eVisa
Tourist
Validity
30 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- $75
Do US citizens need a visa for Cambodia?
Yes, US citizens need a visa for Cambodia, but most can get an e-visa online before flying.
eVisa
Business trip
Validity
30 days
- Processing
- 3–5 business days
- Total cost
- $75
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
3–5 business days
Processing time
+21k21K
Satisfied customers
Available now24/7
Expert human assistance
Cambodia Visa for US Citizens: e-Visa & Entry Rules
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply up to 90 days before arrival
- Decision in 3–5 business days
- Verified
Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: Cambodia e-Visa (evisa.gov.kh), evisa.gov.kh.
Table of contents
Passport validity
6 months from arrival
Plus one blank visa page
e-Visa validity
3 months to enter
Single entry, counted from date of issue
Payment
Card online, cash on arrival
Bring clean, undamaged US dollar bills for visa on arrival
Three routes into Cambodia
Most travelers
e-Visa
Apply online at evisa.gov.kh before you fly. It covers a single-entry tourist trip and is normally the quickest way for US passport holders to arrange a visa in advance.
Arriving without a visa
Visa on arrival
Available at Cambodia's three international airports and the two open land borders. You pay in cash, in US dollars. The Cambodian embassy recommends sorting your visa, or at least the e-Arrival form, before you fly.
Want a sticker or other visa
Embassy visa
Apply in person or by mail at the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C. Useful if you want the visa in your passport before travelling, or need a business, courtesy or other visa type.
Cambodia e-Visa types and cost for US citizens
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist eVisa | 30 days | 3–5 business days | $36 | $75 |
Business trip eVisa | 30 days | 3–5 business days | $36 | $75 |
* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.
The 30-day rule, and what it does not mean
A US tourist e-visa, visa on arrival or embassy Type-T visa each give one stay of 30 days, starting the day you enter Cambodia. You can extend the stay once, for 30 more days, at the immigration department.
Tourist: 30 days per visit.
Arrive 1 March
21 of 30 days
1 Mar – 21 Mar: 21 of the 30 days this visa allows in one visit.
30 days per entry: The 30-day count starts on your entry date, not the date the visa was issued or approved. It applies once, to a single-entry visa.
One extension only: A tourist visa can be extended once, for 30 more days, at Cambodia's immigration department. It doesn't renew automatically, and there is no second extension.
Not a multiple-entry stamp: Leaving and coming back on the same tourist e-visa, VOA or Type-T visa doesn't give you a fresh 30 days. Each new entry needs its own visa.
Overstaying costs a daily fine: Staying beyond your 30 days, or your extension, means paying a cash fine for every extra day when you leave Cambodia.
Your document checklist
Seven things to have ready before you start your application, as a US applicant.
US passport
Valid at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with one blank visa page. A damaged or heavily worn passport can be refused.
Passport photo
A recent colour photo. Upload it as a JPEG or PNG for the e-visa. For an embassy application, bring a 2x2 inch photo taken in the last 6 months and staple it to the paper form.
Payment for the visa
e-Visa: pay online by card. Visa on arrival: cash US dollars only, in clean, undamaged bills. Embassy in Washington, D.C.: money order or cashier's cheque only, no cash, cards or personal cheques.
Onward or return ticket
A return or onward flight ticket can be requested at the border or by the embassy.
Accommodation details
A hotel booking or host address, sometimes asked for at check-in or by the embassy.
Only for some visa types
Visa application form
Only if Applying by e-visa or at an embassy. Completed online at evisa.gov.kh, or the embassy's paper form signed and submitted with a photo.Invitation or sponsor letter
Only if Business (Type-E) visa applicants. A letter from a Cambodian company, organisation or host, on their letterhead.
When should you apply?
Processing takes 3–5 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.
Processing
Standard3–5 business days
Pick your arrival date
- 1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
- 2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
- 3
Processing
3–5 business days
Official estimate
- 4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
- 5
Arrive in Cambodia
—
Show the approval at the border
A visa is valid 3 months from issue, so applying much earlier risks it expiring before you land. File the separate e-Arrival form within 7 days of arrival.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Is your trip a tourist or standard business visit of 30 days or less?
Will you enter through one of Cambodia's 3 international airports or its 2 open land border crossings?
Does your US passport have at least 6 months' validity and one blank page left?
Can you pay online by card and upload a digital passport photo?
Result
Answer all four
Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.
The application, step by step
Before you apply
- 1
Pick e-visa, VOA or embassy visa
Most US citizens use the e-visa. Choose visa on arrival if you're arriving without one, or the embassy if you want the visa in your passport first.
- 2
Gather your documents
You need a US passport valid 6 months with a blank page, a recent digital or printed passport photo, and proof of your travel plans.
On the official portal
- 3
Apply at evisa.gov.kh
Fill in the online form, upload your photo and passport bio page, and pay by card.
- 4
Wait for approval
Approval usually takes around 3 working days. Check your status with the reference number the site gives you.
- 5
Download and print your e-visa
Print the approved PDF to carry alongside your passport. Immigration checks the paper copy on arrival.
After you apply
- 6
Complete the Cambodia e-Arrival form
File this free form no more than 7 days before you land, and save the QR code it gives you. It is separate from your visa.
- 7
Show your documents on arrival
Present your printed e-visa or visa-on-arrival payment, your US passport, and your e-Arrival QR code to the immigration officer.
Questions US travellers actually ask
Yes. Most US passport holders can apply online at evisa.gov.kh for a single-entry tourist or business e-visa before flying.
Yes, at Cambodia's three international airports and the two open land borders. It's paid in cash, in US dollars, and officers can refuse worn or torn notes.
At the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C. Walk-ins are welcome during embassy hours, no appointment needed, and applications can also be sent by mail.
A money order or cashier's cheque payable to the Embassy. It does not take cash, personal cheques or cards for visa fees.
The embassy says not earlier than two months before your travel date. Processing takes about 7 to 10 working days, plus the time for mail delivery each way.
Cambodians holding a valid foreign passport, including US citizens of Cambodian origin, may be able to use the Khmer (K) visa instead of a tourist visa. Check directly with the embassy for what applies to you.
Yes, but they use separate systems. Check an e-visa at evisa.gov.kh's check-and-change tool, and an embassy application through the Washington embassy's own visa status page.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your US plug fits. Here's what to expect.
Type A
Two flat pins
Type C
Two round pins · 2.5 A
Type G
Three flat pins · 13 A
Type A
Type A is used both at home and in Cambodia, so your own plugs fit — though you may meet the other types too.
Voltage
230 V · 50 Hz
Against 120 V · 60 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.
Pack: nothing special — your type A plugs go straight in. A small power strip is still handy where hotel rooms have one socket.
Cambodia drives on the right — just like home
Compare traffic side:
Cambodia · right-hand traffic — same as United States
Getting around
Tuk-tuks, ride-hailing apps and hired cars with a driver are the easiest way to get around Cambodian towns and cities. Roads between provinces can be rough, and self-driving a scooter needs care and caution.
Health precautions
Tap water isn't safe to drink; stick to bottled or filtered water. Use mosquito repellent, since dengue is present, and check recommended vaccinations with a travel clinic before you go.
Respect local customs
Remove your shoes and hat before entering temples and homes, dress modestly at religious sites, and avoid touching anyone's head. Public displays of affection are frowned on.
Cambodian Riels, cash and cards
Cambodia uses the Cambodian Riel (KHR).
US dollars are everyday cash
Cambodia runs on both US dollars and riel side by side. Larger notes and most prices are quoted in dollars; riel is used mainly for small change.
ATMs are easy to find
ATMs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and other towns dispense US dollars and accept most foreign cards, usually for a withdrawal fee. Carry cash for rural areas and land borders.
Cards work in cities, cash elsewhere
Hotels, bigger restaurants and shops take cards, but markets, tuk-tuks and small guesthouses expect cash, so keep a stock of small dollar and riel notes.
Weather by month (Phnom Penh)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
21.7°23.1°25.1°26.1°25.4°24.6°24.1°24°23.9°23.7°22.9°21.7°
- Daytime high
- Grey row = night low
- Best time to go
- Daytime high
- Grey row = night low
- Best time to go
| Month | High, °C | Low, °C | Rain, mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January · best | 33.7 | 21.7 | 16.1 |
| February · best | 36.3 | 23.1 | 11.3 |
| March | 37.3 | 25.1 | 30.1 |
| April | 36.5 | 26.1 | 62.1 |
| May | 33.7 | 25.4 | 129 |
| June | 31.6 | 24.6 | 189.6 |
| July | 30.7 | 24.1 | 162.8 |
| August | 30.4 | 24 | 166.8 |
| September | 30.1 | 23.9 | 189.9 |
| October | 30 | 23.7 | 167.4 |
| November · best | 30.6 | 22.9 | 89.1 |
| December · best | 31.8 | 21.7 | 27.6 |
Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.
January · ideal
The best window runs January, February, November and December.
High 33.7°CLow 21.7°CRain 16.1 mm
Sweet spot: Phnom Penh is hot all year, with a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October. December and January are the coolest and most comfortable months; March to May are the hottest, and September and October bring the heaviest rain.
One time zone
Washington, D.C.
--:--:--
Phnom Penh
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How much to tip, in USD
៛2,000
Restaurant bill
Only if no service charge is already added
10%
on a ៛2,000 bill: ៛200
Hotel porter, per bag
៛4,000–៛8,000
Hotel housekeeping, per night
៛4,000–៛8,000
Tuk-tuk or taxi
Rounding up the fare is appreciated, not expected
No tip expected
Tour guide, per day
៛20,000–៛40,000
Massage or spa
៛4,000–៛12,000
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
RecommendedLocal prepaid SIM
Kiosks at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville airports, or any Smart, Cellcard or Metfone shop in town Tourist data packages are widely available and can be topped up; buying in town is usually cheaper than at the airport.
eSIM
Travel eSIM
International eSIM providers online, installed before you travel Convenient if your phone supports eSIM and you want data working the moment you land, without swapping a physical SIM.
Roaming
Roaming from home
Activate through your home network before you fly The simplest option but usually the most expensive; check your provider's Cambodia rates first.
Get your Cambodia e-Visa in about five business days, without the portal headaches
Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From $75 all-in.
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- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
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