Updated again! (Jump to the new part) After a last-minute announcement, as of today Cambodia is allowing quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travelers, and electronic visas are easily available. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travels will still need to follow the quarantine rules enacted last month, detailed below. Be aware that land borders are still closed and visa-on-arrival are not being offered (for now).

And…they’re back!

Requirements for fully vaccinated travelers

Passengers are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior, have a vaccination card or certificate, and will be required to take a rapid test on arrival (it’s free!). After they receive their negative results, passengers are free to travel throughout Cambodia.

Note that one official directive says 72 hours before arrival and another says 72 hours before departure, so to be on the safe side, it would be better to get a test no later than 72 hours prior to arrival in Cambodia.

What qualifies as fully vaccinated? See this post in the Cambodia Visa and Work Permit Group on Facebook for complete info, but in short, two shots of any two-shot vaccination, or one shot of Johnson & Johnson, Sputnik Light or CanSinoBio. Boosters are not required for now.

You must have a paper copy of your vaccination certificate or evidence, no apps are currently accepted. So print out a copy (in color, if possible). It must include your name, type of vaccination, and dates of vaccinations. Your last vaccination must be at least 14 days before you travel.

**Forte’s Covid-19 insurance is no longer required for entry. However, as of today November 17th, travelers are still being asked to show this at the airport as the news of the change has not yet reached the airports. If you’re traveling soon, it may be safer to get it.

Be aware, though, that if you test positive for Covid — even if you are completely asymptomatic — you will be hospitalized at your own expense. One passenger I talked to had to spend 14 days in a clinic, even though he didn’t have any symptoms, and he was charged $18,000, and Forte only paid $3,000 of that. So, be sure to have a good insurance policy if you’re planning to travel to Cambodia. Get a quote for global health insurance from Cigna. 

What about kids? Unvaccinated children under the age of 18 can travel with their vaccinated parents. (And conversely, vaccinated children will still be required to quarantine with their unvaccinated parents.) But all children, regardless of age, are required to get a PCR test before travel, and some clinics do not offer PCR tests for infants.

A handy table from the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok. Click to make it bigger.

Updated information on Cambodia tourist visas

Starting last month, Cambodia is offering tourist visas (T-visas) after more than 18-months of a tourist-free Kingdom. Tourists can apply in advance for a 30-day visa on the official site, evisa.gov.kh. Note that visa-on-arrival is still not available.

The cost is $30 plus a $6 processing fee, with a 3-day processing time. The visa is a 30-day visa valid for 90 days (meaning you must enter Cambodia within 90 days of the visa being issued, but can only stay for 30 days).

There is a required 14-day hotel quarantine for those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. In order to apply for a tourist T-visa, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated passengers must pre-book a quarantine hotel. Currently, the hotels available are: Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Sokha Hotel, Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. There are also rumors that the Himawari will be added to this list shortly. These hotels are much nicer than the randomly assigned “mystery bus” hotels, but are also more expensive, starting at $2,300 for a 14-day quarantine. The option of a randomly assigned hotel for a $2,000 deposit is not available to T-visa applicants.

Applying for a Cambodia tourist visa (T-visa) online

Cambodia quarantine requirements for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated

Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers will still need to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine. Passengers are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior to flying, have a vaccination card or certificate, Covid-19 health insurance, and either evidence of a pre-booked hotel (known as an AQS, or alternative state quarantine hotel) or a $2,000 USD in cash for hotel deposit. Travelers will be required to take a rapid test on arrival, and a PCR test at the end of their 14-day quarantine.

The rules above are the same for Cambodian nationals, although they can opt to do their quarantine in free government-run facilities rather than private hotels.

There are now several new classes of (partially vaccinated or unvaccinated) passengers that will only need to spend three days in hotel quarantine.

Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated senior government officials and their “guests” have a new, unspecified quarantine regime. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated civil servants returning from missions abroad and their families will need to quarantine for three days, as well as provide an official mission letter in addition to the testing requirements above.

Another group eligible for a three-day quarantine are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated “foreign diplomats, technical experts, cooperation project managers and coordinators [holding A- or B-class visas], as well as businesspeople and investors with a guarantor or invitation letter.”

For all other visa types

E-visas and other visa types must be applied for at your local Cambodian embassy or consulate. Visa on arrival is not currently available, although it appears that the desire to “open up” is strong and it is likely that this will change soon.

As always, for more information visit the Cambodia Visa and Work Permit Group on Facebook for more information.