🇰🇭 Cambodia visa and immigration options

EB (Business) Visa / Work Permit & Employment Card

Standard route for foreign employees: an EB-class visa (formerly called a business/ordinary visa) paired with a work permit and employment card issued annually by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT).

Processing time

EB visa: initial 30 days, with extensions of 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. Work permit/employment card: valid one year, expiring December 31 regardless of issue date.

Typical costs

Several hundred USD in total government fees across the visa, work permit, and employment card.

Government fees

Work permit and employment card fees apply; EB visa extension fees are paid in USD (amounts vary).

Work and study rights

Full right to work for the sponsoring employer in the approved role.

Family

Dependents generally require their own visa status; not automatically included.

Important: Companies face a foreign-staff quota capped at 10% of total workforce (3% office staff, 6% skilled labor, 1% unskilled labor). Work permits and employment cards expire December 31 each year regardless of issue date, with renewal filed January 1 to March 30 -- this creates an unusual annual reset rather than an anniversary-based renewal cycle.

Sources reviewed: aseanbriefing.com Guide to Employment Permits for Foreign Workers in Cambodia, tilleke.com Cambodia Sets New Work Permit Rules

Student Visa (E-Class)

Visa for students admitted to a recognized Cambodian educational institution.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks once admission is confirmed.

Typical costs

Tuition plus living costs; varies by institution and city.

Government fees

Visa fees apply; tuition set by the host institution.

Work and study rights

Full-time study; work rights are generally not permitted without a separate work permit.

Family

Dependents generally require their own linked visa status.

Sources reviewed: Cambodian Ministry of Interior guidance (general)

Business Visa (EB-Class, Business Purpose)

The EB-class visa covers both employment and business/investment activity; establishing and managing an ongoing business additionally requires company registration with the Ministry of Commerce.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks for the visa; company registration takes longer.

Typical costs

Modest visa fees for short-term business travel; company-formation costs vary by structure and sector.

Government fees

Visa and extension fees apply; company registration fees apply separately.

Work and study rights

Does not by itself permit full-time employment; a durable business presence requires Ministry of Commerce registration and compliance with foreign-ownership rules.

Family

Not applicable for the short-term business visa itself.

Sources reviewed: aseanbriefing.com Guide to Employment Permits for Foreign Workers in Cambodia

Family-Based Visa

Visa for spouses and family members of Cambodian citizens or qualifying residents; marriage to a Cambodian citizen is also a separate pathway to citizenship.

Processing time

Typically a few weeks to a couple of months.

Typical costs

Modest government fees; cost of translating and legalizing civil documents.

Government fees

Visa and extension fees apply.

Work and study rights

Dependants generally cannot work without a separate work permit.

Family

Covers spouse and dependent children of the sponsor.

Sources reviewed: Cambodian Ministry of Interior guidance (general)

Permanent Residence Card

A Residents Card for foreign nationals who have maintained lawful long-term status in Cambodia, serving as the main prerequisite for standard naturalization.

Processing time

Variable; confirm current timelines with the Ministry of Interior.

Typical costs

Government fees plus typical legal/document assistance costs.

Government fees

Government fees apply under Proclamation No. 555 on the issuance of Residents Cards.

Work and study rights

Permanent residents may generally live and work in Cambodia.

Family

Family members generally must separately qualify or hold their own linked status.

Important: Consistently published, detailed eligibility criteria and processing timelines for the ordinary Permanent Residence Card are limited across available sources -- this is a genuine content gap. Confirm current requirements with the Ministry of Interior before relying on any specific figure.

Sources reviewed: refworld.org Cambodia Proclamation No. 555 of 1995

Citizenship by Naturalization

Naturalization requiring a Certificate of Permanent Residence held for 7 years (3 years if born in Cambodia), Khmer-language fluency, and good conduct -- with investment or donation routes that waive the residence requirement.

Processing time

Variable; confirm current timelines with the Ministry of Interior.

Typical costs

Indirect costs of maintaining qualifying residence and documentation, or the investment (KHR 1.25bn+) / donation (KHR 1bn+) thresholds if using the waiver route.

Government fees

Government application fees apply, separate from the investment/donation thresholds.

Work and study rights

Full citizen rights upon naturalization.

Family

Does not automatically extend to family members, who must separately qualify.

Important: Cambodia recognizes dual citizenship, so naturalized citizens are not required to give up their existing nationality -- a notable contrast with several regional neighbors. Applicants must speak and write Khmer, know Cambodian history, hold a certificate of good attitude and ethics from their local municipal office, and have a clean criminal record (with…

Sources reviewed: dfdl.com Cambodia citizenship requirements guide

Tourist Visa (T-Class) / E-Visa

Short-term entry for tourism, available visa-on-arrival or via e-visa for most nationalities.

Processing time

E-visa typically processed within a few business days; visa-on-arrival is immediate.

Typical costs

Modest visa fee; minimal beyond that for most visitors.

Government fees

Tourist visa fee commonly cited around USD 30-37 for e-visa/visa-on-arrival.

Work and study rights

No work or study rights.

Family

Not applicable for short-stay visits.

Sources reviewed: Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal (general)