Kampong Speu

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Cambodia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Cambodia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Cambodia your passport must be:

• valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive in Cambodia
• undamaged and complete – entry is normally refused if you have a damaged passport or pages missing

If you apply to renew or extend your visa from within Cambodia, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of that subsequent renewal or extension.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to enter Cambodia as a visitor. 

Tourist visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements. 

Applying for a tourist visa 

Apply for an e-visa at least 4 days in advance (this website may not work in certain web browsers). You can also apply on the official e-visa app on iOS or Android. 

Check with the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK for the latest information on fees, conditions and photograph requirements. If you do not get an e-visa, you can get a visa on arrival at airports or land border crossings. You need to provide a photo and pay in US dollars. 

You can also get an extension of a tourist visa while you are in Cambodia. 

You can be fined, detained and deported if you overstay your visa. There is no limit to this fine. If you overstay more than 30 days, you will need to leave Cambodia and pay the fine.

Electronic arrival card

On 1 September 2024, Cambodia implemented an electronic Arrival Card.  If you are entering Cambodia by air at either Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville international airports, you must complete and submit an electronic e-Arrival Card within 7 days prior to your arrival. There is no charge for this.

Business visas and work permits 

Business visas are issued by the immigration department and are available: 

• on arrival in Phnom Penh airport 

• at the immigration department 

• in advance from any Cambodian embassy 

To work in Cambodia you need a business visa and a work permit. Your employer will need to apply for your work permit from the Department of Labour and Social Affairs. 

The Cambodian government strictly enforces these rules, so ask the relevant department for the latest advice.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Cambodia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Cambodia guide.

Registering with the authorities

The Cambodian Department of Immigration runs an online registration app called the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS).

If you’re staying in a hotel, guesthouse or rented accommodation, make sure the manager or landlord registers you using the app.

If you are staying with friends or family or own your own home in Cambodia, you will need to register yourself, using the app for Android or iOS. You need to enter a Cambodian phone number for your registration to be valid.

If you fail to get yourself registered, you may be unable to extend your visa if you want to.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Cambodia

Police: 117

Fire: 118

Ambulance: 119

Tourist police in Cambodia 

If you want to report a crime, you can go to the tourist police.  

You can get a police report for insurance purposes, but police are not always willing to investigate crimes. 

A police report should be free. If police ask for a fee contact the British Embassy in Phnom Penh and give details of the police station. 

To report a crime: 

• in Phnom Penh, go to the Tourist Police at Street 598, 12107 (Tel +855 (0)12 942 484) 

• in Siem Reap, go to the Tourist Police office which is next to the ticketing booth for the Angkor temple ruins 

• in Sihanoukville, Battambang and other towns in Cambodia, check with the local police which police station you should report to

Local law enforcement response to a crime, including a violent crime, is often limited. Foreigners attempting to report crimes have found: 

• police stations closed 

• emergency telephone numbers unanswered 

• police unwilling to investigate 

• police unable to speak English

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Cambodia
• dealing with a death in Cambodia
• being arrested or imprisoned in Cambodia
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO  

Help abroad   

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.  

Help in the UK   

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.   

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)   

Find out about call charges 

Get travel advice updates   

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.   

Follow FCDO:  

• travel advice on X 

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Cambodia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 20km from the land border with Thailand.

Heavy fighting along parts of the Thailand and Cambodia border, including the use of airstrikes, rocket and artillery fire, took place in 2025. A ceasefire was signed on 27 December, but the situation remains tense. 

Land borders and crossings between Cambodia and Thailand continue to be suspended. Some tourist destinations in border areas such as the Preah Vihear/Khao Phra Wihan temple, the Ta Krabey/Ta Kwai temple and the Tamone Thom/Ta Muen Thom temple are closed.  

There are also unexploded ordnance, including landmines, in the border area.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel. 

Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East

Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. 

Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:

• check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
• check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
• review your travel insurance policy for coverage
• monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates 

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO:    

• travel advice on X 

• travel advice on Facebook 

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID 

It may be useful to carry a copy of the photo page of your passport, but this is not a legal requirement in Cambodia.

Legal system and prison sentences

The legal process in Cambodia is unpredictable, lacks transparency and is open to interference from political and business interests. The investigation and trial process falls far below the standard of the UK. Pre-trial detention can also last many months. The British Embassy will not interfere in the legal processes of a host country.

The conditions in Cambodian prisons are extremely poor and overcrowded. Medical facilities in prisons are also very poor. The UK has no prisoner transfer agreement with Cambodia so if you’re found guilty you can expect to serve your full prison term in Cambodia.

Illegal drugs  

Possession, trafficking and manufacture of any illegal drugs are serious offences in Cambodia. This includes cannabis. British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis while transiting through Cambodia.

Airports in Cambodia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

The Cambodia authorities have a zero-tolerance policy to drug offences. Possessing drugs, even in very small quantities, can carry severe penalties, including:  

• arrest and detention
• a long jail sentence if charged and convicted. This can include a life sentence with no reduction for good behaviour

Legal processes before court hearings can be long and expensive. It can take many months for a case to come to trial.

Criminal gangs in the UK and elsewhere have been known to coerce people into carrying drugs across borders. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded.

It is important to be aware of your rights if you are detained by the police. See our guidance for those detained or imprisoned in Cambodia.

Police often raid venues known to be frequented by foreigners. You may have to take a urine or blood test if there is a suspicion you have used drugs. You will be arrested if the test is positive.

Angkor Wat official code of conduct

The Cambodian authorities have issued an official code of conduct for visitors at Angkor Wat and other religious sites.

Dress code 

You may be refused admission to religious sites, including Angkor Wat, if you wear skirts or shorts above the knee. Cover bare shoulders.

Using cameras in secure areas

Never take photographs on or near military bases. Ask permission before taking pictures of people, especially monks and other religious figures.

Research, photography and filming

Request permission in advance from the district head, provincial governor or national tourism board for any travel that authorities might see as out of the ordinary, including:

• scientific research of any kind 

• carrying out surveys 

• extensive photography or filming

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Cambodia. The LGBT+ community is becoming more visible, through gay clubs, club nights and the work of some human rights organisations.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Adopting Cambodian children

The UK government has suspended all adoptions of Cambodian children by UK residents.

Commercial surrogacy

Commercial surrogacy is banned in Cambodia. If you pay a surrogate, you could get a fine or a prison sentence. See guidance on surrogacy abroad.

Phone and data connections

While there is good wi-fi and mobile phone networks in the main cities and towns of Cambodia, many of the islands and remote areas are not well covered. Make sure your friends and family are aware that you may be out of contact.

Health and safety

Cambodia does not have the same health and safety standards as in the UK. Be aware that safety advice will be minimal and there may be no warning signs about dangers at tourist sites.