Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
\nFCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 20km from the land border with Thailand.
\n\nHeavy fighting along parts of the Thailand and Cambodia border, including the use of airstrikes, rocket and artillery fire, took place in 2025. A ceasefire was signed on 27 December, but the situation remains tense.
\n\nLand borders and crossings between Cambodia and Thailand continue to be suspended. Some tourist destinations in border areas such as the Preah Vihear/Khao Phra Wihan temple, the Ta Krabey/Ta Kwai temple and the Tamone Thom/Ta Muen Thom temple are closed.
\n\nThere are also unexploded ordnance, including landmines, in the border area.
\n\nFind out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
\n\nEscalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
\n\nYour travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
\n\nNo travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Cambodia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Cambodia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Cambodia your passport must be:
\n\nIf you apply to renew or extend your visa from within Cambodia, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of that subsequent renewal or extension.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.
\n\nYou must have a visa to enter Cambodia as a visitor.
\n\nTourist visas are valid for 30 days from the date of entry into Cambodia. Make sure your passport is stamped on arrival and keep the departure form. If you lose your departure form, you’ll need to contact immigration officials before you leave the country to make alternative arrangements.
\n\nApply for an e-visa at least 4 days in advance (this website may not work in certain web browsers). You can also apply on the official e-visa app on iOS or Android.
\n\nCheck with the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in the UK for the latest information on fees, conditions and photograph requirements. If you do not get an e-visa, you can get a visa on arrival at airports or land border crossings. You need to provide a photo and pay in US dollars.
\n\nYou can also get an extension of a tourist visa while you are in Cambodia.
\n\nYou can be fined, detained and deported if you overstay your visa. There is no limit to this fine. If you overstay more than 30 days, you will need to leave Cambodia and pay the fine.
\n\nOn 1 September 2024, Cambodia implemented an electronic Arrival Card. If you are entering Cambodia by air at either Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville international airports, you must complete and submit an electronic e-Arrival Card within 7 days prior to your arrival. There is no charge for this.
\n\nBusiness visas are issued by the immigration department and are available:
\n\non arrival in Phnom Penh airport
\nat the immigration department
\nin advance from any Cambodian embassy
\nTo work in Cambodia you need a business visa and a work permit. Your employer will need to apply for your work permit from the Department of Labour and Social Affairs.
\n\nThe Cambodian government strictly enforces these rules, so ask the relevant department for the latest advice.
\n\nTo enter Cambodia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Cambodia guide.
\n\nThe Cambodian Department of Immigration runs an online registration app called the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS).
\n\nIf you’re staying in a hotel, guesthouse or rented accommodation, make sure the manager or landlord registers you using the app.
\n\nIf you are staying with friends or family or own your own home in Cambodia, you will need to register yourself, using the app for Android or iOS. You need to enter a Cambodian phone number for your registration to be valid.
\n\nIf you fail to get yourself registered, you may be unable to extend your visa if you want to.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Cambodia, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nAttacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media and follow the advice of local authorities.
\n\nBe alert to the local security situation in border regions and at land crossings between countries. Get local advice before you set off. At the more remote crossing points, conditions can be basic. Local officials and tour operators can ask for unofficial fees or inflate visa prices at land borders. Make sure you know the correct visa requirements and fees before you travel.
\n\nAvoid all protests, demonstrations and student and political rallies as they can become violent without warning.
\n\nCambodia remains heavily affected by landmines and unexploded weapons. Mined areas are often unmarked. Do not:
\n\nA bomb was left near a casino in Phnom Penh in December 2022 and there was a shooting in the same month. Both were likely linked to organised crime, and tourists were not targeted.
\n\nMost incidents of theft are bag snatchings, often by thieves riding past on motorbikes. Thieves will cut bag straps and snatch bags or phones from tourists on foot or in tuk-tuks and on motorbikes, often causing injury. There have been incidents on bus journeys where passengers have had items taken from bags while asleep.
\n\nHotspots for petty crime include:
\n\nTo reduce your risk from street crime:
\n\nFemale travellers, including British nationals, have been sexually assaulted in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. This includes incidents of lone women being sexually assaulted by men claiming to be motorbike taxi drivers in the Pub Street area of Siem Reap. Be wary of approaches from strangers and offers of transport.
\n\nParties, including organised dance parties on Cambodia’s islands, may place you at risk of:
\n\nIslands are often isolated and access to medical or emergency assistance is limited or non-existent.
\n\nCambodians are friendly, but you should be wary if a Cambodian or other foreign national befriends you quickly and invites you to their home or hotel to meet their family.
\n\nPolice have reported instances of drink spiking in some bars visited by foreign nationals. Do not leave drinks unattended.
\n\nThere have been deaths and cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in Cambodia.
\n\nEven small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell. See Travel Aware Spiking and methanol poisoning for information about how to reduce the risks.
\n\nSeek urgent medical attention if you or someone you are travelling with show the signs of methanol poisoning after drinking.
\n\nTravellers have reported fake dollar bills being given as change in shops and clubs. Check that notes you receive are genuine and are not damaged or torn.
\n\nBe sceptical if offered an opportunity of easy work. Organised crime groups operate sophisticated job scams, advertising ‘easy jobs with high pay’. They traffic victims – some of them from neighbouring countries – mostly to secure compounds in and around Sihanoukville, border areas and Kandal. These jobs have turned out to be long hours of factory work where pay was low, passports withheld and free movement was allegedly restricted.
\n\nIt may be useful to carry a copy of the photo page of your passport, but this is not a legal requirement in Cambodia.
\n\nThe legal process in Cambodia is unpredictable, lacks transparency and is open to interference from political and business interests. The investigation and trial process falls far below the standard of the UK. Pre-trial detention can also last many months. The British Embassy will not interfere in the legal processes of a host country.
\n\nThe conditions in Cambodian prisons are extremely poor and overcrowded. Medical facilities in prisons are also very poor. The UK has no prisoner transfer agreement with Cambodia so if you’re found guilty you can expect to serve your full prison term in Cambodia.
\n\nPossession, trafficking and manufacture of any illegal drugs are serious offences in Cambodia. This includes cannabis. British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis while transiting through Cambodia.
\n\nAirports in Cambodia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.
\n\nThe Cambodia authorities have a zero-tolerance policy to drug offences. Possessing drugs, even in very small quantities, can carry severe penalties, including:
\n\nLegal processes before court hearings can be long and expensive. It can take many months for a case to come to trial.
\n\nCriminal gangs in the UK and elsewhere have been known to coerce people into carrying drugs across borders. Do not allow yourself to be persuaded.
\n\nIt is important to be aware of your rights if you are detained by the police. See our guidance for those detained or imprisoned in Cambodia.
\n\nPolice often raid venues known to be frequented by foreigners. You may have to take a urine or blood test if there is a suspicion you have used drugs. You will be arrested if the test is positive.
\n\nThe Cambodian authorities have issued an official code of conduct for visitors at Angkor Wat and other religious sites.
\n\nYou may be refused admission to religious sites, including Angkor Wat, if you wear skirts or shorts above the knee. Cover bare shoulders.
\n\nNever take photographs on or near military bases. Ask permission before taking pictures of people, especially monks and other religious figures.
\n\nRequest permission in advance from the district head, provincial governor or national tourism board for any travel that authorities might see as out of the ordinary, including:
\n\nscientific research of any kind
\ncarrying out surveys
\nextensive photography or filming
\nSame-sex sexual activity is legal in Cambodia. The LGBT+ community is becoming more visible, through gay clubs, club nights and the work of some human rights organisations.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nThe UK government has suspended all adoptions of Cambodian children by UK residents.
\n\nCommercial surrogacy is banned in Cambodia. If you pay a surrogate, you could get a fine or a prison sentence. See guidance on surrogacy abroad.
\n\nWhile there is good wi-fi and mobile phone networks in the main cities and towns of Cambodia, many of the islands and remote areas are not well covered. Make sure your friends and family are aware that you may be out of contact.
\n\nCambodia does not have the same health and safety standards as in the UK. Be aware that safety advice will be minimal and there may be no warning signs about dangers at tourist sites.
\n\nIf you’re considering jungle trekking, use a reputable tour guide. There’s no licensing system for tour guides, so get advice from your hotel, and look at online reviews before hiring a guide.
\n\nWhen swimming, kayaking, rafting, or using jet-skis:
\n\nSee watersports safety advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA).
\n\nDiving school standards are not always as high as in the UK. You should:
\n\nIf you have not had any previous diving experience:
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Cambodia, see information on driving abroad. Cambodia has one of the highest rates of road traffic accidents in south-east Asia. There are large numbers of fatalities and serious injuries. Many accidents are due to poor vehicle and driver safety standards. Travel after dark significantly increases the risk of accidents.
\n\nTo hire a car or a motorcycle over 125cc, you may sometimes need to have the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.
\n\nBefore you hire any vehicle, check drivers and any passengers are covered by your travel insurance and check the small print of the rental agreement.
\n\nFor long-term car rental or to drive a private car, you need to get a Cambodian driving licence. Local travel agencies or car hire firms can help arrange this for a fee. Bring an IDP and your UK licence.
\n\nTravelling as a passenger by motorcycle taxi (‘moto dop’) is dangerous. Vehicles are poorly maintained and driving standards are low. There is also a risk that thieves (also on motorcycles) will snatch bags from off your bike, particularly in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
\n\nThe police can impose an on-the-spot fine if you ride a motorcycle without a helmet. Riding without a helmet may also invalidate your insurance.
\n\nDo not hand over your passport as a guarantee for returning a motorcycle or scooter.
\n\nAccidents have happened when boats are overloaded or poorly maintained. Tourist boats sometimes operate despite weather warnings, particularly between Sihanoukville and the nearby islands.
\n\nWater levels in rivers and lakes are high during the rainy season from June to October, making currents faster and more dangerous. Boat travel on rivers is difficult in the dry season, from March to May, due to the exposure of sandbars and other hazards that can damage boats or cause them to run aground.
\n\nThe Mekong River Commission posts official updates on the Mekong River.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nHeavy storms during the monsoon season from June to October disrupt and damage the road network. Travel to some provinces can be seriously restricted by landslides at this time. Poor drainage results in flooded roads, causing major traffic congestion and delays in Phnom Penh - including along the route to the airport.
\n\nMonitor local news and weather reports, and weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation.
\n\nLakes, caves and waterfalls are particularly prone to dangerous flash flooding during the rainy season from June to October.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nyour destination can provide the healthcare you may need
\nyou have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation
\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nDial 119 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Cambodia, including:
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Cambodia where some staff will speak English.
\n\nThere is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Cambodia.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nPolice: 117
\n\nFire: 118
\n\nAmbulance: 119
\n\nIf you want to report a crime, you can go to the tourist police.
\n\nYou can get a police report for insurance purposes, but police are not always willing to investigate crimes.
\n\nA police report should be free. If police ask for a fee contact the British Embassy in Phnom Penh and give details of the police station.
\n\nTo report a crime:
\n\nin Phnom Penh, go to the Tourist Police at Street 598, 12107 (Tel +855 (0)12 942 484)
\nin Siem Reap, go to the Tourist Police office which is next to the ticketing booth for the Angkor temple ruins
\nin Sihanoukville, Battambang and other towns in Cambodia, check with the local police which police station you should report to
\nLocal law enforcement response to a crime, including a violent crime, is often limited. Foreigners attempting to report crimes have found:
\n\npolice stations closed
\nemergency telephone numbers unanswered
\npolice unwilling to investigate
\npolice unable to speak English
\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Cambodia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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