Unlike its neighbour, Thailand, Cambodia does not offer most Westerners a free tourist visa on entry. However, when it comes to business visas, Cambodia easier makes up for this is the relative ease of acquiring the necessary stamps.
To avoid having to go through the usual immigration process of applying for a visa on arrival, which can sometimes involve dealing with a lengthy queue, these days a Cambodian e-Visa can be purchased prior to your trip online at http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa/ [1] with a $25 payment through PayPal. However, this e-Visa only operates as a tourist visa, so business travellers who need to stay longer or need a multiple entry visa will need to apply for a Cambodian business visa through the conventional channels at the airport on arrival.
If for some reason the company you’re planning to work for fails to obtain a Cambodian visa on your behalf, don’t despair as it’s relatively simple process to acquire one yourself.
There are two types of visa available: tourist or business. The tourist visa, at a cost of $20 on arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, entitles its bearer to remain in the country for one month. This can be renewed only once without having to depart the country.
In order to remain in the country for longer than two months or to work, you will require a Business Visa. Like the tourist visa, an initial business visa can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh airport at a cost of $25. You will need to have indicated on the visa application form provided to you by your airline by marking the appropriate business visa box, and presented it along with your passport (which must be valid for at least six months and have at least one empty page) together with a passport-sized photograph. Fortunately proof of intended or actual employment is not a requirement.
The initial business visa is valid for only one month but can be extended in-country for periods of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. However be aware that the 1 and 3 month extensions are only single entry whereas the 6 and 12 month extensions permit multiple entries/exits without invalidating the visa.
Although it is possible to apply on your own behalf at the immigration office near Phnom Penh International Airport, it is much less hassle to get an agent to do it for you for a modest fee. Almost all travel agents offer this service and are usually able to return your passport and visa to you within 24 hours. These agents tend to charge similar fees for business visa extensions.
As a guideline, the following is an approximate pricing schedule:
1 month – $30
3 month – $75
6 month – $145
A 12-month, multiple-entry visa costs $265 to $300, depending on the fee added by the agent. The agent’s fee is usually somewhat negotiable.
Also, upon expiry of your business visa, it’s currently easy to obtain a further extension through the same travel agents.
Work Permits
Foreign employees must have a valid visa, work permit, and employment card issued by the Ministry of Labor, which is obtained by your prospective employer. Employers must ensure that these work permits are renewed annually.
Work permit for foreigners in the Kingdom of Cambodia shall consist of two types:
a. Temporary work permit for foreigners shall be issued to the following persons:
● Staff and management specialists
● Technical staff
● Skilled workers
● Service providers or other labors
b. Permanent work permit for foreigners shall be issued to the following persons:
● foreign immigrants duly recognized by the Minister Interior
● Foreign Investors, spouses, and dependents duly recognized by the Council for the Development of Cambodia.
Both work permits shall not be issued to children of either sex under 18 years old.
Children shall be registered under the work permit of their parents or guardians.
Article 2:
Procedures for applying for work permits shall be the followings:
a. Temporary work permit:
The application for temporary work permit shall be sent to the Ministry of Interior.
1. 3 sets of the Application Form as issued by the Ministry of Interior.
2. Attached with passports or any equivalent documents with proper visa.
3. 3 Photographs (4×6), taken in the front without hat or glasses.
4. Certificate of Health from a physician of the immigrant country, and written work contract.
5. Insurance policy issued by employer or any insurance companies.
6. Fees for temporary work permit.
b. Permanent work permit:
The Application for permanent work permit shall be sent to the Ministry of Interior.
1. Photocopied document recognizing as immigrant or investor.
2. Attached with passport or any equivalent documents with proper visas.
3. 3 Photograph (4×6), taken in the front without hat or glasses.
4. Certified statement from any banks in the Kingdom of Cambodia, verifying a bank deposit as defined in the Anukret.
5. Fee for permanent work permit.
Article 3:
Police stations of provinces and municipalities shall accept applications for work permits and forward them through their governors to the Ministry of Interior for review and approval.
Article 4:
The temporary work permit shall not have a validity exceeding the approved visa.
The permanent work permit shall be initially approved for 2 years.
This work permit can be renewed every two years.
3 months prior to the expiry of the work permit an application shall be filed to the Ministry of Interior for renewal through the police station of municipality or province of their residence.
In the case of a loss of a work permit the holder must complain to the police station of the province or municipality along with explanations and apply for a duplicate work permit. The police station of the province or municipality shall issue a receipt acknowledging the application for duplicate work permit, and send their forms to the Ministry of Interior.
Where extensions to work permits have not been applied for or have expired, continuing to work in their absence shall be considered an illegal act.
Applicants applying for an extension of their work permit, or for its duplication, shall pay taxes as defined by Anukret.
Article 5:
In the event of a change of address, the holder shall notify the Foreigner Office of the Police Station of the province or city before his departure to the new address. A new work permit must then be obtained within 48 hours from the arrival at his/her new address.
Article 6:
Work permits may be use as an identity card.
Article 7:
Both kinds of work permit may revoke in the following cases:
● non compliance of the Law on Immigration, or
● non compliance of the laws of the Kingdom of Cambodia, or
● for reasons of national security and national interest, or
● contrary to public order.
(from the Prakas on the “Management of Foreigners’ Work Permits” 10 November 1995)