Cambodian e-visa

[Briggsy]

1. Am I right in thinking this visa will cost 30 US $ online?

2. By using it at Poipet, will there be any extra charges to pay ("admin fees" or any other graft)?

3. By using it at Poipet, will it save time (as one step of the process, visa on arrival, is eliminated)?

4. With an e-visa and turning up at the border early, say, 7:30 am, what kind of time might it take to exit Thailand, enter and exit Cambodia and enter Thailand with valid visa?

Personal experiences are much preferred over guesswork and speculation.

Thank you all.

[Sheryl]

1. $28, not $30. Be sure to use the actual Ministry of Foreign affairs site as there are some scam sites out there.

2. Only if you fall for it. I never pay anything "extra". They are quite astute at spotting people new to the country though and may give it a try. Just be firm and make clear you know that you do not have to pay anything.

3. Yes.

4. Impossible to say as it totally depends on how many other people are there at that time, on both sides of the border. Morning is usually the worst time in terms of waits. I'd suggest late morning or early afternoon if you can.

[Briggsy]

Thank you.

[phuketrichard]

http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/

27$ PLUS $3 credit card charge!! total $30 *( you wont see the $3 cc charge till u do it)

IF u just enter Cambodia and want to return to Thailand right away,

they will charge you 300 baht (thai side)

Edited June 11, 2014 by phuketrichard

[Briggsy]

300 Baht U-turn fee even at Poipet? Who will charge the 300 Baht, the Cambodian officials when they stamp you out or the Thai officials when they stamp you in. Your info does not tally with Sheryl's info on a couple of minor points.

Can anyone provide some confirmation?

[Jip99]

300 Baht U-turn fee even at Poipet? Who will charge the 300 Baht, the Cambodian officials when they stamp you out or the Thai officials when they stamp you in. Your info does not tally with Sheryl's info on a couple of minor points.

Can anyone provide some confirmation?

It is called "Fast-tracking" - charged by the Cambodians.

The Russians do it all the time.

[SOMeTOM]

Yes the total charge will be 30 US Dollars.

They (Cambodians) will try to give you another Visa even if you tell them you already have one (the one you've paid online), by telling you to stop before the actual check point because it's closed or any other fake reasons, so just stand by your ground and say "no", to either plain clothes freelancers or official uniformed cambos on duty looking for some easy cash.

The "fast track" they offer to you it's often just another way to scam you, as often there is almost nobody at the check points and you might even be served straight away, they also want 200 extra bahts or more for the for the entry or exit stamps, as at the beginning i have personally been tricked that way, they got me a Visa without having to stay in the queue ( during the holidays you might have even a hundred of people before you, so if you are in a hurry might be worth to spend a little more), then i had to pay again for the stamp or having to join the queue again....

The staff on duty are usually extremely slow and some of them incredibly rude.......

The good thing about the e-visa is that they don't take a full page of your passport sticking a "paper" Visa on it, and also you have less dealings with those people up there, apart from keeping them away.

[Briggsy]

Summary of info received so far:

The e-visa cost $30 (2 posters and other internet source) or $28 (Sheryl)

There are no compulsory extra fees (2 posters and other internet source) but there is a 200 Baht optional quick fee (Sometom and other internet source or there is a compulsory 300 Baht fee charged by the Thai for border runners (PhuketRichard). However PhuketRichard gave incorrect info on another Cambo visa thread so less weight is given to his replies.

An e-visa saves you one interaction with Cambo officials and some time (all)

Cambo officials are rude, slow and unhelpful (My experience and Sometom)

Noboby knows how long it will take but it easily could be over an hour.

[Jip99]

The $27 e-visa is confirmed here. $20 + $7 (since May) processing. Add the cc fee = $30:-

http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/

I think I paid $5 for fast tracking last time I went through.

Cambodian officials are not usually any worse/better than Thai officials. Catch one on a bad day and it will take you longer.

Getting out of Thailand can be a balls-ache if you get behind a bus load of Russians (could be any nationality, but usually Russians). Once you have walked across to Cambodian immigration (past a host of touts for a host of services) you can take a look at the queues and decide whether you want to pay the premium (you have been approached already). If there are 3 counters open and only 3 or 4 people in each queue you could be through within 20 minutes. The time-consuming thing is fingerprint recognition - you need to be double jointed to get your thumb - the 4 fingers - in the right place on the reader.

Don't know about Poipet but the 'U-turn' fee is normally a 'penalty' levied by Cambodian officials because you do not stay one night in the country.

[Briggsy]

So now we have $30 e visa = 1000 Baht + 300 Baht U-turn fee + optional 200 Baht fast-tracking fee (or potentially a long wait) + all the hassle from aggressive touts and passive aggression from officials + all the aggravation of parking an expensive bike at the border.

I just wanted to try something different and do it myself to save the minivan rollercoaster rider. The benefits in terms of saving money, passport space, time, possibilities of an accident and the novelty of doing something different seem to be outweighed here. I don't live in Pattaya but it looks like I'll be getting the van from there.

A recent trip report of a border runner who immediately turned around would be helpful.

[phuketrichard]

been in an out out most borders with my own car, Thailand--Cambodia/Laos/Malaysia

never had to pay fast track, nor have done a turn around so am not 100% sure who charges you the 300 baht, but i do know its charged

GO and do it an report back

and believe who u wish

Never used an evsia, never paid more than $20 at any border into Cambodia.

Time; no one can tell you as it depends if u roll up and no one in line
or behind 1 full bus load of tourists/visa runners an no one speaks english

[SOMeTOM]

Briggsy, i sent you a PM (not Yngluck), check it.

Also, there is no such thing as an extra charge if you don't stay 1 night there, i always turn around and no charges........think about all the people visiting the casinos there, between the 2 borders, do you really think they need to stay overnight?

And as someone else have correctly pointed out, there is no way to know if it will takes 2 minutes or 2 hours, as you can easily be the only one on that queue or just arrive a minute later and having to wait 2 big buses full up of people that goes to play at the casinos there, so, in case you need a fast track, just call back any of the uniformed money seekers and he'll do it for you, easy.

[Briggsy]

Thanks all, I need to think about what I am going to do. I can get to the border from rural Chonburi in about 2 - 3 hours by my own steam. Or I can go to Pattaya and get the mad van for 1900 Baht. I am just bored of the van and the dangerous and bad driving.

So the latest is no U-turn fee except for PhuketRichard who maintains the U-turn fee is charged at Poipet but does not know who charges it and has no personal experience of instant turnarounds and whose top info is "do it yourself and report back". Thanks Richard, you are really helpful and knowledgeable.

[Rimmer]

One inflammatory reported post has been removed and three quoted replies to it:

7) Respect fellow members by posting in a civil manner: do not launch personal attacks, or be hateful or insulting towards other members, ie No flaming

[Sheryl]

http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/

27$ PLUS $3 credit card charge!! total $30 *( you wont see the $3 cc charge till u do it)

IF u just enter Cambodia and want to return to Thailand right away,

they will charge you 300 baht (thai side)

I just did this a few weeks back and it cost me $28 totyal. But apparently they increased the rate by $2 on May 14th.

[phuketrichard]

Dear travelers, we would like to inform you that the processing charge fee is raised additional USD2 more over the regular USD5, so the visa fee becomes USD20 + USD7 (processing charge). It has been started since 15th May 2014. Best Regards,

PLUS $3 cc charge

OK

[SOMeTOM]

In years of doing "U-Turns" there, i have never ever even being ask for this "same day 300 bahts charge", maybe things changed since last time i was there, about 6 months ago, i will let you know soon, eh eh

[Sheryl]

If you have your choice of border points, might want to consider one other than Poipet/Aran as that is the most congested.

[TheSiemReaper]

1. Yes - $30 is right

2. No - no additional fees, if anyone asks look politely surprised and say no.

3. Yes - it will save you time, perhaps 10 minutes at that time of day at the most. But it's easier than dealing with immigration.

4. I do the Poipet border regularly at that time of morning. If it's a holiday in Cambodia or Thailand - it can take 4-5 hours round trip. If it's not a holiday it should take 45 minutes each way. Most of which is walking the 1 km gap between the two border posts.

[RabC]

Sorry to resurect this topic, I applied for my e=visa a week ago and still no sign (they said 3 working days) I did get the correct site (I believe)

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/Default.aspx

How long have others taken to get their e-visa issued?

[Jip99]

Sorry to resurect this topic, I applied for my e=visa a week ago and still no sign (they said 3 working days) I did get the correct site (I believe)

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/Default.aspx

How long have others taken to get their e-visa issued?

That is the one I have previously used.

A week is too long. Try the online help or email them.

How soon will I receive my Visa if I apply online?

No more than 3 business days, if it's approved.

[RabC]

Sorry to resurect this topic, I applied for my e=visa a week ago and still no sign (they said 3 working days) I did get the correct site (I believe)

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/Default.aspx

How long have others taken to get their e-visa issued?

That is the one I have previously used.

A week is too long. Try the online help or email them.

How soon will I receive my Visa if I apply online?

No more than 3 business days, if it's approved.

Thanks

I have e-mailed and asked them whats up.

[SOMeTOM]

Maximum 3 days.
This is one of the first lines you can read on the link you posted :

"Any applicant has not received e-Visa certificate through email please kindly download it at Check & Change"

so, i would do that if i was in you....just click and fill in the required fields

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/CheckChange.aspx

Ohh and as an update to my last post, there is no 300 B charge for same day return, so, whoever was charged for it, you have just been scammed...ta-taaaaaaann big surprise! They will ALLWAYS try to scam you for any reason they can think of, if you just let them.

Edited September 18, 2014 by SOMeTOM

[RabC]

I go to the check-change page and all my information has now vanished,all that is left is thew fact that I have paid. Hopefully its because they are now processing it

[RabC]

Obviously my e-mail got someone's attention as the visa has just been issued.

Thanks for the advice.

RabC

[Mojomor]

I recently got an e-visa ------ I had many before. Total charge is now 40 USD. Crossing border at Koh Khong was very slow. Took nearly 1 hour, and I already have a visa. In the past it was much faster, less than 20 minutes. They are now charging 1500 baht for visa on arrival people.

It seems there is little advantage now in having an e-visa. Shame.

[cigar7]

Attached is a letter from the Cambodian government identifying the scam evisa websites.

Press_Release_on_e-Visa_signed.pdf

[JournalistsAreLiars]

Hello, where is the closest beach to an airport in Cambodia? Sianookville? And can we enter with evisa or visa on arrival? What is the best choice of visa? Thank you guys.

[phuketrichard]

Shv airport ONLY for flights to Siem Rep 3-4 days/week

from outside Cambodia;

otherwise u fly into PP ( 3-6 hours to the beach) taxi or Bus

or Siem Reap ( 4-6 hours to PP) than onward

Get a visa at the border /airport where you arrive $30

[Sheryl]

Up to you, evisa or visa on arrival.

Evisa costs a little more but saves time and pages in your passport, which may or may not be of concern to you.

Personally I always get evisa because the time saved is worth it to me plus I am verging in a full passport and can't get any more pages added. The visa on arrival takes up a whole page.