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A UAE resident needs a visa for Cambodia unless Cambodia's own rules free their passport. UK government advice, built on Cambodia's rules, says a visa is required and a tourist visa lasts 30 days. The e-visa should be applied for at least 4 days ahead. Visa on arrival also exists, at airports and land borders, paid in US dollars.
The rule, as the UK government reads it
The UK Foreign Office entry page for Cambodia says: "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." It then lists two routes. You can apply for an e-visa in advance, on the website or in the official app. Or you can get a visa on arrival at airports or land crossings, where you give a photo and pay in US dollars.
That page is written for British passports. The Cambodian portal at evisa.gov.kh is the place where each passport's fee and eligibility show, and it did not open for us when we checked. So we do not quote a fee as confirmed. A reference page and press reports mention USD 30 for the tourist e-visa since , but check the portal.
What to prepare
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid 6 months from arrival, undamaged, no missing pages | UK government travel advice |
| E-visa | Apply at least 4 days ahead | UK government travel advice |
| e-Arrival Card | Submit within 7 days before arrival, free, flights into Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville | UK government travel advice |
| Stay | 30 days on a tourist visa | UK government travel advice |
Source: UK government, Cambodia entry requirements, checked .
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai agencies publish about AED 375 to AED 560 for a Cambodia tourist e-visa or visa (published prices of 2 Dubai agencies, checked ). The prices cover agency work, and their pages differ on what else is inside. They are not our price.
Staying inside Cambodia
You can extend a tourist visa while you are in the country. The UK page warns that an overstay can lead to a fine, detention and deportation, that the fine has no limit, and that after more than 30 days you must leave Cambodia and pay it. Counting the days from your stamp date, not from your booking, avoids most trouble.
Hotels, guesthouses and landlords register foreign guests through the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System, an immigration app. If you stay with friends or family, you register yourself. Ask your host before you land.
Working or doing business
A tourist visa is not for work. Business visas are issued on arrival at Phnom Penh airport, in advance at the immigration department, or from any Cambodian embassy. To work you need a business visa and a work permit, which your employer applies for through the Department of Labour and Social Affairs. If you are going to a job, tell us, because it is a different file from a holiday e-visa.
Safety note
The UK government advises against all but essential travel to parts of Cambodia. Its page was marked still current on 24 October, last updated 19 March. The advice names specific areas. Read it before you book flights, as insurers may react to it.
Common mistakes
- Typing the passport number or name wrongly on the e-visa form.
- Applying the day before you fly.
- Forgetting the e-Arrival Card for an air arrival.
- Passport with under 6 months left.
- Using an unofficial look-alike site. The real portal is evisa.gov.kh.
How it works with us
You send your passport copy and dates on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. An adviser checks which route suits your passport and quotes one total price before you pay. Our team prepares and files the e-visa, checks the approval against your passport and returns it for printing. We can also remind you about the e-Arrival Card. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Cambodian authorities decide every visa.
If a visa is refused, the authorities do not return their fee. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing what part of our total, if any, comes back.
Official sources
- UK government, Cambodia entry requirements: visa, 30 days, 4 days ahead, passport and e-Arrival Card.
- UK government, Cambodia travel advice: regional warning.
- Cambodia e-visa portal: fees and eligibility by passport (did not load for us when checked).
Planning more than one stop? See the Thailand visa for UAE residents, the Singapore visa for UAE residents and the Malaysia visa for UAE residents. All destinations are in visas from Dubai.
