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

Foreigners staying long term in Cambodia pick from a small set of routes. Most use an E-class Ordinary visa extended into a sub-category that matches their situation: EB for work or business, ER for retirement, ES for study, EG or EP as short bridge categories, and ET for technical experts. Two parallel routes sit outside the E-class system. CM2H is an investment programme that gives a 10-year visa, and the K-class is a free lifetime visa for those of Khmer descent. Spouses of Cambodian nationals use a family-based EB extension with the registered marriage as the legal basis.

There is no single document called a "long-stay visa." The decision is which route matches your situation, and which one you should enter Cambodia on.

Cambodia Long-Stay Route Selection at a Glance

1. Identify which profile fits you (worker, retiree, student, spouse, investor, Khmer descent).
2. Confirm the matching sub-category or parallel route.
3. Enter Cambodia on the correct visa: the Ordinary (E) visa for E-class extensions, the right pre-arrival route for CM2H or K-class.
4. Register your address through your accommodation provider in the FPCS system.
5. Apply for the matching extension (or the CM2H or K-class issuance) through a licensed agent or directly at the GDI.
6. Renew annually, keeping work-permit timing aligned where it applies.

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

For someone deciding how to live in Cambodia long term, the question is rarely "what visa exists." It is which route matches their situation, and how each one actually works once they are in the country.

Cambodia's long-stay system has shifted in important ways during 2025 and 2026. Visa fees were reduced in January 2025. Practitioner and community sources report that automatic Tourist visa extensions ended in late 2025, with extensions now requiring explicit application. The Thailand-Cambodia land borders have been closed since mid-2025 due to a border conflict (closure remains in effect as of April 2026). Work-permit enforcement, linked to the FWCMS database, has also been tightened.

Who Stays Long Term in Cambodia

Cambodia's long-stay foreign community sits across a few clear profiles. Each one maps to a different route, and picking the wrong route at entry is one of the most common avoidable mistakes.

Workers and business owners. Foreigners employed by a Cambodian-registered company, freelancers running their own one-person setup, and entrepreneurs operating registered businesses use the EB sub-class. Digital nomads and remote workers most often sit here too, since Cambodia has no dedicated nomad visa.

Retirees. Foreigners aged 55 or older who are not working in Cambodia use the ER sub-class. There is no statutory minimum income, although agents typically expect to see some financial evidence.

Students. Foreigners enrolled in a registered Cambodian school or university use the ES sub-class.

Spouses of Cambodian nationals. A foreigner married to a Cambodian citizen extends as a non-working dependent on a family-based EB, with the registered marriage as the legal basis.

Investors. Foreigners who want a longer, more autonomous stay tied to property investment can use CM2H, which gives a 10-year renewable visa. This is a separate programme from the E-class system.

Foreigners of Khmer descent. Those who can prove a Cambodian parent qualify for the K-class visa, a free lifetime multiple-entry visa with no extension cycle.

NGO and intergovernmental staff. International organisation employees with a formal MoU through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) hold C-class courtesy visas. These are issued by MFAIC, not the GDI, and sit outside the standard E-class system.

Cambodia's long-stay system is not well suited to someone who wants a hands-off retirement visa with guaranteed renewal tied to a fixed deposit. Cambodia has no programme equivalent to Thailand's Retirement Visa or the Philippines' SRRV. The closest thing is CM2H, which requires real-estate investment.

Long-Stay Routes at a Glance

The 1-month and 3-month E-class extensions are single-entry. The 6-month and 12-month versions are multiple-entry. This is the practical distinction that matters for foreigners who travel within the region.

Note on the Tourist (T) visa: the T visa is not a long-stay route. The standard rule, confirmed by the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington D.C., is 30 days on entry with one requested 30-day extension through the Cambodia Immigration Office, for a maximum total stay of 60 days. Practitioner sources commonly advise that T visas are not the right starting point for E-class long-stay extensions, and that conversion in-country is not a reliable route. Since late 2025, practitioner and community reports also note that tourist extensions now require explicit application and are no longer treated as automatic. If you intend to stay long term, enter on the Ordinary (E) visa from the start. The full T-visa rules sit in the Cambodia tourist visa extension guide.

EB Business and Employment

The EB sub-class is the most common long-stay route for working-age foreigners. It covers employees of Cambodian-registered companies, business owners, freelancers, and the non-working spouses and children of EB holders.

A first 6-month or 12-month EB extension can usually be issued without a work permit. This gives the holder time to arrange employment or company registration. From the second renewal onward, the GDI requires a valid work permit and employment card for any 6-month or 12-month extension. This is enforced through the linked FWCMS and Immigration databases, so the work permit is checked at renewal.

Freelancers and remote workers fit into EB but must register a sole proprietorship through the CamDX platform to qualify for a work permit. The "I work for overseas clients only" position is no longer accepted by Cambodian labour authorities. The fine for self-employed work without a permit is reported at around KHR 50.4 million (about USD 12,600). The full mechanics sit in the Cambodia work permit guide.

Spouses and children of EB holders typically extend on a non-working dependent EB, using the principal holder's employment letter together with proof of relationship.

ER Retirement

The ER sub-class is for retirees aged 55 or older who are not working in Cambodia. It is renewable indefinitely in 1, 3, 6, or 12-month increments, with the 6 and 12-month versions multiple-entry.

There is no published statutory minimum income or deposit. Practitioner sources commonly suggest preparing financial evidence in the range of USD 800 to 1,000 per month, or a bank balance around USD 25,000. This is widely reported across community forums as the level at which agent-handled applications process smoothly. Some agents report that financial evidence is not always asked for once the age requirement is confirmed. Treat these figures as community-reported practice, not law.

The ER strictly prohibits employment. Holders who later want to work must transition to EB and obtain a work permit. The ER also has no formal minimum-stay requirement and no path to permanent residency or citizenship. Annual renewal continues for as long as the holder remains compliant.

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

ES Student

The ES sub-class is for foreigners enrolled in a registered Cambodian educational institution. It requires an acceptance or enrolment letter from the institution and evidence of funds to cover tuition and living costs.

Children under 17 can be issued an ES extension without proof of school enrolment. This is how many EB-holder families handle dependent children before they reach EB-dependent age. Once the child turns 17, either ES with enrolment proof or an EB-dependent extension is required.

EG and EP Short Bridge Routes

EG (General or Job-Seeking) and EP (Proposal) exist as short bridge routes, not long-stay options.

EG is for foreigners actively looking for work. Extensions are 1 or 3 months, single-entry, and the most material constraint is that EG cannot be converted in-country to another E-class category. The applicant must leave Cambodia, re-enter on a fresh Ordinary visa, and apply for the appropriate sub-class (usually EB). EG is best treated as a one-time short window.

EP covers foreigners arranging employment or business activity. Like EG, it is short, lasting 1 or 3 months. Unlike EG, EP can convert to EB once the supporting employment or business documents are in place, without leaving Cambodia.

If long-term presence is the goal, plan to enter on an Ordinary visa and apply directly for EB once employment is arranged. EG and EP are bridges, not destinations.

ET Technical Expert

ET is officially recognised in the Sub-Decree on Procedures for Non-Immigrant Foreigners and is distinct from EB and EG. In practice, it is rarely used.

Most technical staff, freelancers, and employees who might qualify for ET use EB instead. EB is the catch-all that aligns with the standard work-permit and labour-quota system. ET was originally designed for high-level experts working on specific government-approved projects or short-term technical transfers that fall outside the standard labour quota.

If your role plausibly fits ET (for example, a short-term specialist contract under a government-recognised project), confirm current eligibility and documentation directly with the GDI. For almost all professional workers, EB is the practical route.

Spouse of a Cambodian National

Foreigners married to Cambodian citizens use a family-based EB extension, with the registered marriage as the legal basis for sponsorship. The marriage must be registered through the Cambodian civil registry system before it can be used in an immigration application.

Marriages performed outside Cambodia must first be recognised through MFAIC before they serve as the basis for an extension. This recognition process takes time and should be started well ahead of any visa deadline.

Documentation at the GDI typically includes the authenticated marriage certificate and the Cambodian spouse's national identity card. The Cambodian spouse's family book or residence book (សៀវភៅគ្រួសារ or សៀវភៅស្នាក់នៅ) is also commonly requested, since the foreign spouse cannot hold a family book of their own under the relevant sub-decree. The standard passport and photograph set rounds out the file. The extension is issued for one year and renewed annually on the same basis.

Cambodia has no separate "spouse visa" with a defined path to permanent residency. The annual renewal model applies here as it does for other long-stay categories. A foreign spouse may, however, apply for naturalisation after three years of marriage under the Law on Nationality, separate from the immigration process.

For families relocating with school-age children, visa planning is only one part of the move. International school fees in Phnom Penh can easily become the largest fixed yearly cost after housing, especially in the IB and British-system schools.See the Phnom Penh school fee breakdown.

CM2H, the Investment Route

Cambodia My Second Home (CM2H) is a separate residency-by-investment programme. It launched in July 2022 by the Ministry of Interior and is operated through the Khmer Home Charity Association. It gives a 10-year renewable visa with no minimum-stay requirement. CM2H is the main public 10-year investment-linked visa route. Holding CM2H may create eligibility to apply for Cambodian citizenship after five years of residence, but eligibility to apply is not the same as approval, and the citizenship application is governed separately under the Law on Nationality.

Current UNCTAD and practitioner sources describe the minimum CM2H investment as USD 100,000 in a government-approved real-estate project. Some sources continue to reference an older USD 50,000 threshold. There is typically also a one-off membership fee covering Khmer Home Charity Association programme benefits. Confirm the current amount directly with the programme operator before paying any deposit or membership fee.

CM2H is open to citizens of countries recognised by Cambodia, with a small list of restricted nationalities. There is no minimum stay, no language requirement, and no health requirement beyond the standard.

CM2H sits parallel to the E-class system. CM2H holders do not need to extend through the GDI on the annual cycle that EB and ER holders follow. For a full breakdown of cost, eligibility, and the citizenship-after-five-years route, see the CM2H investment visa guide.

For investors comparing routes across Southeast Asia, CM2H is one of the few in the region offering a real path to citizenship rather than indefinite residence. Cambodia also has a separate Citizenship by Investment programme under the 1996 Law on Nationality. The thresholds there are higher: around USD 250,000 for the donation route and USD 312,000 for the investment route, plus associated fees.

K-Class for Those of Khmer Descent

The K-class visa applies to foreigners of Cambodian descent travelling on a foreign passport. It is free, lifetime, and multiple-entry, and it does not require the renewal cycle that other long-stay routes follow.

The qualifying document is proof that at least one parent holds or held Cambodian citizenship. Practical evidence includes a Cambodian birth certificate, a parent's Cambodian ID or passport, or a family book showing the parental link. In some cases, a Khmer name combined with documented language ability is accepted. Practitioner sources note that an unofficial fee at the application desk is commonly reported, even though the visa itself is free.

Children with at least one Cambodian parent qualify on the same basis. The K-class is the only route that does not lock the holder into the annual extension cycle.

How E-Class Extensions Actually Work

This section covers the shared mechanics for all E-class sub-classes (EB, ER, ES, EG, EP, ET). It does not apply to CM2H or K-class, which sit on parallel processes.

Entry on the Right Visa

Long-stay routes start with the Ordinary (E) visa, currently USD 35 since the January 2025 fee reduction (down from USD 42). It is available as an e-Visa from evisa.gov.kh, on arrival at international airports and major land borders, or in advance from a Cambodian embassy. Validity at entry is 30 days.

The e-Visa portal defaults to the Tourist (T) class unless the applicant explicitly selects Ordinary (E). This is one of the most consistently reported entry mistakes. Check the visa sticker in your passport before starting any extension process. It should read "E," not "T."

All air arrivals must complete the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) at arrival.gov.kh within 7 days before the flight. This is free. Any site charging for it is not the official portal.

FPCS Registration

Before the GDI will process any extension, the foreigner must be registered in the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS), in place since July 2020. This is normally done by the accommodation provider (hotel, guesthouse, or landlord) through the FPCS-GDI app on iOS or Android.

If you stay with friends, family, or in your own property, registration is your responsibility. Confirm with your landlord that registration is active before submitting any extension. A missing FPCS entry is the most common procedural blocker reported by first-time applicants.

The Extension Application

Most foreigners submit through a licensed visa agent, who collects documents, liaises with the GDI, and tracks submission and collection. This is the path of least friction and is strongly recommended for first-time applications.

Direct application at the GDI's main office (opposite Phnom Penh International Airport) is also possible. Some experienced residents handle their own renewals once they know the process. The applicant or their agent submits the package, the GDI retains the passport during processing, and the approved extension sticker is returned with the passport.

Processing Time and Fees

Standard processing through an established agent with a complete application takes 1 to 2 weeks. Incomplete applications are returned and the timeline resets. The most common causes are missing FPCS confirmation and photographs outside the GDI's size and background spec.

Reported costs, as of early 2026:

These are reported direct-application and agent-inclusive estimates from practitioner and community sources, not a verified public GDI fee schedule. Most long-stay residents pay the agent-inclusive total because the time saved outweighs the difference. Confirm the current amount with the GDI or your agent before submission.

Overstay carries a USD 10 per-day fine, payable at exit or at the GDI. Accumulated days complicate later applications. Extended overstays of 30+ days can lead to detention, deportation, and entry bans. Renew before expiry.

Work Permit and Visa Calendar Alignment

For EB holders, the work permit (issued by MLVT through FWCMS) operates on a calendar-year cycle, with renewal due by 31 March each year. Late renewals trigger penalties starting 1 April. The visa renewal date does not align naturally with the work permit deadline, so plan both together.

Employers wishing to hire foreign staff for the following year must apply for the Foreign Employee Quota (FEQ). The window runs from 1 September to 30 November of the prior year. New foreign employees must apply for a work permit within 90 days of first entry into Cambodia.

Practical Tips and What Applicants Commonly Experience

Agents are the norm, but not the only option. Long-stay residents consistently report that a reputable, established visa service is the most practical route. Agents who cannot clearly separate the GDI fee from their own service charge are worth approaching with caution. Look for those with a track record in the expat community and transparent fee structures.

Plan around passport holding time. The GDI keeps the passport for 1 to 2 weeks during processing. If you need it for travel, banking, or other purposes during that window, plan around it or ask whether your agent can expedite.

The e-Visa T/E confusion is real. Check the sticker. Foreigners who arrive on a T visa thinking it was the Ordinary one cannot convert in-country to a long-stay extension. The fix is to leave Cambodia and re-enter on the correct E-class visa.

The Thailand land borders are closed. All land crossings between Cambodia and Thailand have been closed since June 2025 due to the border conflict, and the closure remains in effect as of April 2026. Travel between the two countries is by air only. Visa runs to Thailand are not viable right now. Plan extensions in-country instead.

Once the visa route is clear, the next practical step is housing. The guide to finding a long-term apartment in Phnom Penh explains where foreigners actually search, what lease terms to expect, and what to check before paying a deposit.

Office and Regional Variation

Phnom Penh is the primary processing point. The GDI main office handles the bulk of national extensions and is the default for first-time applications and complex cases.

Siem Reap has its own provincial office, and straightforward renewals for established residents there are commonly handled locally. First-time applications and complex cases are sometimes referred to Phnom Penh, so ask the agent in advance.

Sihanoukville has been the most variable in recent years. The foreign resident profile and local administration there have shifted significantly since 2019. Immigration processing has been less predictable than in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Foreigners based there are particularly advised to use well-reviewed agents with demonstrated experience in the province.

Other provinces should be confirmed directly with the local GDI office.

Applicant-Reported Problems

FPCS gaps. Applicants arriving at extension submission only to find their landlord never registered them. Check before submitting.

Wrong entry visa. Foreigners who entered on T thinking it was E. The fix forces a border exit and re-entry.

Missed work permit deadline. EB holders who miss the 31 March work permit renewal face penalties and can have visa renewals blocked at the next annual cycle.

Misplaced confidence in EG. Job-seekers who treat EG as a route to long-term presence find it cannot be converted in-country and must leave Cambodia to switch to EB.

Key Sources

• General Department of Immigration (GDI), នាយកដ្ឋានអន្តោប្រវេសន៍ — https://immigration.gov.kh/
• Cambodia Official e-Visa Portal (MFAIC) — https://evisa.gov.kh
• Cambodia e-Arrival (CeA) — https://arrival.gov.kh
• Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, FWCMS — https://www.fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh/
• Cambodia My Second Home Programme (KHCA) — https://cm2h.com
• Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Washington D.C. — https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org