Cambodia (KH)

Must have at least 6 months validity beyond your intended stay plus sufficient blank pages (at least 2-4 blank pages). Banks, work permits, school enrolments, lease agreements, and visa extensions all require a valid passport. Renew at home-country embassy in Phnom Penh well in advance — processing typically takes 4-8 weeks. Never let your passport expire while in Cambodia without an active extension in process.

All travellers must submit the Cambodia e-Arrival form (arrival.gov.kh) within 7 days before arrival. The QR code is checked at immigration. Submission is free on the official portal — avoid third-party sites charging fees. Keep the QR code accessible on your phone at the border.

Available online at evisa.gov.kh for USD 30 plus processing fee. Single-entry, 30-day tourist validity. Valid for tourism only — not for work. Extensible once inside Cambodia to a further 30 days tourist extension but cannot be extended into work categories from tourist status without re-entry.

The standard long-stay visa for expats. Obtained on arrival (USD 35) or through embassies. Can be extended inside Cambodia in multiple sub-categories: EB (business), ER (retirement/non-working), EG (NGO/government-linked), ES (student), ET (others). The E-class ordinary visa plus EB extension is the main route for employed expats. Annual ordinary visa renewal costs approximately USD 340 (EB category) covering 1-year stay.

Mandatory for all foreign nationals working in Cambodia, including employed staff, directors, and certain self-employed individuals. Issued through the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) administered by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) at fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh. Annual renewal required. Official fee approximately USD 100. Employer and employee must both complete FWCMS registration. Provide passport, employment contract, passport photos, health certificate, and employer documents.

Issued alongside the work permit through FWCMS. The physical card proves your authorisation to work in Cambodia. Must be carried or available during labour inspections. Renewed annually with the work permit. Loss should be reported to MoLVT promptly.

Issued by the National Social Security Fund (nssf.gov.kh) when your employer registers you. Used to access NSSF-contracted healthcare facilities and to track occupational risk and pension contributions. Keep it with your health insurance documents. If not registered by employer, ask HR or MoLVT.

Issued by the General Department of Taxation (GDT at gdt.gov.kh or tax.gov.kh). Required for all registered businesses, self-employed individuals, and tax-resident employees. Registered companies receive a TIN at incorporation. Employees are typically registered by their employer. TIN is used for salary tax filing, VAT returns, patent tax, and all GDT interactions. Apply at the nearest GDT tax branch with business registration, passport, and proof of address.

If running a business, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC at moc.gov.kh) issues the company registration certificate. Includes company name, registered capital, directors, and business activity code. Required for bank account opening, GDT tax registration, and FWCMS employer registration. Renew annually and keep the patent tax certificate current.

Written employment contracts are required under Cambodian Labour Law. Should specify salary (in KHR or USD equivalent), working hours, leave entitlements, notice period, benefits, and probation terms. Needed for EB extension, work permit, banking, NSSF, and dispute resolution. Keep signed copies — Cambodian Labour Law disputes use written contracts as primary evidence.

Written rental contract for your accommodation. Required for FWCMS work permit, some bank onboarding, school enrolment, and delivery logistics. Include: property address, monthly rent in USD, lease duration, electricity rate per kWh, deposit amount and return conditions, included utilities, and landlord/agent contact details. Have complex leases reviewed by a lawyer.

Cambodia is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member. Foreign birth certificates require: (1) apostille from the issuing country if it is a Hague member (or full consular chain if not), AND (2) authentication by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AND (3) certified Khmer translation by an MFA-accredited translator. Used for school enrolment, dependent visa, and custody proceedings. For children born in Cambodia to foreign parents: register the birth at the local commune/sangkat office and with your home-country embassy within 60 days.

Cambodia is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member. Foreign marriage certificates require: (1) apostille if your home country is a Hague member (or full consular chain if not), AND (2) Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, AND (3) certified Khmer translation. Required for spouse visa, property transactions, inheritance, and divorce proceedings. Cambodian marriages to foreign nationals require registration at the Ministry of Interior.

Required for teaching licences (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport registration), NGO and diplomatic roles, some regulated professional work, and certain work permit categories. Cambodia is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — full process required: home-country apostille or legalisation + Cambodian MFA authentication + certified Khmer translation by an MFA-accredited translator.

Required by employers (especially international schools, NGOs, and regulated sectors), some visa categories, and background-check processes. Obtain from your home country (national police or FBI equivalent). Cambodia is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — home-country apostille or legalisation plus Cambodian MFA authentication required. Certified Khmer translation required. In Cambodia, local police clearance letters are obtained from the National Police at the Ministry of Interior.

Cambodia is NOT a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Cambodian documents used abroad require full legalisation: Cambodian notary → Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication → destination-country embassy authentication. Foreign documents used in Cambodia require: home-country apostille (if your home country is Hague member) or full consular chain (if not) → Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication → certified Khmer translation by an MFA-accredited translator. Budget 1–4 weeks for full legalisation.

Official Cambodian government processes (property registration, court, immigration, company filings, school enrolment for children) require certified translations performed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs-accredited translators. Cost: USD 10-30 per page. Use translators recommended by your law firm or embassy rather than informal services. Always retain the original document alongside the translation.

Required for FWCMS work permit and some visa processes. Typically performed at authorised government or designated private clinics. Includes chest X-ray, basic blood tests, and physician sign-off. Cost: USD 20-60 at designated facilities. Some employers also require pre-employment medicals for insurance purposes.

Useful for children (school enrolment requires vaccination records), expat health insurance claims, travel clinics, and emergency treatment. Recommended vaccinations for Cambodia include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, rabies (pre-exposure for longer stays), and Japanese encephalitis. Keep records in English and carry wallet-sized blood type / allergy card.

IDP is recognised for short-term driving (commonly up to 6 months from arrival). Long-term residents should obtain a Cambodian driving licence through the Department of Public Works and Transport. Keep both home-country licence and IDP; conversion to Cambodian licence requires documents, medical check, and sometimes a practical test. Car and motorcycle categories are licensed separately.