What documents do I need for Cambodia?
A passport valid for 6+ months, a visa (on arrival $30 or E-Visa $36), passport photos, and travel insurance. Print your E-Visa approval letter. Keep digital copies of everything in cloud storage as backup.
- Passport: must be valid for 6+ months from entry date
- Visa: on arrival ($30) or E-Visa ($36, recommended)
- Two passport photos for visa on arrival
- Travel insurance: strongly recommended (medical evacuation can cost $20K+)
Passport & Documents for Cambodia
Arriving in Cambodia without the right documents can mean denied boarding, refused entry, or uninsured medical bills. Here's everything you need to prepare before your trip.
Overview
Cambodia's entry requirements are straightforward but strict on a few points. The 6-month passport validity rule is enforced without exception, and having proper visa documentation ready saves significant time at immigration. Beyond entry, you'll want copies, insurance proof, and a few other documents to travel smoothly.
Passport Requirements
6-Month Rule
Blank pages: You need at least 1 blank page for the Cambodia visa sticker. If you plan to travel to neighboring countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos), ensure you have 2–3 blank pages.
Damaged passports: Passports with water damage, torn pages, or damaged covers may be rejected. Immigration officers have discretion to refuse damaged documents.
Passport photos: Bring 2–4 passport-sized photos (4×6cm). You'll need one for visa on arrival, and they're useful for various permits and ID cards if staying long-term.
Visa Documents
Visa on Arrival: Requires your passport, one passport photo, and $30 USD in cash (exact change preferred). Available at airports and major land borders. See our Visa on Arrival guide.
E-Visa: Apply online before travel. Print the approval letter (2 copies recommended). Valid at airports and select land borders only. See our E-Visa guide.
Business Visa: Same documents as tourist visa, but $35 USD. Can be extended indefinitely (tourist visa cannot). See our Business Visa guide.
Flight details: Immigration may ask for proof of onward travel. Have a printout or screenshot of your return/onward flight booking ready.
Copies & Backups
The Golden Rule
Physical copies: Print 3 copies of your passport data page. Keep one in your daypack, one in your luggage, and one with a travel companion.
Digital copies: Photograph or scan your passport, visa, insurance policy, and flight bookings. Store in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud) accessible from any device.
Email backup: Email all important documents to yourself. If your phone is stolen, you can access everything from any internet café.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not mandatory for Cambodia entry, but traveling without it is genuinely risky. Cambodia's best hospitals are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but serious injuries or illnesses often require medical evacuation to Bangkok ($15,000–30,000) or Singapore ($30,000–50,000).
Minimum coverage: Ensure your policy covers at least $100,000 in medical expenses and includes emergency medical evacuation.
Activities: If you plan to ride motorbikes, go trekking, or do water sports, verify your policy covers these activities. Many standard policies exclude motorbike riding.
Proof: Carry a printed or digital copy of your insurance policy number and the 24-hour emergency contact number. Save the insurer's app on your phone if they have one.
Driving Permits
International Driving Permit (IDP): Required by Cambodian law to drive any vehicle, including motorbikes. Obtain one in your home country before traveling (usually $15–20 from your auto association). Valid for 1 year.
Reality check: Most tourists riding scooters in Cambodia don't have an IDP, and police rarely check tourists. However, without one, your travel insurance will not cover any motorcycle accident — which is the single biggest risk to tourists in Cambodia.
Car rental: If renting a car (rare for tourists, common for expats), you'll need your home license plus an IDP. Some rental companies also require a Cambodian driving license for long-term rentals.
Health Documents
Vaccination record: No vaccinations are mandatory for Cambodia entry (unless arriving from a yellow fever zone). However, recommended vaccinations include Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Japanese Encephalitis for rural/long-term stays.
Prescriptions: If you take regular medication, bring a doctor's letter listing your medications with their generic names. This helps at customs and if you need refills at Cambodian pharmacies.
Malaria: Malaria is present in some rural and forested areas (Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Cardamom Mountains). Consult a travel doctor about prophylaxis if visiting these areas.
Emergency Contacts
Tourist Police
012 942 484 (English-speaking)
Ambulance
119 or 023 724 891
Fire
118
Police
117
Save your embassy's emergency number in your phone before traveling. Register with your government's travel advisory service for alerts. See our Safety & Laws guide for more emergency information.
Document Checklist
- ☐Passport (6+ months validity, 1+ blank pages)
- ☐Passport photos (2–4, size 4×6cm)
- ☐Visa on arrival cash ($30 USD) or printed E-Visa
- ☐Flight/onward travel confirmation (printed or digital)
- ☐3 photocopies of passport data page
- ☐Digital scans of all documents in cloud storage
- ☐Travel insurance policy (printed or in app)
- ☐Insurance emergency contact number saved in phone
- ☐International Driving Permit (if riding/driving)
- ☐Vaccination record / prescription letters
- ☐Embassy emergency contact number saved in phone
- ☐Hotel booking confirmation for first night
Passport & Documents FAQ
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