Passport/Citizenship in Cambodia. What is the cost!

[nervona1732]

Does anyone on this website have a clue what a cost effective way of obtaining a passport or citizenship in Cambodia would be? There are companies out there that will do this but it is VERY expensive. Please advise if there is an alternative. Thank you kindly. I Live in Issan.

[phuketrichard]

Do you mean for a Cambodian

or a Farang

For Cambodian from $135 an 60 days to $350 or so in 7 days

For a farang 5 years on a business/ordinary visa and about $50,000

[rarky]

Law on Nationality [], 9 October 1996, available at: www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b5210.html [accessed 18 November 2013]

KHMER NATIONALITY/CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE

Article 5:

A foreign man or woman who got married with a Khmer wife or husband, may demand for Khmer nationality/citizenship only if upon such man or women have been living together for a period of three (3) years, after registration of a marriage certificate.

A formality and procedure for the demand of Khmer nationality/citizenship, shall be determined by Sub-decree.

The grant of Khmer nationality/citizenship following the case of demand for it, shall be decided by Royal-decree.

Article 6:

Khmer citizens shall not lose their Khmer nationality/ citizenship because of they got married with foreigners.

CHAPTER IV
NATURALIZATION Article 7:

Foreigners may apply for Khmer nationality/citizenship through naturalization.

Naturalization is not a right of the applicant, but only a favour of the Kingdom of Cambodia. In any case, such application may also be rejected by a discretionary power.

Article 8:

A foreigner who may apply for naturalization shall fulfil the following conditions:

1.shall have a paper certifying that he/she has good behaviour and moral conduct issued by the chief of the commune (Khum) or quarter (Sangkat) of his/her own residence.

2.shall have a letter of certification of the past criminal record which stated that he/she had never been convicted for any criminal offence before.

3.shall have a paper certifying that such person has his/her residence in the Kingdom of Cambodia and who has been living continuously for seven (7) years from the date of reception of a residence card which was issued under framework of the Law on Immigration.

4.shall have residence in the Kingdom of Cambodia at the time when he/she is applying for naturalization.

5.shall be able to speak Khmer, know Khmer scripts and has some knowledges of Khmer history, and prove clear evidence that he/she can live in harmony in Khmer society as well as can get used to good Khmer custom and tradition.

6.shall have his/her mentality and physical aptitude which will cause neither danger nor burden to the nation.

Article 9:

For any foreigner who is born in the Kingdom of Cambodia, the 7 years period of continuously living as stated in the sub-para 3 of the article 8 of this law, shall instead be decreased to 3 years.

Article 10:

For any foreigner who had received a letter of authorization for investment from the Cambodian Development Council (CDC.) and who had implemented concretely the actual project cost by spending an initial capital of from 1,250,000,000 Riels and up, the period of living as stated in the sub-para. 3 of the article 8 of this law, shall be exempted.

Article 11:

For any foreigner who has no letter of authorization for investment from the Cambodian Development Council (CDC.), but who had received authorization for investment legitimately from the Royal Government and who had spent initial capital of from 1,250,000,000 Riels and up, the period of living as stated in the sub-para 3 of the article 8 of this law, shall be exempted.

Article 12:

Any foreigner who has made a donation in cash, to the national budget of from 1,000,000,000 Riels or more, for the interest of restoration and rebuilding of economy of the Kingdom of Cambodia, may have right to file an application for Khmer nationality, in case when upon he/she has fulfilled the conditions as stated in the sub-paragraphs 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the article 8 of this law.

Article 13:

A foreigner who has shown evidence that he/she had offered any special merit or achievement for the interest of the Kingdom of Cambodia, may file an application for Khmer nationality and with no need to fulfil the conditions as stated in the sub-para.3 of the article 8 of this law.

Article 14:

A foreigner who has a spouse or child/children of under 18 years of age, who also intend(s) to apply for Khmer nationality/ citizenship, may file an application for naturalization in term as a family as a whole.

A family consists of a husband, wife and child/children of under 18 years old.

Article 15:

A foreigner may apply to change to a Khmer name. In such case, he/she shall specify such name in writing in his/her application for naturalization.

Article 16:

Naturalization which is granted to any person, shall be decided by a Royal-Decree.

The formality and procedure for applying for naturalization, shall be determined by a Sub-decree.

Article 17:

Those who got authorization to acquire Khmer nationality, shall take an oath before the Supreme Court.

The substance of this above oath will be provided for in a Sub-decree.