if your airline requires you to get a return flight you have time to either search for a cheap flight or bus ticket from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City or Siem Reap to Bangkok, or get a fully refundable flight that you can then cancel once you arrive in Cambodia. It is sometimes also possible to sign a release staying that you will be responsible for procuring a plane ticket out of the country if Cambodia denies you entry.
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