Cambodia Re-opens e-Visa for Tourists and Investors

Cambodia Re-opens e-Visa for Tourists and Investors

The government yesterday decided to reopen e-visas for all those coming to Cambodia, just four days after it announced the quarantine period for different types of vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers.

While complying with the new Covid-19 quarantine entry requirements, it definitely comes as a piece of welcome news for many foreigners who are waiting to come to Cambodia for various reasons.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told Khmer Times yesterday that those wishing to come to Cambodia can apply now for an e-visa.

However, he said, that they don’t have plans to reopen the Visa on Arrival for the moment.

General Department of Immigration spokesman General Keo Vannthan said yesterday that although the Health Ministry has drawn up new guidelines on the quarantine stay for the various categories of people returning or coming from overseas, including requiring the mandatory requirement of producing a negative PCR test result within 72 hours and a vaccination card/certificate, the government has yet to grant the Visa on Arrival.

“For countries that have a visa waiver agreement with Cambodia, we allow entry in accordance with the new conditions and must implement health measures as directed by health officials,” he added.

To date, there are 33 countries, of which nine countries are Asean members, that do not require visas for 30 days, while for 24 the exemption is given only for officials and those with diplomatic passports.

“We have in the pipeline a policy to reopen the borders with neighbouring countries but this needs to be approved by them (neighbouring countries) as well,” said Vannthan.

According to the Immigration Police, arrival visas and tourist arrivals were temporarily suspended last year to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

As per the latest announcement by the Health Ministry, travellers who are fully vaccinated need to quarantine for only seven days with a $1,000 deposit to pay for the expenses incurred during their stay in the designated hotels.

Cambodia Association of Travel Agent president Chhay Sivlin told Khmer Times yesterday that it was a good move by the government to shorten the quarantine period and also to re-open the issuance of e-visas to foreign travellers.

“It is definitely a good sign that things are getting back to normal and it’s also a good way to push the airlines to fly passengers to Cambodia. A good marketing strategy,” said Sivlin.

Sivlin added that they expect a stream of tourists and investors now coming into Cambodia for various reasons and “I am sure the government will not make it difficult for them to come with all the relaxation of requirements”.

Khmer Times