Visa and Other Entry Requirements
Before planning your trip, consult our Cambodia Profile page for basic information about the country.
Most nationalities are required to get a Cambodian visa. However, this visa is very easy to procure: it can be obtained at any Cambodia Embassy or Consulate within your country before travel, or you can get a visa stamp at the Phnom Penh or Siem Reap Airport. Just present a photocopy of your passport, 1 3x4cm photo, and a US$20 fee. Validity of your visa is counted from 30 days after the date of issue, not from the date of entry.
Visa-free travel arrangements are in force with citizens from Southeast Asian countries like Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. Travelers from these countries can stay up to 14 days without a visa.
Thanks to the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation visitors can now apply for a visa online. Just complete the online application form and pay with your credit card. Once you receive your visa through email, just print it out and carry the printout with you when you visit Cambodia.
If you plan to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension at the immigration office: 5, Street 200, Phnom Penh. A 30-day extension will cost US$40. A few travel agencies in Phnom Penh will do the legwork for a small fee.
Customs Regulations. Visitors 18 years or older are permitted to bring the following into Cambodia: 200 cigarettes or its equivalent quantity in tobacco; one opened bottle of liquor; perfume for personal use. Currency must be declared upon arrival. Visitors are prohibited from carrying antiques or Buddhist reliquaries out of the country. Souvenir stand purchases, like Buddhist statues and trinkets, can be taken out of the country.
Health & Immunizations
Cambodia’s health infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired, so take all the precautions you need before flying in. Good hospital facilities are rare in Cambodia, and the pharmacies are more limited than one might like. Major complaints will need to be taken out of the country, to Bangkok at the very nearest.
No specific immunizations are required but having some just in case may be wise: malaria prophylaxis, in particular, is recommended for all areas except Phnom Penh and around Lake Tonle Sap. Other diseases you may want to cover with immunizations are cholera, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio and tuberculosis.
For more specific health issues in Cambodia, you can visit the Center for Disease Control website, or MDTravelHealth.com’s page on Cambodia.
Malaria. Malarial mosquitoes are a dime a dozen in the Cambodian countryside, so you might want to bring some mosquito repellent to use at night. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers after dark; otherwise, the more touristy places are relatively safe from mosquitoes.
Money Matters
Cambodia’s official currency is the Riel: you’ll find it in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 50000 and 100000 notes. However, US dollars are also widely in circulation in the major towns and cities. Not a lot of places accept major credit cards, so travelers’ checks or cash should be used above all else. Click here to see the riel’s exchange rate against the US dollar.
Carry dollars in small denominations, or change them a little at a time. Do not change all your cash into riels in one swoop, as it’s almost impossible to change riels back to dollars.
Travelers’ checks can be exchanged at any bank in Cambodia, but will cost you about 2-4% extra for converting it into dollars.
Cambodia has no ATM machines. If you want to get cash advances from your credit card, some shops will offer this service, but will charge high handling fees.
Safety
Travelers should be vigilant in public places and areas known to be frequented by foreigners. Street crime is a risk in Phnom Penh, especially at nighttime; visitors should take care even in popular tourist nightspots. Bag-snatching is also a risk in urban areas – usually pulled off by enterprising young men on motorcycles.
Cambodia is still one of the most heavily land-mined countries in the world, but this won’t be a problem unless you venture near the border with Vietnam. Visitors must never stray off the known paths, and travel with a local guide.
Climate
Tropical Cambodia runs a toasty 86°F (30°C) most of the year, although the mountains will (naturally) be slightly cooler. Cambodia’s dry season happens between November and April, and the rainy season between May and October can make overland travel impossible, with some areas flooded out.
The cooler but not-too-wet months between November and January are the ideal time to visit Cambodia.
What to wear. Bring light cotton clothes and a hat to beat Cambodia’s heat. Sturdy shoes are well-advised for the major walking around you’ll be doing at the Angkor temples.
When visiting religious sites like temples and pagodas, both sexes will be wise to wear something modest.
