Getting A Tourist Visa In Cambodia

[AugustineB]

Is it possible to get the 60 day free tourist visa in Cambodia ? If not what type of tourist visas can you get in Cambodia ?

I am already familiar with Vientiane's visa info.

Edited January 14, 2010 by AugustineB

[thaiphoon]

1) Yes you can. Will be single entry only. Apply Day 1 and collect Day 3, unless pay for express service.

2) Or, as an alternative, you may wish to consider going to Vientiane. Double entry tourist visas currently available free of charge which, with extensions and a border rin in the middle, would give nearly 6 months stay. Apply morning Day 1 and collect afternoon Day 2.

EDIT: see you have now changed your post!

- (1) above relates to Phnom Penh

- Can obtain tourist visa from KL, Penang and Kota Bharu. Single entry only. Note Penang unlikely to issue if you already have an extension.

[AugustineB]

Hi Thaiphoon -

Firstly I would like to thank you for your help (and everyone else on here !) over the last few weeks - its very much appreciated.

Well well probably only be staying a month or two anyway so 60 days is enough. so let me just get this straight - if we go to Cambodia we can get a free 60 day tourist visa (as opposed to the 15 day automatic land crossing one) ?

[thaiphoon]

With tourist visa most nationalities get 60 day permission to stay on entry.

15 days permission to stay using 'visa exempt' entry at land border.

30 days permission to stay if using 'visa exempt' entry by air.

Tourist visa free until 4th March 2010.

[AugustineB]

So we need to go to the consulate in Phnum Phen rigfht ?

[thaiphoon]

You need to go to a Thai consulate to obtain tourist visa.

[AugustineB]

Ok thankypou there.

So to anybody who has done this recently where is the best place to do a visa on arrival in cambodia nad only pay the 20 dollars fee rather than getting ripped off ?

[thaiphoon]

Have a look at this travel report which contains a lot of useful information.

[welo]

Augustine, you either have to go to Phnom Penh and apply for the visa yourself or you use an agent/agency service from Poipet/Siem Reap. I've done both. If you'd like to travel Cambodia anyway you can go to Siem Reap/Angkor Wat (just 2.5 hours from Poipet), stay maybe 2 nights, and continue to Phnom Penh (maybe 5 hours by bus). Just half a year ago tourist agencies would do the visa for just 10-12 USD and you would get it within one day (fee includes the 'express service' fee). Don't have any more recent info though. Checkout my report from last year from taiphoon's post above.

If you are not interested in Cambodia you can use an agent/agency from either Bangkok (checkout ads from the Bangkok Post - are you in Thailand already?) or Poipet. Bangkok agencies charge about 6000 THB - they'll bring you to Poipet and have you stay there 2 nights while your passport is taken to Phnom Penh for the Thai visa. The price includes Cambodian visa fee, bus, hotel, 7 meals and 2 nights in a hotel. This is just taken from the ads, never used them myself.

If you go to Poipet on your own you can contact an agent there and stay in hotel either within the Casino area or in Poipet. Air-con rooms start at 400 THB, but in the casino hotels add about 500 THB in promotion chips that are added to the price. Read more here.

You need a Visa to enter Cambodia or stay in the Casino area which is 20 USD (plus 0-200 THB tea money) or 1000 THB (300 THB tea money included) plus 1 photo. For less hassle get the eVisa online which ads up to the same price (20 USD + 5 USD processing fee) but gives you a smoother border experience. Some people do not trust the Singapore company though who runs the e-payment part, I've been using the service for a couple of times already and didn't have any problems with fraud yet.

If you go to Poipet on your own be sure to do more reading on this forum before you go, then you will have a good experience.

welo

PS Thaiphoon, where did you dig out that old thread

[phuketrichard]

most travel companies charge $5 to do a single entry tourist visa and since its free thats the only cost

3 days service.

[hullupullo]

We gave our application this week on tuesday, got back friday. Someone same hotel gave monday, got back friday. Some student gave ED-visa application on thursday, got back friday. Up to You how good You can speak on the counter. No money in any case I tell here. (of course ed-visa $65 as it is)

Edited January 15, 2010 by hullupullo

[welo]

So agents charge 5$ for applying in your name - sounds reasonable since 4 Tuktuk rides will cost you 1-2$ each. There are reports that an already booked flight ticket back can convince the embassy to return the visa application the next day (without fee). This was a couple of months back, though, and no guarantee of course.

Anybody was offered/asked for 'express service' (pickup the same day) with travel agencies or the agents outside the embassy? Was 15$ (~500THB) back then.

welo

[thaiphoon]

PS Thaiphoon, where did you dig out that old thread

I thought it was time to give it another airing

[eljeque]

I returned from PP last week with a 60 day tourist visa.

I arrived at the Embassy on Monday morning.

I watched and listened to a few other foreigners applying for their visas while they talked to the Thai employees.

The first lady sked again and again about getting her visa the next day, but was told generally a Monday arrival will get a Thursday pick-up, but that the Embassy would provide a Wednesday pick-up for her. She asked agin, but got nowhere, s she tok her passport and just flew in and wuld receive 30 days at the airport.

The lady following her, asked for next day pick-up ..... and received it. Don't ask me.

I applied and was told Thursday; asked for Wednesday, and was accommodated.

Make out of this whatever you wish.

This Express Service system, which I have not seen in practice, may have arisen to make up for the free visas being issued. I would have been happy to pay $20? to get my passport back the next day, and have one less day in PP.

[phuketrichard]

so pay $20 and one less day in PP U save money as dont need to pay for hotel and food/

Most travel agents will do that for ya.

[eljeque]

I will know better in the future. I will also ask about it in the embassy next time.

I have been to PP enough now over the past 10 years, and will more than likely head to Laos next time. I have done that trip once before. My maid is from there anyway, so there is the benefit of being able to take things to her family and also bring things back for her.

The plane trip is a lot more, which is a pain, but.......

The bakery is wonderful, and they can understand Thai too.

[welo]

This Express Service system, which I have not seen in practice, may have arisen to make up for the free visas being issued. I would have been happy to pay $20? to get my passport back the next day, and have one less day in PP.

I am not sure you will be able to pay for that 'service' inside the embassy at the counter, since I doubt it is officially offered. I asked one of the 'agents' that linger outside the embassy right in front of the gates. He 'connected' me to a police officer in the booth next to the gate who would later in the afternoon return at the scene without uniform and retrieve the passport through a side window and hand it over to me

I recommend to ask at a travel agency that offers visa services if they can do the whole process for you, then you don't even have to show up at the embassy yourself but just leave the passport with the agent the evening you arrive or early morning the next day and you should get it back late the same day (I picked it up myself and had to wait until 16:30).

welo