Cambodia travel guide

Overview

Travel tip

Using tuk-tuks for city travel can be cost-effective.

Before you go

Cambodia often allows short tourist stays with visa-on-arrival or e-Visa options for many nationalities, but visa-free eligibility and permitted length of stay depend on your passport. Before departure, check your own nationality’s visa rules, and remember that electronic travel authorizations such as ESTA, K-ETA, ETA, or eTA are different from Cambodia’s arrival declaration or customs pre-registration systems. Paper arrival cards are still commonly filled out on arrival for air passengers, and any cash-declaration threshold can vary by rules and route, so confirm the latest guidance before you travel.

Entry procedure

1. Check your entry option

   Cambodia may allow tourists to enter with an e-Visa, visa on arrival, or visa-free entry for certain nationalities. Prepare according to your passport, and it helps to have proof of onward or return travel if you need to show that your stay is for tourism.

2. Fill out the arrival form

   For air arrivals, you will often complete a paper arrival card or customs-related form on site. Procedures can vary depending on airport or airline instructions, so follow the signs on arrival and submit only the documents requested.

3. Check restricted items

   Meat, fruit, plants, and animal products may be inspected or restricted, so check in advance whether they need to be declared. If you have items or cash that must be declared, the safest approach is to declare them honestly rather than risk problems later.

4. Pass immigration control

   An officer may check your passport, visa or visa-on-arrival documents, and the purpose of your stay. In some cases, you may be asked for biometrics such as fingerprints or a facial photo, so simply follow the instructions calmly.

Exit procedure

1. Check your stay record and visa validity

   Before leaving, review the entry stamp in your passport and the allowed length of stay. Overstaying can cause problems at departure, so if your trip has been extended, check whether an extension is possible first.

2. Check VAT refund procedures at the airport

   VAT refunds in Cambodia are not automatic at ordinary shops; you must follow the participating store and airport procedures. Keep your receipts and paperwork, and check before departure whether a refund desk is available at the airport.

3. Prepare for departure control

   When leaving Cambodia, passport and ticket checks are standard, and you may also go through security screening and departure immigration. A separate cash departure tax is not generally a normal step, but it is still wise to check whether any fee is already included in your ticket when you book.

Cities in Cambodia