Retirement In Cambodia?

[Ron]

Hello. I'm living in Thailand with my Thai-Khmen wife but will have to leave due to new marriage extension changes. I would like infomation about taking myself and wife to Cambodia for 6 months. I'm 67 years. Can I have a long stay visa there. There is an Cambodian Consulate near me in Sa Kaeo.

[tchk]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

[pointofview]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

What about Thai wife and child - holding thai passports?

[T_Dog]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

TCHK: You make this sound really simple.. Is it true? I can fly there, check business, then get a 12 month visa for 300 USD? Could my business purpose be consulting or teaching English? With the multiple entry visa figured in, that is a great proposition. I am going to have to check into this some more, as I would like to work a bit rather than be limited to not doing so with a retirement visa. Thanks for the post, and any additional info you might provide.

[Ron]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

Thanks for the infomation. I live very close to the land border at Poipet, Cambodia, Can one obtain the business visa at the land border also?

[ZZZ]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

TCHK: You make this sound really simple.. Is it true? I can fly there, check business, then get a 12 month visa for 300 USD? Could my business purpose be consulting or teaching English? With the multiple entry visa figured in, that is a great proposition. I am going to have to check into this some more, as I would like to work a bit rather than be limited to not doing so with a retirement visa. Thanks for the post, and any additional info you might provide.

I don't think that a business visa will automatically give you the right to work. You will also need a work permit but I guess that, like everything else in Cambodia, can be had for small fee.

[Naam]

Hello. I'm living in Thailand with my Thai-Khmen wife but will have to leave due to new marriage extension changes. I would like infomation about taking myself and wife to Cambodia for 6 months. I'm 67 years. Can I have a long stay visa there. There is an Cambodian Consulate near me in Sa Kaeo.

what changes are you talking about?

[tchk]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

Thanks for the infomation. I live very close to the land border at Poipet, Cambodia, Can one obtain the business visa at the land border also?

Ron:

It's all there in the Southeast Asia Forum already, e.g.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1574126

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1621477

Check also other travel forums such as http://www.khmer440.com, e.g.

http://www.khmer440.com/chat_forum/viewtopic.php?t=5590

The biz visa is also available at the land crossings, just beware of the various scams. Insist on paying in USD and not in THB, or you may pay a lot more. Also, some people report on being questioned about the type of business, just to extort some money I guess. On arrival PNH it's all routine and no questions asked.

Informations on visa obtained at the consulates are contradictory. Some people apparently ended up with a visa that was not renewable in-country. But maybe they can tell you in Sa Kaeo.

From what I read a working permit is not needed on a business visa. Not important for me as I am retired.

All this explains why so many former Thailand expats end up living in Cambodia.

[Pattayatony]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

TCHK: You make this sound really simple.. Is it true? I can fly there, check business, then get a 12 month visa for 300 USD? Could my business purpose be consulting or teaching English? With the multiple entry visa figured in, that is a great proposition. I am going to have to check into this some more, as I would like to work a bit rather than be limited to not doing so with a retirement visa. Thanks for the post, and any additional info you might provide.

I don't think that a business visa will automatically give you the right to work. You will also need a work permit but I guess that, like everything else in Cambodia, can be had for small fee.

This is wrong if you get a business visa you can work, own a business, open a bank account do almost anything you want.

[tchk]

TCHK: You make this sound really simple.. Is it true? I can fly there, check business, then get a 12 month visa for 300 USD? Could my business purpose be consulting or teaching English? With the multiple entry visa figured in, that is a great proposition. I am going to have to check into this some more, as I would like to work a bit rather than be limited to not doing so with a retirement visa. Thanks for the post, and any additional info you might provide.

T_Dog:

As I stated above I cannot answer you questions considering your work from my own experience. But if you follow my links you will probably find out that you have no problems whatsoever. Expat life in Cambodia is easier than in Thailand in other ways. For one thing, you don't have to report your address, except perhaps to the bank when opening an account. My Cambodian drivers licence, valid for one year, was obtained at the supermarket on the basis of my national and international licences, two pictures plus USD 40 in cash. It took 4 weeks to complete and has to be renewed after a year. A big P.O. Box cost me USD 40 for one year. One thing perhaps to remember is that you need to be in the country at the time of renewal of these documents/services or you may break the circle. This is especially important for the visa. Arriving with a multiple entry visa saves you a lot of time waiting in line at PNH.

Mind you, lots of things are much more basic in Cambodia than in Thailand, such as food, massage, but most importantly medical care, so do some research and think it over before making the switch.

[toret]

What about Thai wife and child - holding thai passports?

Same same.

[toret]

You WILL need a work permit for employment. Last time i checked it was 140 USD/year.

But it might depend on what you are doing, if you are doing something that don't need you to register a company or open a shop, most likely nobody will care to check.

[jon feaver]

Just finished wrking there,when you go across the border you get the normal tourist visa,when you get to Cambodia,go to a travel agent or visa office,I did mine in Siem Reap at the travel agent neat the centre of the city,you pay 300$ PP and you get a one year multi entry visa.You can work,live,open your own company anything

[phil2]

Nothing easier than that. When you get to Cambodia (e.g. arriving at Phnom Penh airport) you ask for a business visa by filling in "business" as the purpose of the trip. This costs you USD 25 for one month. Don't forget to bring a passport picture. Later on you extend this visa at a travel agency or other barang-oriented business by another 6 or 12 months (ca USD 150/300) as many times as you want. Visas for 6 months or more are multiple entry.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember that consulates can only issue tourist visas, not business visas. These can only be extended once by 1 month, and usually the visa on arrival is cheaper anyway. Tourist visas, by the way, and not business visas, can also be obtained by email at an extra fee of USD 5.

TCHK: You make this sound really simple.. Is it true? I can fly there, check business, then get a 12 month visa for 300 USD? Could my business purpose be consulting or teaching English? With the multiple entry visa figured in, that is a great proposition. I am going to have to check into this some more, as I would like to work a bit rather than be limited to not doing so with a retirement visa. Thanks for the post, and any additional info you might provide.

I don't think that a business visa will automatically give you the right to work. You will also need a work permit but I guess that, like everything else in Cambodia, can be had for small fee.

The one year business visa is the same as a work permit.

[torrenova]

Am I right in thinking that the Cambodian business visa does not cost anywhere near USD 300 but that there is a scam in operation which charges that amount ? If so, how do you know your visa is real ?

Just a quick google will bring up figures ranging from $240 to $300 so what is the real price ? I can work out 12 * 25 = 300.

Another source just told me the real fee is USD 150 per year so why the high rip off mark up at almost 100% ?

Edited December 31, 2007 by torrenova

[tchk]

Just finished wrking there,when you go across the border you get the normal tourist visa,when you get to Cambodia,go to a travel agent or visa office,I did mine in Siem Reap at the travel agent neat the centre of the city,you pay 300$ PP and you get a one year multi entry visa.You can work,live,open your own company anything

Wrong.

You have to apply for a business visa at the border. A tourist visa can only be extended once (by 1 month), and cannot upgraded to a business visa

[tchk]

Am I right in thinking that the Cambodian business visa does not cost anywhere near USD 300 but that there is a scam in operation which charges that amount ? If so, how do you know your visa is real ?

Just a quick google will bring up figures ranging from $240 to $300 so what is the real price ? I can work out 12 * 25 = 300.

Another source just told me the real fee is USD 150 per year so why the high rip off mark up at almost 100% ?

As you probably know retail prices vary. I gave you an approximate figure to leave you the pleasure of getting a discount.

If you speak Khmer, have time to queue up at the Immigration Office which supposedly is across the road from the airport, and are friends with someone working there you may get it cheaper. But not faster.

Or try your "other source".

T.I.C. This is Cambodia

P.S. I also heard of scams that sell you fakes