What are the Requirements for British Citizens visiting Cambodia
Visiting Cambodia as a British citizen involves understanding and making arrangements for a few essential things like visas, flights, and accommodation. Once you get it all sorted, it becomes easy to have a smooth and enjoyable trip.
With aesthetic landmarks and promising business opportunities in sectors like tourism, manufacturing, and others, Cambodia is a popular spot. Many international tourists visit the country, and British citizens are among them, with more than 81,000 people visiting Cambodia from January to September 2024.
However, irrespective of the travel purpose, visiting Cambodia from the UK involves understanding and matching a few requirements. These requirements play a big role in the entire travel process. This opens the door to the country and lets one explore the country and carry out the purpose they are visiting the country.
From flights to Cambodia visa requirements for UK citizens, the requirements are simple but crucial.
Do British Citizens Need a Visa for Cambodia?
The United Kingdom is not on the list of visa waiver list for Cambodia. So, all British citizens visiting the country will have to apply for a visa after checking their Cambodia visa. Some of the visa options offered by Cambodia are:
eVisa
This is also referred to as an online visa, as it is applied through the online portal. So, it can be applied for from anywhere without any need to visit the embassy. This visa isn’t available for travel purposes, and there are only two types of eVisas offered by Cambodia: Tourist eVisa and Business eVisa.
Tourist eVisa
This tourist visa is valid for 90 days and offers a total stay period of 30 days.
Business eVisa
This business visa comes with a validity of 90 days starting from its issue date. But it also offers a maximum stay of 30 days.
Visa on Arrival
This visa is applied for directly at the immigration department present at a Cambodian airport. Just like its name suggests, the visa is only applied for after arriving in the country.
However, it does not cover all travel purposes and can only be applied by individuals who are traveling for tourism or business. Both types of visa come with a validity of 30 days. However, the business visa can be extended.
Embassy Visa
This is also known as the sticker visa and requires visiting the embassy for the application. Cambodia offers a few different types of embassy visas that cover all the potential reasons why one can visit the country. The visa types are as follows:
Tourist (T-class) Visa
This is designed for individuals visiting Cambodia for tourism and comes with a validity of 30 days and a single entry.
Business (E-class) Visa
This is for individuals who are visiting the country to attend any business-related event, like a meeting, conference, joining a partnership, or starting a new business. Other than that, the visa can also be used by individuals who want to be employed in the country. This comes with a 30-day initial validity but can be extended up to a year.
Transit (D-class) Visa
This visa is applied for by people who are passing through Cambodia to reach another destination. The visa stays valid for 15 days from its issue date and offers a total stay of 72 hours.
Other than that, there are also Official (B-class) visa, Courtesy (C-class) visa, and Diplomatic (A-class) visa. These are either designed just for officials and do not include general travel purposes. Other than that, there is also a Khmer (K-class) visa, which is specifically for people who are not Cambodian citizens but have Cambodian heritage or hold a passport of Cambodia.
If the convenience of the three major types of visa is to be considered, then the eVisa poses to be a better option. The visa application is prompt and convenient, and eliminates any need for waiting in line to get the visa approved.
How to apply for a Cambodian eVisa
The application process of a Cambodian eVisa involves the following steps:
- Visit our visa application portal and check the Cambodian visa eligibility.
- Fill out the application form with relevant information related to you and your visit purpose.
- Add scanned copies of necessary documents like a valid passport (one with 2 blank pages and at least 6 months' validity after you enter the country), a recent passport-sized photograph, bank statements, inward and outward flight tickets, and other documents relevant to your travel purpose.
- Pay the Cambodian eVisa application fees with your debit or credit card after ensuring you match all the Cambodia visa requirements for UK citizens.
- Wait for 24 to 72 hours to get the application approved.
- Receive the visa approval letter in the email ID that you provided during the application.
- Print copies of the letter and bring them to the airport.
- Contact the Helpdesk if you face any issues.
Additional Requirements for Traveling with Family
Individuals traveling with their family must abide by the following requirements:
- Children also need their own passports and visas
- A letter from parents stating they have consent for minors traveling with one parent or a non-parent
- A copy of the birth certificate for minors
- All family members must meet the passport validity of 6 months.
Flights to Cambodia from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Cambodia. So, you will have to consider connection flights or a combination of different flights.
Some of the common routes for traveling from the UK to Cambodia are:
- London → Bangkok → Phnom Penh/Siem Reap, total duration is 14 to 7 hours, depending on the airlines you pick.
- London → Singapore/Doha → Cambodia, the total time taken is 15 to 17 hours, depending on your choice of airlines.
Some of the major airlines that take you from the UK to Cambodia are Qatar Airways, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Emirates.
Other Permits You May Need in Cambodia
Apart from getting an eVisa after checking the Cambodian visa eligibility, you might also have to apply for a few other types of permits, depending on your activities during the visit. Some of these permits include:
Driving Permit
A UK Driving License is not valid for driving in Cambodia. So, you will have to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) if renting scooters or cars. Besides that, you will also have to use helmets when riding a scooter or bike.
National Park & Temple Permits
Visiting national parks and temples does not require applying for any additional permits. But you will be required to pay for a pass. For visiting Angkor Wat, a 1-day pass costs £28, a 3-day pass costs £46, and a 7-day pass costs £54.
Other temples like Beng Mealea have a £30 pass, and Preah Vihear’s pass sits at £7 per person.
Camping & Wildlife Permits
After meeting the Cambodia visa requirements for UK citizens, if you wish to go for overnight camping in protected zones like Virachey National Park, then you will need to get a camping permit. These can be easily arranged via eco-lodges or tour agencies.
Fishing Permit
If you want to go for freshwater fishing in Tonlé Sap or national parks, then you will need to get a fishing permit. This is issued locally or by the tour operators.
Filming/Drones
Using drones requires Civil Aviation Authority approval. For professional photography or filming, you will need to get permits from the Ministry of Information. However, it is important to note that drones are not allowed in Angkor Archaeological Park without special permission
Important Travel Tips for British Citizens
Here are a few tips that will help British citizens when they visit the country after meeting the Cambodia visa eligibility.
- Cambodian Riel is the national currency, but US Dollars are also widely used, so consider carrying them in small denominations
- Buy a SIM card at the airport for connectivity
- Vaccines aren’t mandatory, but consider getting a few for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus.
- Watch for scams in tourist zones and maintain petty theft precautions
Confident to travel from the UK to Cambodia?
British citizens can enjoy a successful trip to Cambodia by understanding the right process and requirements related to traveling. The process starts with securing the right visa after understanding the Cambodia visa eligibility, planning family documents, and knowing activity-specific permits.
Understanding these basics is more than enough for a good trip. However, if you still face difficulties, then the Helpdesk will be able to offer assistance.
Check Eligibility for Cambodia e-Visa and apply for Cambodia e-Visa 5 days prior to your scheduled flight to Cambodia. British citizens, Portuguese citizens, Argentine citizens and Croatian citizens are eligible to apply online for Cambodia e-Visa.