Cambodia (KH)
Affordable Southeast Asian base with easy daily life, a large Phnom Penh and Siem Reap expat scene, strong NGO/tourism/education networks, fast digital payments, and visa rules that are flexible but increasingly document-driven.
Leaving Cambodia
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
10–12 weeks before departure: review visa/extension expiry, work permit status, tax obligations (GDT), company dissolution requirements (if business owner), school withdrawal notice, and lease notice period. 8 weeks before: give formal notice to landlord, school, and internet provider. Initiate GDT tax clearance if business owner. Begin selling or donating furniture and appliances. 6 weeks before: confirm NSSF contribution statement request with employer. Schedule exit health check and dental appointment if covered by employer insurance. Book flights — PNH or REP; Cambodia Angkor Air, AirAsia, Bangkok Airways for regional connections. 4 weeks before: cancel utilities and subscriptions. Arrange repatriation of bank funds. Begin vehicle sale (motorbike/car) or return if rented. 2 weeks before: final medical appointments; collect prescription medications for transition period. Arrange pet export health certificate if travelling with pets (allow 3–4 weeks for destination country requirements). 1 week before: final apartment handover and photography. Collect deposit (or negotiate return timeline). Clear all ABA/bank cards and scheduled payments. Final utility bill settlement. 1–3 days before: currency exchange for destination; carry some destination currency. Keep digital copies of: passport, visa, all tax/NSSF records, bank statements, lease termination confirmation, employer reference letter.
Deregistration
Cambodia has no formal city deregistration system — there is no single government office to notify when leaving. However, you must actively manage: (1) Visa/extension expiry — Business Visa E-class holders simply depart before the extension expires; no formal cancellation needed but do not overstay or you face fines ($10/day overstay). (2) Work permit — if holding a work permit (MOLVT), your employer should cancel/not renew it; confirm with HR. (3) FPCS (Foreigner Present in Cambodia System) records — if registered, your records are associated with your visa; departure closes the loop naturally. (4) Foreign workers in formal employment: employer handles Ministry of Labour (MOLVT) deregistration of work permit. (5) If you hold a registered business: company dissolution is a separate formal process (see below). Start planning deregistration of all obligations 2–3 months before departure.
Tax clearance
If you are registered as a taxpayer with the General Department of Taxation (GDT — tax.gov.kh): obtain a tax clearance certificate before company dissolution or cessation of business activities. For employed expats: ensure your employer has submitted all monthly salary tax (ToP) filings up to your last payroll month; request a final withholding statement from payroll for your records. For business owners: tax clearance is essential before initiating company dissolution at the Ministry of Commerce; process typically takes 1–3 months and requires all outstanding VAT, corporate income tax, patent tax, and NSSF returns to be filed and settled. Outstanding GDT obligations can block company dissolution and create long-term complications. For NSSF (National Social Security Fund): employer must deregister the employment relationship; employee contributions up to departure date should be accounted for; pension scheme portability for foreign workers is still developing — request a contribution statement from NSSF or your employer for records.
Pension portability
NSSF pension contributions accumulate but the formal portability and refund mechanism for foreign workers leaving Cambodia is not well-established in practice (as of 2026). The pension scheme implementation started recently and full portability arrangements are evolving. Steps to take: (1) Request a formal NSSF contribution statement from your employer or directly from NSSF offices (NSSF headquarters in Phnom Penh). (2) Ask your employer's HR or an accountant whether any partial refund or transfer is available for your situation. (3) Keep all NSSF documents — they may be relevant for future social security totalization if Cambodia signs agreements with your home country. Cambodia currently has limited totalization agreements. Realistically, most foreign workers lose accumulated NSSF value unless formal portability rules are established.
Health insurance
Employer-sponsored health insurance ends on your last official day of employment or at the end of the month of termination, depending on the insurance policy terms. If covered under international health insurance through your employer: confirm exact end date with HR and request a certificate of coverage for continuity purposes. Private health insurance (Cigna, Allianz Care, April): check your policy for cancellation notice requirements (typically 30 days) and arrange equivalent cover in your destination country with no gap. Travel insurance for the departure period: ensure you have valid cover from your last day of employer insurance until settled in your next country. Dental work, pending referrals, and prescription refills: use employer health insurance benefits before your last day of coverage.
Bank account
ABA Bank (most popular for expats): accounts can remain open after departure; KYC and valid visa details will eventually expire — update contact details and keep your ABA Mobile app active with an accessible email and non-Cambodia phone number if you want to maintain remote access. Closing in person is easiest; remote closure via customer service is available but slower. Clear all ABA credit card balances, loan repayments, and scheduled payments before departure. ACLEDA: similar in-branch closure process; clear all obligations first. Canadia Bank: in-branch preferred. Repatriation of funds: use SWIFT international transfer ($15–25/transaction fee typical) or Wise (USD accounts transfer well); plan transfers in advance as large amounts may trigger documentation requirements. ATM card and USD cash: withdraw any remaining USD balance before closing; keep a small amount for transition period. Bakong/KHQR linked accounts: deactivate Bakong app and any linked KHQR registrations associated with your account.
Utilities
Electricity (EdC — Électricité du Cambodge): typically managed through landlord; confirm final meter reading with landlord and get written settlement confirmation. Water (PPWSA — Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority for Phnom Penh): landlord usually handles; verify no outstanding bill. Internet (EZECOM, NTC, WiCAM, Digi, Speednet): provide written notice per contract terms (typically 30 days); return any rented equipment (router/modem) to avoid equipment fees; get confirmation of cancellation and final bill. Mobile SIM: Smart, Cellcard, or Metfone — prepaid SIMs can simply be abandoned; postpaid plans require formal cancellation. Delivery subscriptions (Nham24): cancel in app. Streaming services (Netflix, Spotify): cancel via account settings before next billing cycle. School fees: settle outstanding fees and provide withdrawal notice per school's required timeline (typically one term in advance for international schools). Vehicle-related: pay any outstanding road tax or insurance before departure.
Rental contract
Review your lease for the required notice period — typically 1 month for flexible month-to-month arrangements, 2–3 months or a financial penalty for breaking a fixed-term lease early. Provide written notice to the landlord (Telegram message with delivery confirmation, email, or formal letter) and keep evidence of the notice date. Final handover: take dated photographs and video of every room, appliance, furniture item, and metre reading on the day you vacate. Prepare a written handover checklist and ask the landlord or agent to sign it. Outstanding utilities: do not leave without settling all electricity, water, and internet bills and obtaining written confirmation. Deposit return: negotiate in writing before departure; confirm the amount, the deductions (if any), and the payment method. Keep a Cambodian bank account or ABA accessible until the deposit is returned. If the landlord is unresponsive about deposit return, document everything and seek guidance from an agent, lawyer, or expat community. Furniture and belongings: Facebook groups (Phnom Penh Buy Sell, Expats in Cambodia) are excellent for selling furniture quickly; NGOs and orphanages accept usable furniture donations; clothing donations can go to Daughters of Cambodia thrift shop.
Leaving the Country
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