Cambodia Visa on Arrival (VOA) is the easiest visa option for travelers to Cambodia. The procedure to obtain VOA at the border is simple and fairly quick. All international borders issue Visa on Arrival.
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Eligibility: All but 10 nationalities
- Allowed stay: 30 days
- VOA fee: 30 USD
- Extension: Once for 30 additional days
Read the Cambodia Visa Guide for general information on available visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
***
Understanding Cambodia Visa on Arrival
Duration of stay
The allowed duration of stay is 30 days, extendable once for 30 more. The day you enter is considered Day 1.
Allowed number of entries
Visa on Arrival is single-entry only. If you leave Cambodia and want to return, you will need a obtain a new Visa on Arrival.
Allowed ports of entry
All international border checkpoints issue visas on arrival.
NOTE: Some international borders are only for locals, i.e. third-country foreigners cannot use them. These are usually very small provincial border posts.
VOA extension
The Cambodia Visa on Arrival can be extended once for another 30 days of stay. You can extend it yourself or use an agent.
To extend it yourself, you must go to the Cambodian Immigration Department near the airport in Phnom Penh. To extend the visa in other locations, you will have to use an agent.
The process at the Immigration Department is fairly straightforward:
- Go early in the morning, preferably around opening time at 8 AM
- Fill out the form, submit your passport, and pay the extension fee of 30 USD
- Go back a week later to collect your passport
Note that they will keep your passport for 1 week. You must apply at least 1 week before your current visa expires.
***
Cambodia Visa on Arrival Requirements
VOA eligibility
The below 187 countries are eligible for Cambodia Visa on Arrival.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo, Dem Rep of
- Congo, Rep of
- Costa Rica
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Holy See (Vatican City)
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Palestinian Territories
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- South Sudan
- Spain
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
If you are not from one of the countries above, you must apply for the Cambodia e-Visa online or the Cambodia Tourist Visa at a nearby embassy.
Documents required
The following documents are required for the Cambodia Visa on Arrival.
- Valid passport
- 30 USD in cash
NOTE: A passport-size photo is NOT required for the visa on arrival.
Keep in mind that a Visa on Arrival is not guaranteed. Depending on where you are from, you may be refused a visa and sent back.
This virtually never happens to holders of so-called “strong passports” but there have been instances of travelers from not-so-fortunate countries refused a Visa on Arrival. Apart from the above documents, I highly recommend preparing the following documents as well.
- Proof of onward or return ticket
- Proof of accommodation booking
- Proof of funds (such as cash, ATM or credit cards)
Passport requirements
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months more on the day of arrival in Cambodia. Your passport must also have at least 1 full blank page. Visa on Arrival sticker takes one full page in your passport.
Proof of onward or return ticket
If you hold a weak passport, especially an African one, you may be asked to show proof of onward ticket. If you are planning on extending your visa and/or traveling on a one-way ticket, you can get a cheap onward ticket from an agency such as Best Onward Ticket.
Proof of accommodation booking
Again, if you have an unfavorable passport, it’s best to book a few nights of stay and bring proof of booking. If you don’t have a specific itinerary, consider booking refundable hotels for the first few nights.
VOA fee
The Cambodia Visa on Arrival fee is 30 USD. Only cash payment is accepted. Payment by card is not possible. The dollar banknotes must be new (2004 or newer), crisp, and without any damage.
There are ATMs and exchange bureaus in the arrivals area right beside the Visa on Arrival counters at both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports. ATMs may not be available at land border crossings, so carry enough USD for your VOA.
***
Cambodia VOA Application Process
How to get VOA at the airport?
Before arrival, make sure to submit the Cambodia arrival card online.
After landing, keep on walking until the visa on arrival counters. They are on the way to Immigration and baggage reclaim and you cannot miss them.
The counter consists of a line of officials behind a glass frame. There are 3 “stops” in total:
- Hand your passport over and receive a numbered slip of paper. Move to the right.
- Wait to be called over, show the slip, and pay 30 USD cash. Move to the right.
- Wait for your passport to be processed and stamped and take it from the official who handles it last.
In total, the whole process takes around 10 minutes.
How to get VOA at the land border?
Getting a visa on arrival at land borders is very similar in procedure to the airport experience:
- Give your passport and pay the visa fee.
- Collect your stamped passport and proceed to immigration for an entry stamp.
Some borders may still require a face photo although it’s no longer necessary for the visa on arrival.
Where it’s very different is in the multitude of ways you can get scammed or made to wait a long time.
From overtime fees to stamping and exit fees to being asked for 35 USD instead of 30 USD for the visa fee, you may end up paying more than the 36 USD you’d pay for the e-Visa. And if you stand your ground and say no, you may have to wait longer or endure different degrees of harassment.
The borders that are notorious for scamming travelers are:
- Nong Nok Khiene – Tropaeng Kreal (Laos-Cambodia border)
- Cham Yeam – Had Lek (The south Thailand-Cambodia border)
- Poi Pet – Aranyaprathet (The most popular Thailand-Cambodia border)
If you are planning to cross any of the land borders that accept e-Visas, I recommend that you apply for the e-Visa instead. Do so at least 3 days in advance of traveling.
***
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a face photo for the Cambodia visa on arrival?
At most borders, including all airports, you will NOT need a passport photo. Some borders may be lagging with the new rules across the country so may ask for a photo regardless.
Can I pay for the visa on arrival by card?
The visa fee is payable strictly only in cash and in USD. There are ATMs and exchange bureaus right next to the visa counters.
