What do I need to travel to Cambodia?

Travel to Cambodia may appear to be hard to organize, but in reality, it is quite easy, once you
know what you need and where to get it. From visas to COVID requirements, to the currency you
can use in Cambodia, we have all the information you need to make planning and taking your trip
as easy and hassle-free as possible.

1. Do I need a travel visa to Cambodia?

Whether or not you need a visa for Cambodia depends on your country or origin, since certain
countries have a visa exemption agreement with Cambodia. Nationals of Brunei, Myanmar, the
Seychelles, and Thailand have visa-free travel for up to 14 days, and nationals of Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam can travel visa-free for up to 30 days.

Cambodia has three types of visa available; the standard embassy-applied tourist visa, which is
stamped into your passport via a Cambodian Embassy in your country of residence; an online E-
visa, which can be applied for and paid for online and sent to your email address for printing; and
the Visa on Arrival, which can be applied for when you arrive at the airport in Cambodia.

The Embassy Tourist Visa is easily applied for at any Cambodian embassy in your home or
resident country, and requires submission of your valid passport with at least six months
remaining at the time of travel, the visa fee of US$ 30 (or local equivalent), a completed
application form, and two passport-sized photos. This can also be done by mail in some
countries.

The E-visa can be applied for in three easy steps on the official E-visa website at
https://www.evisa.gov.kh. All you need to do is fill up the online application form, make a
payment for the US$ 36 visa fee (which includes the $6 processing charge) using one of the
approved payment methods (VISA, MasterCard, Unonpay, Alipay, or WeChat), and download the
E-Visa Certificate that is sent to your email after three business days.

For the Visa on Arrival, all you need to do is have your passport with at least 6 months validity
remaining, two passport-sized photos, and the visa fee on your arrival at one of the applicable
airports in Cambodia, and then fill in the application form and submit it to the Immigration Desk
Officers. They will process the visa while you wait, and stick it into your passport when complete.
Processing of the Visa on Arrival can take up to 2-3 hours at busy periods.

2. Do I need any vaccines to travel to Cambodia?

Cambodia still has restrictions on travelers that are not vaccinated against COVID-19, so it is best
to be fully vaccinated before traveling to Cambodia. Fully vaccinated travelers only need to show
their vaccination certificates in order to obtain entry, with their passport and visa (where
applicable. Anyone attempting to enter Cambodia who is not fully vaccinated will be required to
take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on arrival, at their own expense.

It is also recommended that travelers take vaccines or boosters for Hepatitis A and tetanus, and
consider also being vaccinated against Hepatitis B, Rabies, Typhoid, Cholera, and Japanese
Encephalitis.

3. Do I need COVID-19 PCR test to enter Cambodia?

If you are fully vaccinated, then you are not required to take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to travel.
This requirement has been suspended in Cambodia, since majority of travelers have now been
fully vaccinated. However, for those that are not fully vaccinated, a test is required on entry, at
the traveler’s expense.

4. Do I need travel insurance to travel to Cambodia?

As of 25 April 2022, there is no longer any requirement for travelers to have travel/medical
insurance for travel to Cambodia. However, while it is not a requirement, it is recommended to
have adequate travel and medical insurance, in case of contracting COVID while in Cambodia.
Cambodian healthcare will not pay for your hospital and medical needs if you are infected with
COVID, so it is recommended to have travel/medical insurance with at least US$10,000 of COVID
cover.

5. How much money do I need for Cambodia?

How much the trip to Cambodia will cost depends on your airline, where you stay, how you travel
around, and even what you want to visit while here. An average trip in Cambodia usually costs
around $50 per day, based on staying in three-star hotels and below, eating sensibly, and
traveling on buses. Flights between destinations, daily restaurant meals, and high-end hotels can
push the cost of a trip to Cambodia up to as high as $1000 a day in some instances.

Take enough cash for your entire trip if you can, as accessing ATMs and getting cash from credit
cards can be rather expensive. Bring the amount you need for your trip with you in US Dollars,
and you can change it for local currency when you arrive to pay for those little things you want to
buy.

6. Do I need us dollars in Cambodia?

The official currency of Cambodia is the Riel, which is generally used across the country for
almost all purchases you will make. However, while it is not officially recognized, the US Dollar is
widely used in Cambodia, especially when it comes to paying for larger items, such as your hotel
bill. And some smaller merchants will also accept payment in dollars (though not larger bills), and
then give change in riel. However, be aware that banks and vendors will not accept old or ripped
dollar bills, so you should also reject any ripped bills given as change or by money changers.

It is a common misconception that paying in dollars is cheaper, and in reality, it is likely to cost
you more. The exchange rate from dollar to riel and vice versa is fluid, and constantly changing,
so vendors that accept dollars will set the rate they use in their favor, so the amount you pay in
dollars is always slightly higher than in riel. This allows the vendors to gain a little extra profit.

7. More Thing Needed to Travel to Cambodia

There are certain things that you really need to make sure you pack when traveling to Cambodia,
not the least of which are your clothes, which should be of a certain style, especially for women.
Lightweight clothes that can be easily layered are preferable to normal t-shirts, as you can add
and take off depending on the temperature. And since Cambodia is chock full of temples,
covering up shoulders and legs is essential, especially for women. Try to avoid shorts, short skirts,
crop tops and halter tops, etc.

Bring comfortable shoes that you can walk in, as travel in Cambodia often entails lots of walking,
especially if you are planning on visiting the Angkor Temple Complex. Walking or hiking shoes are
ideal for this, as they are both comfortable and supportive, to allow you to be on your feet a lot.
Avoid the heavy hiking boots, though; you will find you tire more quickly. And bring some soft
comfy shoes for those evenings in the hotel or out in a restaurant.

Insect repellent is a must, and it is actually better to get the repellants that contain DEET, which
interferes with the mosquito’s antenna and repels them completely. However, it is recommended
not to overuse it, and you should follow the usage instructions on the label.

Sunscreen is another must for Cambodia, as the temperatures there can be extremely hot for
many travelers, even in the cooler dry season. And even when the sun is not shining through the
clouds, the UV rays can still burn the skin, even out of direct sunlight.

Finally, make sure that you have an outlet adaptor for any accessories that you are bringing with
you, such as phone chargers, hair dryers, etc. Cambodia operates on a 230v supply system, and
generally uses plugs with two opposing flat pins, known generally as Type A. Your adaptor should
be able to convert your Type C (round pin) and Type G (UK three-pin) plugs to fir the Type A
sockets in Cambodia.

Conclusion