Cambodia Long-Stay Visa Options for Foreigners: Routes, Costs, and How to Choose

Most foreigners staying long term in Cambodia enter on an Ordinary (E) visa and apply for an extension that matches their purpose. The main options used by individual applicants are EB for work or business, ER for retirement, ES for study, EG or EP for short preparatory stays, and ET for technical experts. CM2H is an investment programme, while K-class and C-class use separate processes.

Cambodia Long-Stay Route Selection at a Glance

1. Identify the category that matches your purpose.
2. Check the entry visa and supporting documents for that category.
3. Enter on the Ordinary (E) visa when applying for an E-class extension.
4. Complete the Cambodia e-Arrival and confirm your FPCS address registration.
5. Apply for the extension through the immigration authority or a visa agent.
6. Renew before expiry and keep any work permit deadline separate from the visa date.

The Ordinary e-Visa fee fell to USD 35 in January 2025. Cambodia also uses the Cambodia e-Arrival system and the FPCS address-registration system. Work authorisation remains separate from immigration status, so an EB extension does not replace a work permit.

Who stays long term in Cambodia

The correct category depends on why you are staying and whether you will work.

Workers and business owners. EB is the main extension for foreign employees, business owners and people conducting business in Cambodia. Remote workers do not have a dedicated digital-nomad visa. Anyone working or operating a business in Cambodia must also check the separate work permit rules.

If Cambodia is one option among several, compare its EB category with dedicated remote-worker visas in Thailand and Indonesia in our Southeast Asia remote-worker visa comparison.

Retirees. ER is used by retired applicants who will not work in Cambodia. Published application practice commonly uses age 55, but the current public GDI site does not provide a detailed ER checklist. Current legal guidance lists proof of retirement income among the supporting documents.

Students. ES is for foreigners studying at a Cambodian educational institution. The application normally needs confirmation from the school or university.

Spouses of Cambodian nationals. Practitioner guidance reports that non-working foreign spouses may use an EB extension based on a Cambodian marriage record. The GDI does not publish a complete current spouse checklist online, so the required civil documents should be confirmed before submission.

Investors. CM2H is a separate 10-year investment-linked programme. Its public application page requires financial records and a sale and purchase agreement for a recognised property project, but it does not publish a current minimum investment amount.

Foreigners of Khmer descent. K-class is for a Cambodian by birth or a child born abroad to a Cambodian parent who travels on a foreign passport. It is free, multiple-entry and valid until the passport expires.

NGO and intergovernmental staff. C-class is a courtesy visa for eligible cooperation, volunteering and organisation-based cases. A current embassy checklist requires an invitation, an approval letter and a valid memorandum of understanding where relevant.

CM2H is not a retirement extension. It is an investment-linked programme with separate approval and financial requirements.

Long-stay routes at a glance

The listed E-class extension fees come from Inter-Ministerial Prakas No. 676. They are government fees, not the total charged by an agent.

One-month and three-month ordinary extensions are generally issued as single-entry. Six-month and twelve-month extensions are generally multiple-entry. Confirm the entry type printed on the approved extension before travelling.

The legal framework also provides E1, E2 and E3 multiple-entry business visas with one, two and three-year validity, and T1, T2 and T3 multiple-entry tourist visas with the same validity periods. Each entry allows a one-month stay. Public eligibility and application instructions remain limited, so these categories require direct confirmation with the GDI or a Cambodian diplomatic mission.

Note on the Tourist (T) visa: the Tourist visa allows a 30-day stay and one requested 30-day extension. It does not authorise work. Current practitioner guidance says a Tourist visa is generally not converted directly to a work-based E-class status inside Cambodia. Anyone planning a longer stay should obtain an Ordinary (E) visa rather than rely on a later conversion. The full rules sit in the Cambodia tourist visa extension guide.

EB business and employment

EB is the main extension for foreigners working or conducting business in Cambodia. The visa extension and the work permit are separate documents. Holding EB does not by itself authorise employment or business activity.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training requires foreign employees, self-employed foreigners and foreign nationals named on patent tax certificates to hold work permits where the rules apply. The annual application deadline for 2026 was 31 March. The ministry issues new annual notices, so the deadline for each later year should be checked rather than assumed.

Joint Prakas No. 498 sets the following labour penalties:

• A self-employed foreigner conducting business without a valid work permit may face a fine of KHR 50.4 million.
• An employer may face up to KHR 12.6 million for each foreign employee without a valid permit.
• Where five or more foreign employees lack permits, the maximum administrative fine may reach KHR 63 million.
• Repeat offences may attract triple fines.

Longer EB applications need documents that show the real employment or business purpose. The exact package depends on the applicant and may include an employment contract, company patent tax certificate, invitation or guarantee documents, and work permit records. The full requirements sit in the Cambodia work permit guide.

Practitioner guidance also reports non-working dependent EB extensions for spouses and children of EB holders. These applications use the principal holder's records and proof of relationship. For employment options, see what jobs foreigners can actually get in Cambodia.

ER retirement

ER is the E-class extension used by retired applicants who will not work in Cambodia. The legal framework allows 1, 3, 6 and 12-month extensions.

Current legal guidance lists proof of retirement income among the supporting documents. Published practitioner practice commonly uses age 55, while applicants below that age may face closer checks of retirement status and funds. No current public GDI page sets a standard monthly income or bank-deposit amount.

ER does not itself authorise employment. A person who starts working or conducting business must use the appropriate immigration status and obtain any required work permit. The Cambodia ER retirement visa requirements guide covers the entry step, supporting evidence, FPCS registration, fees and renewal.

For comparison with retirement categories elsewhere in the region, see Thailand's retirement visa options.

ES student

ES is for foreigners studying at a Cambodian school, university or other qualifying educational institution. The legal framework allows extensions of 1, 3, 6 or 12 months.

The main supporting document is confirmation from the educational institution. Immigration may also ask for the applicant's passport, photograph, extension form and evidence showing the purpose and period of study.

The public sources checked do not confirm a general exemption from enrolment evidence for children under 17. Families should obtain the current document list for each child rather than assume that age alone removes the school-document requirement.

EG and EP short bridge routes

EG and EP are short E-class extensions. They should not be treated as substitutes for a properly documented EB, ER or ES application.

EG is listed as a general-stay extension available for 1, 3 or 6 months. Recent practitioner reports differ on whether six-month EG extensions remain available in all cases and whether EG can be changed to another extension without departure. The 2026 legal briefing still lists the six-month option, but the GDI does not publish a current conversion procedure.

EP is listed for business or project study and is available for 1 or 3 months. Practitioner guidance commonly describes EP as a temporary period for arranging business or employment records, but current public GDI guidance does not confirm a standard in-country conversion procedure.

Do not rely on an agent's verbal promise that EG or EP will convert into EB. Ask for the proposed category, duration, documents and next step in writing before submitting the passport.

ET technical expert

ET is the E-class extension for qualifying technical experts. Sub-Decree No. 123 provides an initial 24-month extension, followed by up to three 12-month extensions. The holder must leave Cambodia after that cycle.

The category is separate from EB and has its own evidence requirements. Current public GDI pages do not provide a complete ET checklist. Applicants should obtain written confirmation that the assignment and supporting organisation qualify before relying on ET.

The government fee listed for the initial 24-month extension is USD 340. Each later 12-month extension has a statutory fee of USD 180.

Spouse of a Cambodian national

Practitioner guidance reports that a foreign spouse who is not working may apply for an EB extension based on marriage to a Cambodian citizen. This is commonly described as a family-based EB rather than a separate spouse visa.

The marriage record must be legally usable in Cambodia. A marriage registered in Cambodia can be supported by the Cambodian civil record. A foreign marriage certificate may need authentication, translation or recognition before immigration accepts it, depending on where it was issued and how the marriage was recorded.

A spouse application may require the marriage certificate, the Cambodian spouse's identity card, passport copies, photographs and residence records. The current GDI site does not publish a complete national checklist, so applicants should confirm the documents and permitted extension length before submission.

Immigration status and citizenship are separate. Sub-Decree No. 225 governs nationality applications through marriage and naturalisation. Marriage does not automatically grant citizenship or permanent residence.

CM2H, the investment route

Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) is a separate investment-linked programme promoted with support from the Ministry of Interior. The programme operator advertises a 10-year visa and says members may apply for Cambodian citizenship after five years. That statement describes programme eligibility to apply, not guaranteed approval.

The current public application page asks for identity documents, a one-year bank transaction statement, income proof, asset records, a medical report and a sale and purchase agreement for a recognised property project. It does not publish a current minimum investment amount or complete fee schedule. Do not rely on older USD 50,000 or USD 100,000 figures without a dated written quotation from the programme operator.

CM2H approval runs outside the annual E-class extension process. The programme has its own membership and investment documents. For a full breakdown of the open questions, see the CM2H investment visa guide.

Cambodia also has naturalisation provisions based on qualifying investment or donation. Sub-Decree No. 225, effective from 1 December 2025, sets the qualifying amounts at KHR 4 billion for investment and KHR 12 billion for donation. These are nationality-law thresholds and are separate from CM2H membership. For regional comparisons, see business investment visas in Southeast Asia.

K-class for those of Khmer descent

K-class applies to a Cambodian by birth or a child born abroad to a Cambodian parent who holds a foreign passport. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington states that the visa has no fee, allows multiple entries and remains valid until the passport expires.

The visa is not transferable to a new passport. The holder must apply again after renewing the passport, and only one K-visa is issued in each passport.

The embassy requires the original passport, an application form, a photograph and proof of eligibility. Supporting evidence may include the applicant's birth certificate and the Cambodian parent's passport, Khmer identity card, previous K-visa or naturalisation certificate.

The visa itself is free. Remove any unofficial payment request from the legal fee calculation and ask the issuing mission for a receipt if another charge is requested.

How E-class extensions actually work

The following steps cover ordinary E-class extensions. CM2H, K-class, C-class and the special E1 to E3 and T1 to T3 categories use different channels.

Entry on the right visa

The official e-Visa portal lists the Ordinary (E) e-Visa at USD 35. It is single-entry, valid for use within three months of issue and allows a one-month stay. The portal lists a processing time of three business days.

Cambodian embassies also issue Type E visas. Visa on arrival remains available at operational entry points for eligible travellers, but the required supporting documents can depend on nationality and purpose.

The official e-Visa portal currently accepts e-Visas at Techo International Airport, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and Sihanoukville International Airport. The listed land checkpoints are Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal. Poipet and Cham Yeam are marked as temporarily closed for e-Visa entry.

Check that the approval shows Visa E rather than Visa T. The two visas have different extension options, and correcting the wrong class after entry may require departure and a new application.

All travellers can submit the Cambodia e-Arrival within seven days before arrival. The submission is free. Use the official e-Visa or e-Arrival portals rather than a commercial site charging an extra application fee.

FPCS registration

The Foreigners Present in Cambodia System records the foreigner's address. A hotel, guesthouse manager or landlord normally completes the registration for rented accommodation.

A foreigner staying with friends or family, or in a home they own, may need to register directly through the FPCS app. The registration requires a Cambodian phone number. A missing FPCS record can prevent a visa extension.

Check that the address is active before handing over the passport for an extension.

The extension application

Sub-Decree No. 123 requires an extension application, a passport with enough remaining validity, a photograph and payment of the relevant fee. The supporting documents then depend on the extension category.

Many applicants use a visa agent to collect the documents and submit the passport. Direct filing may also be possible, but the current GDI site does not publish a clear public counter procedure for every extension category. Ask the GDI or the agent whether personal appearance is required for the specific application.

The official GDI headquarters is on National Road 1, Boeung Chhuk Village, Nirouth, Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh. Do not confuse it with the Visa Office opposite the former Phnom Penh airport at #332 Russian Federation Boulevard. The latter address is used for exit visas and overstay cases.

Processing time and fees

Practitioner guidance commonly reports one to two weeks for an ordinary extension submitted with a complete file. Processing time depends on the category, documents and submission channel.

The statutory extension fees under Prakas No. 676 are:

The agent-inclusive figures are market reports, not government charges. Ask for a written breakdown showing the statutory fee and service charge.

Overstay costs USD 10 per day. An overstay of less than 30 days may be paid at the airport or border when leaving. For more than 30 days, current U.S. government guidance says the traveller must pay the fine and an additional USD 30 exit-visa fee at the Visa Office in Phnom Penh. The exit visa takes two to three working days. Arrest, detention, deportation and a future re-entry ban are possible, but no standard ban duration was identified.

Work permit and visa calendar alignment

A work permit follows the MLVT calendar, while an EB extension runs to the expiry date printed in the passport. The two dates may not match.

The 2026 work permit deadline was 31 March 2026. Employers also need an approved foreign employee quota where the quota rules apply. New foreign workers should not assume that an EB extension gives them a grace period from labour requirements.

Keep the visa expiry, work permit renewal and employer quota dates as separate calendar items.

Practical tips and what applicants commonly experience

Get the fee breakdown in writing. The statutory fee and the total charged by an agent are different. The receipt or quotation should show the extension category, duration, entry type, service charge and expected return date.

Plan for the passport to be held. Standard processing commonly takes one to two weeks. Do not submit the passport immediately before an international trip or another appointment that requires the original document.

Carry evidence of purpose and funds. Immigration can ask for records showing why you are staying and how you will support yourself. Use documents that match the chosen category rather than a generic explanation.

Check the Thailand border status before travel. Cambodia and Thailand land crossings remained closed on 28 July 2026. The closure is temporary and can change, so check the current status before planning any land journey. E-class extensions are processed inside Cambodia and do not require a routine border run.

Office and regional variation

The GDI headquarters is in Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh. The Visa Office at 332 Russian Federation Boulevard handles overstay and exit-visa matters.

Provincial immigration offices exist, but the public sources checked do not provide a national list showing which extension categories each office accepts. Applicants outside Phnom Penh should confirm whether the local office handles the first application, renewals, or both.

Do not travel to the former airport area for a normal extension solely because an older guide lists that address as the GDI headquarters.

Applicant-reported problems

FPCS gaps. The landlord or accommodation provider did not complete the address registration, so the extension could not proceed.

Wrong entry visa. The traveller entered on Visa T instead of Visa E and could not use the expected E-class extension process.

Work permit mismatch. The applicant held an EB extension but had no current work permit or employer records for the labour inspection or later application.

Unclear EG or EP plan. The applicant relied on a verbal promise that a short extension would convert later. The GDI does not publish a clear current conversion procedure, so the next category and document list should be confirmed before applying.

This guide reflects Cambodia's long-stay visa categories and procedures as checked in July 2026. Requirements can change without notice. Verify current rules directly with the General Department of Immigration (GDI) before acting.

Key sources

• General Department of Immigration, contact and e-Arrival information
• Cambodia official e-Visa portal
• Angkor Law Firm, Cambodia entry visa framework, 22 February 2026
• DFDL, Cambodia foreign work permit deadline and penalties, 4 February 2026
• Sub-Decree No. 225 on the implementation of the Law on Nationality
• Cambodia My Second Home application page
• Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, K-visa application
• U.S. Department of State, Cambodia entry, overstay and Visa Office guidance
• Australian Smartraveller, Cambodia border status