Cambodia Visa on Arrival: How to Get It at the Airport & Borders

Cambodia offers a visa on arrival (VoA) to citizens of most countries, allowing you to obtain your visa directly at the airport or land border crossing upon entry. The process takes 15-30 minutes at the airport and costs $30 USD for a tourist visa (Type T) or $35 USD for a business visa (Type E). You need a valid passport, one passport photo, and the cash fee in US dollars.

What Is the Cambodia Visa on Arrival?

The Cambodia visa on arrival is a travel document issued by the Cambodian immigration authorities at designated ports of entry – international airports and land border checkpoints. Unlike an e-visa, which you must apply for online before traveling, the visa on arrival lets you complete the entire process when you land in Cambodia.

Cambodia introduced the visa on arrival system to simplify entry for tourists and business visitors. Today, nationals from over 200 countries are eligible. The visa is stamped directly into your passport at the immigration counter.

Key features of the Cambodia visa on arrival:

• No pre-application required – arrive and apply on the spot
• Single entry – valid for one entry only within the validity period
• 30-day stay – both tourist and business visas grant a 30-day stay
• Extendable – can be extended at the immigration office in Phnom Penh
• Payable in USD – fees accepted in US dollars, Thai baht at some border crossings

Cambodia Visa on Arrival Fee

The visa on arrival fee depends on the visa type you select at the immigration counter:

Important: Fees must be paid in cash – US dollars are preferred and accepted at all ports of entry. Thai baht is accepted at some Thailand-Cambodia border crossings, but credit cards and debit cards are not accepted. ATMs are available after immigration at airports, but not always at land borders.

Some border crossings have unofficial “processing fees” of $1-$5 charged by officials. This is not a legal fee but is commonly encountered, particularly at land borders. Having exact change reduces this issue.

Tip: Bring $50 or $100 bills that are crisp and undamaged. Cambodian immigration officials may reject bills that are torn, heavily creased, or have markings. Small denominations ($1, $5, $10) are useful for the fee payment itself.

Documents Required for Visa on Arrival

To obtain a Cambodia visa on arrival, you need the following documents:

1. Valid passport – must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry with at least one blank page for the visa stamp
2. Passport-sized photo – one recent photo (4×6 cm or 2×2 inches), color, white background
3. Completed arrival/departure card – provided on the plane or at the immigration counter
4. Visa fee in cash – $30 USD (tourist) or $35 USD (business)
5. Return or onward flight ticket – not always checked but recommended to have

If you do not have a passport photo, some airports and border crossings have photo services available for $1-$3. However, it is strongly recommended to bring your own photo to avoid delays. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports typically have photo booths after the immigration counters.

See our Cambodia visa requirements guide for a full checklist of all documents and eligibility criteria.

Visa on Arrival at Cambodia Airports

Cambodia has three international airports that issue visas on arrival:

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH)

Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s main international airport and the busiest port of entry. The visa on arrival process here typically takes 15-20 minutes during normal hours.

Step-by-step process at Phnom Penh Airport:

1. Disembark and follow signs to the immigration area
2. Collect an arrival/departure card from the counter near the immigration desks (or fill it out on the plane if distributed by the airline)
3. Fill out the visa application form – available at the designated visa on arrival counter (look for the signs in English)
4. Submit your documents – passport, photo, completed forms, and cash fee at the visa counter
5. Wait for processing – your name will be called when the visa is ready (5-15 minutes)
6. Collect your passport with the visa stamp attached
7. Proceed to immigration – present your passport with the new visa stamp at the regular immigration counter
8. Collect baggage and clear customs

Siem Reap International Airport (REP)

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor Wat and Cambodia’s second-largest airport. The visa on arrival process is similar to Phnom Penh but can be faster due to lower passenger volumes.

• Processing time: 10-15 minutes during normal hours
• Same document requirements as Phnom Penh
• Photo services available at the airport

Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS)

Sihanoukville serves the coastal area and nearby islands. As a smaller airport, processing is usually quick (10-15 minutes), though flight schedules are more limited.

Visa on Arrival at Cambodia Land Borders

Cambodia shares land borders with Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Several border crossings issue visas on arrival:

Thailand-Cambodia Border Crossings

Poi Pet is by far the busiest land border crossing. Wait times can reach 1-2 hours during weekends and holidays. Arrive early in the morning (before 9 AM) to avoid the worst queues. Scams are more common here – use only the official immigration counters inside the building, not intermediaries outside.

Vietnam-Cambodia Border Crossings

Bavet / Moc Bai is the primary Vietnam-Cambodia crossing, located on the main highway between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. Processing takes 20-30 minutes and is generally smooth.

Laos-Cambodia Border Crossing

The Laos-Cambodia crossing at Trapeang Kreal / Vung Tao is the only land border between the two countries. It is in a remote area, so plan your transport in advance. Visa on arrival is available on the Cambodian side.

Step-by-Step Process at Land Borders

The land border visa on arrival process differs slightly from airports:

1. Exit the departing country – get your exit stamp at the Thai/Vietnamese/Lao immigration counter
2. Walk to the Cambodian immigration building – look for the official government building (not a roadside booth)
3. Fill out the visa application and arrival card – forms are available at the counter
4. Submit documents and pay the fee – passport, photo, forms, and $30/$35 cash
5. Wait for processing – times vary from 5 minutes to 30+ minutes depending on crowds
6. Receive your passport with the visa stamp
7. Proceed through immigration – have your passport stamped for entry

Warning: At popular border crossings like Poi Pet, unofficial “helpers” may approach you to speed up the process for a fee. politely decline and go directly to the official immigration counter. The official fee is $30 or $35 only – any additional charge is not required by law.

How Long Does the Visa on Arrival Process Take?

Processing times vary by location and traffic:

Visa on Arrival vs e-Visa: Which Should You Choose?

Both the visa on arrival and the Cambodia e-visa allow entry to Cambodia, but they serve different needs:

The e-visa is more convenient if you want to skip the arrival counter and go straight to immigration. However, the visa on arrival is available at more entry points – particularly at all land borders, whereas the e-visa is only accepted at select crossings. For a detailed comparison, see our e-Visa vs visa on arrival article.

Extending Your Visa on Arrival

The visa on arrival is initially valid for 30 days. If you wish to stay longer, you can extend it:

• Tourist visa (Type T): extendable once for 30 additional days at the immigration office in Phnom Penh. Extension fee: approximately $45-$50.
• Business/Ordinary visa (Type E): extendable for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months with multiple-entry options. Extension fees range from $50 (1 month) to $280+ (12 months multiple entry).

Extensions must be filed before your current visa expires. Overstaying your visa incurs a penalty of $10 per day of overstay. In severe cases of overstay, you may face detention or a ban from re-entering Cambodia.

Visit the Cambodian Department of Immigration on Street 271 in Phnom Penh, or use a visa agency to handle the paperwork for an additional service fee.

Read our full Cambodia visa extension guide for step-by-step instructions.

Countries NOT Eligible for Visa on Arrival

While most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival, a few exceptions exist:

• ASEAN member states (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei) enjoy visa-free entry for 14-30 days depending on nationality
• Citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Sudan may face additional scrutiny or may need to arrange their visa through a Cambodian embassy in advance

Check our Cambodia visa-free countries article for the full list of exempt nationalities.

Tips for a Smooth Visa on Arrival Experience

Follow these practical tips to avoid common problems:

1. Bring new, clean US dollar bills – torn or dirty bills may be rejected
2. Carry a spare passport photo – saves time if the first one is lost or rejected
3. Have exact change – reduces the chance of being shortchanged
4. Fill out forms in advance – ask for the forms on the plane to save time at the counter
5. Keep your receipt – the visa receipt may be requested when you leave Cambodia
6. Photograph your visa stamp – in case the physical stamp is damaged or unclear
7. Avoid the noon rush – flights from major Asian hubs often land between 11 AM and 2 PM
8. Use only official counters – ignore touts or “agents” at the border
9. Check your exit date – make sure the immigration officer stamped the correct date
10. Carry USD cash throughout your trip – Cambodia uses the US dollar as a de facto currency

Frequently Asked Questions