Yes, most international air travelers to Cambodia need both the Cambodia e-Arrival card and a Cambodia eVisa. The e-Arrival card is a mandatory digital immigration, health, and customs declaration submitted within 7 days before flying in, whereas the eVisa is your entry visa authorization ($30 Tourist Type T or $35 Business Type E) required for non-exempt passport holders.
What Is the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA)?
Introduced by the General Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior, the Cambodia e-Arrival card replaces the three paper forms that airline crew used to hand out before landing: the immigration arrival card, the health declaration, and the customs declaration. Every traveler flying into Cambodia must complete the digital e-Arrival registration within 7 days prior to their scheduled arrival date.
Once submitted, the system generates a personal QR code that you save on your phone or print out to show border officers at the immigration desk. Crucially, the official portal explicitly warns travelers that the Cambodia e-Arrival card is strictly an arrival registration and does not grant visa authorization to enter the Kingdom.
Even visa-exempt citizens from ASEAN member states (such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines), diplomats, and children traveling on their own passports must have a completed e-Arrival QR code when arriving by air.
- Filing window: Opens exactly 7 calendar days before your arrival flight.
- Official government cost: $0 (free on the government portal; optional filing assistance starts at $20).
- Required for: Every air passenger landing at Phnom Penh (KTI), Siem Reap (SAI), or Sihanoukville (KOS), regardless of age or visa exemption.
- Output: A downloadable QR code scanned at Cambodian airport immigration and customs.
What Is the Cambodia eVisa (Type T and Type E)?
The Cambodia eVisa is an official electronic entry authorization issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC). Unlike the e-Arrival declaration, the eVisa determines whether a foreign national has permission to cross the Cambodian border and stay for up to 30 days on a single entry.
Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Germany, France, and over 170 other countries require a visa to visit Cambodia. Applying for the eVisa online before departure takes approximately 3 business days and removes the need to queue with US dollar cash at the airport Visa on Arrival counter.
Cambodia offers two online eVisa categories: the Tourist eVisa (Type T), which carries a $30 government fee ($84.99 all-in with standard review and filing), and the Business / Ordinary eVisa (Type E), which carries a $35 government fee ($89.99 all-in) and supports long-term stay extensions inside Cambodia.
- Tourist eVisa (Type T): $30 government fee, valid 90 days from issue for a single 30-day stay, extendable once for 30 additional days.
- Business eVisa (Type E): $35 government fee, valid 90 days from issue for an initial 30-day stay, extendable into EB, ER, EG, or ES long-term stays.
- Processing time: Typically 3 business days via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Required inputs: A passport bio-page scan with at least 6 months validity and a recent passport-style photo.
Side-by-Side Comparison: e-Arrival Card vs eVisa
Because both systems are completed online before flying to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, first-time visitors frequently confuse the two and arrive at airport check-in holding only an e-Arrival QR code. Airlines verify visa status before printing your boarding pass, and travelers who need a visa but only filed the e-Arrival form will either be delayed or forced into the cash-only Visa on Arrival line upon landing.
Understanding how the timing windows interact makes preparation straightforward. Because the eVisa remains valid for 90 days from the date of issue, you should secure your eVisa first—ideally 2 to 4 weeks before departure—and then submit your e-Arrival card during the final 7 days before your flight.
- Issuing authority: General Department of Immigration (e-Arrival) vs Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (eVisa).
- Who must file: All air travelers including ASEAN visa-exempt citizens (e-Arrival) vs non-exempt foreign nationals entering by air or eligible land borders (eVisa).
- When to submit: Within 7 days before arrival (e-Arrival) vs any time up to 90 days before arrival, allowing 3 business days for approval (eVisa).
- Land border usage: Air arrivals only (e-Arrival) vs accepted at 3 international airports plus Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal land borders (eVisa).
Which Travelers Need Both Documents in 2026?
If you hold a passport from an eVisa-eligible country—including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Germany, or France—and you are flying into Techo International Airport (KTI), Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), or Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS), you need both the approved Cambodia eVisa and the Cambodia e-Arrival QR code.
If you hold an ordinary passport from a visa-exempt ASEAN nation (such as Singapore, Malaysia, or the Philippines) and fly into Cambodia for a stay within your 14-to-30-day exemption limit, you do not need an eVisa, but you still must file the Cambodia e-Arrival card within 7 days before your flight.
Finally, if you enter Cambodia overland through an open eVisa land border such as Bavet (from Vietnam) or Tropaeng Kreal (from Laos), you must carry your printed Cambodia eVisa certificate, while immigration officers at land checkpoints continue to process land entry formalities directly at the border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Cambodia e-Arrival card replace the Cambodia eVisa? — No. The Cambodia e-Arrival card is strictly a digital immigration, customs, and health declaration for air passengers. It is not a visa. Travelers from non-exempt countries still need a Cambodia eVisa or visa on arrival to enter the country.
Do visa-exempt ASEAN citizens need the Cambodia e-Arrival card? — Yes. Every traveler flying into Cambodia—including visa-exempt citizens from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam—must submit the Cambodia e-Arrival card within 7 days before landing at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or Sihanoukville airports.
How early can I submit the Cambodia e-Arrival card and eVisa? — You can apply for the Cambodia eVisa up to 90 days before arrival, and approval takes about 3 business days. The Cambodia e-Arrival card window opens 7 calendar days before your scheduled flight arrival date.
How much do the Cambodia e-Arrival card and eVisa cost? — The government fee for the Cambodia e-Arrival card is $0, with optional managed filing tiers starting at $20. The Cambodia Tourist eVisa (Type T) has a $30 government fee ($84.99 all-in), and Business Type E is $35 ($89.99 all-in).
Do I need my eVisa approved before filling out the e-Arrival card? — No, you do not need to wait for eVisa approval to complete the e-Arrival card if your flight is within 7 days, though applying for your eVisa at least a week earlier is strongly recommended.
What happens if I arrive at a Cambodian airport without the e-Arrival QR code? — Cambodian international airports provide tablets in the arrival hall where passengers who missed the 7-day online window can complete the registration before joining the immigration queue, though filing ahead saves 20 to 30 minutes after landing.
