Cambodia entry requirements: everything you need to know before traveling

Cambodia is an excellent choice for traveling. Here you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient civilizations, visit world-famous temple complexes, enjoy the beauty of untouched rainforests and relax on the sea coast. Cambodia is a country that will give you unforgettable impressions and open before you an amazing world where history is closely intertwined with natural beauty.

Before embarking on a new journey, it is extremely important to carefully study all the necessary formalities and nuances of entry into this country. We recommend that you pay special attention to visa requirements and prepare all necessary documents in advance.

In this section you can find detailed information about which visa is right for you and how you can apply for it. We have also prepared important facts about medical recommendations for travelers, rules for entering the country with children and pets, as well as data on flights and locations of diplomatic missions in the country.
Preparing in advance and familiarizing yourself with the current rules of Cambodia will allow you to avoid possible delays or difficulties at the border and will help to make your trip as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

According to Cambodia's entry regulations, German and European citizens require a valid visa when crossing the border.

Visa exemption is only available for citizens of the following countries:

• Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore - up to 30 days
• Philippines - up to 21 days.
• Brunei, Myanmar, Thailand - up to 14 days

Requirements for entry into Cambodia: identity documents

Foreign tourists entering Cambodia need a passport with a validity of at least 6 months. A temporary passport is acceptable. All children require their own identification document. Children's entries in the parent's passport are invalid as of June 2012. Minors are subject to the same requirements for entry into Cambodia as adults.

Visa processing:

Obtaining a regular visa at a Cambodian diplomatic mission abroad

Applying for a visa at the Cambodian embassy or other consular representation in your home country before traveling is the most common and safest way to obtain a visa to Cambodia. By choosing this route, you will receive a visa stamp in your passport and will be free to enter the Southeast Asian kingdom by air or land at any airport or authorized border crossing. Travel planning is very flexible. In Germany, the embassy in Berlin is responsible for consular matters and visas.

e-Visa (electronic visa)

The second way to obtain a visa is the e-visa. It is also issued prior to departure. Travelers receive a confirmation by email. You are required to print the document and have it with you when you enter the country. The e-visa application form must be filled out online. Applicants must have a credit or debit card to pay for the entry permit.

The e-visa is issued for purposes such as tourism, business, study, job search, with a maximum authorized stay of 30 days. Please note, it is possible to enter Cambodia with an e-visa through the following ports of entry:

• Siem Reap International Airport
• Preah Sihanouk International Airport
• Cham Yim (Koh Kong) - border with Thailand
• Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey) - border with Thailand
• Bavet (Svay Rieng) - border with Vietnam
• Tropaeng Kreal Border Post (Sting Treng) - border with Laos.

Warning on fake e-visa scams

Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communication explicitly warns against unofficial websites offering Cambodia e-visas. In the past, travelers with fake visas have been rejected. If you apply for a visa through us, we only use the official online form of the Cambodian Ministry, taking into account the latest Cambodian entry regulations.

Visa on Arrival 

According to Cambodia entry regulations, Visa on Arrival is the third visa processing option. However, there is no 100% guarantee that the entry process will go smoothly. As far as we know, the visa can only be obtained on the spot at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh international airports, as well as at border crossings into Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
To avoid unpleasant surprises upon arrival in Cambodia, we strongly recommend that you take care of your travel authorization before departure and arrange an electronic or classic visa at the Cambodian diplomatic mission in your country.

More information can be found in the section Visas to Cambodia.

Vaccination is currently not a requirement for entry into Cambodia. However, the World Health Organization recommends vaccination against the following major diseases before travel:

• Hepatitis A and B,
• typhoid,
• rabies,
• polio,
• tetanus,
• yellow fever,
• tuberculosis,
• cholera,
• diphtheria.

Cambodia, like a number of other countries, no longer requires a COVID-19 vaccination certificate to enter the country.

Please note that specific requirements are subject to change, so before traveling, we advise you to check for up-to-date information on required immunizations at the time of your trip.

With careful planning and following the necessary precautions, traveling with children to Cambodia can be a safe and exciting experience for everyone in the family.

The atmosphere in Cambodia is currently quite calm, making the country a suitable destination for family vacations. Places popular with families with children are carefully guarded and offer a high level of security. Many hotel complexes offer children's clubs, where parents can leave their children under the supervision of qualified English-speaking staff, and rooms often have extra cribs for children. In addition, in Cambodia you can hire a professional nanny for your child.

Obtaining a visa to Cambodia is mandatory for many foreign nationals, including Germany, regardless of the age of the applicant. Cambodia visas for children under the age of 12 are free of charge.

It is recommended that a separate passport be issued for the child. Children whose details are on the parent's passport may enter the country, but this may cause difficulties at border control.

To apply for a visa for a child under the age of 16, in addition to the standard package of documents, you will need:

• birth certificate and its copy;
• notarized consent for departure, if the child is traveling accompanied by one parent or without parents;
• a power of attorney for the accompanying person if the child is accompanied by a third person;
• marriage certificate in case of different surnames of parents.

Our company can help you to prepare and certify all the necessary documents for the child's travel.

According to WHO recommendations, before traveling to Cambodia, it is advisable for adults and children over 1 year of age to be vaccinated against the following diseases: hepatitis A and B, rabies, typhoid, polio, tetanus, yellow fever, tuberculosis, cholera and diphtheria. You can contact your pediatrician in advance and consult any questions you may have about vaccinating your children before traveling.

A few additional recommendations for a comfortable trip and vacation with children in Cambodia:

• Prepare and take all necessary pediatric medications and medicines with you.
• Pay special attention to providing drinking water and food that is safe for children's digestion.
• Plan the trip to minimize possible stressful situations and overexertion of children.
• Take out medical insurance for your child.
• Find out in advance which medical facilities in Cambodia are available for emergencies.

Basic domestic animals such as dogs, cats and birds are allowed into Cambodia. For this purpose, certificates of standard vaccinations typical for the particular animal species must be provided at veterinary inspection.

Basic documents and requirements for pets traveling to Cambodia:

• International Veterinary Certificate. Issued by an accredited veterinarian in your country. The document should confirm that the animal is healthy and can travel.
• Vaccination certificate. The animal must have a current vaccination certificate, including a rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination must be received at least 30 days prior to travel, but no more than 12 months prior to travel.
• Microchip. It is recommended that the animal has a microchip that meets international standards. This will make it easier to identify the animal if it is lost.
• Import Permit. In some cases, a special permit is required to bring an animal into Cambodia. This information should be checked in advance with the relevant authorities.
• Quarantine. Upon arrival in Cambodia, the animal may be quarantined at the discretion of the country's veterinary control. The length and conditions of quarantine may vary depending on current regulations and the health of the animal.
• Transportation Documents. When traveling by air, you must provide the airline with all necessary documents for the animal. Each airline may have additional requirements and regulations for pet transportation.

Please note, a certificate on the current health status of the animal, is issued by an authorized veterinarian in the country of departure no earlier than 10 days before entering Cambodia. Full information can be obtained from the public veterinary clinic in your country.

Flight and accommodation:

Before traveling with your pet to Cambodia, it is important to research the rules for transporting animals on an airplane, as each airline may have different requirements. It's also important to consider the flight time and possible layovers, as this trip can be extremely stressful for your pet. Don't forget to take a sedative to make the flight as comfortable as possible, as well as disposable diapers and a drinker in the carrier.

When booking your accommodation in Cambodia, be sure to check in advance that the hotel allows pets. Unfortunately, not all hotel complexes provide this option or it may be limited to certain pet requirements.

Remember, traveling to Guinea with pets requires careful preparation. Following all the necessary requirements will ensure that you and your four-legged friends have a pleasant and safe trip.

When traveling to Cambodia, it is important to familiarize yourself with local customs regulations. Complying with the established norms and requirements when going through customs control, both when entering and leaving the country, will help you avoid possible problems or penalties from the authorities. Knowing and following customs procedures is an important aspect of preparing for your trip to Cambodia.

Please note that since July 1, 2024 Cambodia has established new migration rules. Now all foreign citizens, without exception, must issue a Cambodia e-Arrival Card. This electronic document is intended to replace a number of paper forms that were previously required upon entry into the country, including immigration, customs and medical information. It is important to take care of the e-Arrival Card in advance for a smooth passage through the Cambodian border.

You can learn more about how to apply for an e-Arrival Card for Cambodia on our website.

Cambodia customs regulations.

1. Cigarettes and alcohol.

In Cambodia it is allowed to import duty free up to 200 cigarettes or 20 cigars, as well as up to 2 liters of strong alcoholic beverages. Export of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes is allowed without restriction.

2. Currency.

Foreign currency can be freely imported and exported from the country, but amounts exceeding 10,000 USD are subject to mandatory declaration upon entry. The import and export of local Cambodian currency is prohibited.

3. Jewels and jewelry.

The import and export of jewelry into the country is allowed without restrictions, as long as the quantity does not exceed the personal use limit.

Import and export of unprocessed precious stones, ingots or metals (in the form of scrap) is subject to prior licensing by specialized agencies of Cambodia.

4. Works of art and objects of cultural and historical significance.

Antiques over 100 years old and objects of historical and cultural value can be exported from Cambodia, but only if authorized by the Ministry of Culture of Cambodia.

5. Veterinary control.

It is allowed to import pets and birds into Cambodia with an international veterinary certificate.

6. Items prohibited for import and export:

• right-hand drive vehicles,
• car and motorcycle tires,
• objects of local fauna,
• any obscene materials,
• narcotic and psychotropic substances,
• any weapons (including hunting weapons), and ammunition.

According to current data, there are unfortunately no direct scheduled flights from Germany to Cambodia. Passengers traveling to Cambodia will have to make at least one connection. The average travel time, including transfers, averages 16-18 hours. However, if you choose more complicated routes with two or more connections, the total flight time can increase significantly. It is recommended to carefully study flight schedules and options to choose the most optimal and convenient route.

The main points for flights from Germany to Cambodia are the airports of Munich and Frankfurt am Main.

The most convenient regular flights from Munich to Cambodia are operated by:

• Singapore Airlines with a connection in Singapore
• EVA Air with a stopover in Taipei (Taiwan)
• Thai Airways and Lufthansa with a stopover in Bangkok (Thailand).

A flight from Frankfurt am Main will require at least two connections. The main airlines operating such routes with transit stops are Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Thai Airways. These carriers offer various connecting flight options to hub cities such as Singapore, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok.

It is recommended to check exact flight schedules and ticket prices directly with the airlines or travel agencies, depending on the chosen method of ticket purchase.

It is also important to keep in mind that airfares from Germany to Cambodia tend to increase as the departure date approaches. Therefore, you should take care of purchasing air tickets well in advance, even at the stage of planning your trip.

For most foreign nationals traveling through Cambodia, a transit visa is not required as long as they remain in the international transit area and do not leave the airport. However, if you have a long layover and plan to leave the airport for sightseeing or an overnight stay in the city, you will need to apply for a visa.

We recommend checking the requirements specifically for your nationality and itinerary in advance, as visa requirements can change.

For convenient travel to Cambodia, as well as for transit and connecting flights to other countries, we suggest to familiarize yourself with information about the main international airports of the country.

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH)

This is the largest international airport of the country, located about 10 kilometers from the capital of Cambodia. Phnom Penh Airport plays a key role in handling international flights to the country and serves around 3 million passengers per year. The terminals are equipped with the necessary infrastructure for passenger convenience.

Siem Reap International Airport (REP)

Siem Reap is the second most important international airport in Cambodia. It is located about 7 kilometers from the city of Siem Reap, not far from the world-famous Angkor temple complex. The airport is regularly modernized and expanded to meet the growing demand for air travel to the Angkor temple region.

Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS)

Sihanoukville is the country's third largest international airport. It is located in the resort town of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand and serves both international and domestic flights.

All major international airports in Cambodia have equipped transit areas for connecting passengers. These include lounges, food outlets, duty-free stores and other amenities.

For up-to-date details on infrastructure and services at airport transit areas, it is recommended to check with official websites or tour operators before traveling.

Key areas of the Embassy's activities:

• The Embassy acts as the official diplomatic representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• Providing consular services to German citizens, support and protection of the rights and interests of German citizens in Cambodia.
• Promoting bilateral relations between Germany and Cambodia, strengthening political, economic, cultural and other ties between the countries.
• Supporting joint projects and cooperation programs, participating in various initiatives aimed at developing interaction between Germany and Cambodia.
• Informing about politics, culture, economy and other aspects of life in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Address: No. 76-78 Yugoslavia Street (= Street 214), Phnom Penh, 120308

Postal address: P.O. Box 60, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Tel.: +855 23 216193, +855 23 216381
Fax: +49 30 1817-67174
Website: www.phnom-penh.diplo.de

The full list of services provided by the German Embassy in Cambodia is available on the official website in German.

It is worth noting that the embassy remains active and updates information on its website and social media. It is recommended to check for up-to-date information before visiting.

Cambodia offers travelers a wide range of opportunities for great times and unforgettable adventures. From relaxed beach vacations to exciting expeditions and educational excursions, Cambodia has something to surprise every visitor. Its diverse landscapes, rich history and culture, and hospitable people make it an increasingly popular travel destination.