The Cambodia v-Pass (Visitor Pass) is the official digital entry record issued by Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration after you clear airport immigration at Phnom Penh Techo (KTI), Siem Reap Angkor (SAI), or Sihanoukville (KOS). Delivered by email and through the Cambodia e-Arrival app, it records your entry date and permitted stay.
How the Cambodia v-Pass Works at KTI, SAI, and KOS Airports
As part of Cambodia’s border modernization alongside the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) and the opening of Techo International Airport (KTI), the General Department of Immigration (GDI) introduced the electronic Visitor Pass — known officially as the v-Pass. According to arrival.gov.kh, arriving air visitors receive a digital v-Pass by email (and inside the Cambodia e-Arrival mobile app), designed to replace the traditional wet-ink entry stamp and paper departure slip stapled into passports.
The v-Pass is NOT something you apply for separately before your trip. Instead, it is the output of your Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) workflow: you file your CeA within seven days before landing, present your CeA QR code and eVisa at airport immigration, and the GDI system generates your v-Pass once your biometric clearance is complete.
- Before flight (within 7 days): Submit the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) with a working email address -> Receive your pre-arrival CeA QR code.
- At KTI, SAI, or KOS Immigration: Scan your CeA QR code, passport, and Cambodia eVisa at the Smart Gate or officer booth.
- Immediately after clearance: The GDI system issues your Cambodia v-Pass to your email inbox and updates your status in the Cambodia e-Arrival app.
- During your stay & at departure: Retain the v-Pass PDF on your phone to show hotels, domestic agencies, or exit control officers.
v-Pass vs. Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) vs. Cambodia eVisa
Because travelers now encounter three digital documents with QR codes when flying to Cambodia, it is vital to distinguish what each document does and when it is used. Confusing the post-arrival v-Pass with the pre-arrival eVisa or e-Arrival Card can lead to problems at airline check-in.
First, the Cambodia eVisa (Type T Tourist for US$30 government fee, or Type E Business/Ordinary for US$35 government fee, issued via evisa.gov.kh) is your visa authorization required for non-exempt nationalities; since 1 August 2026 it carries its own verification QR code. Second, the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA, filed via arrival.gov.kh within 7 days of arrival) is your pre-arrival immigration, health, and customs declaration QR code. Third, the Cambodia v-Pass is your post-clearance proof of entry issued only AFTER you pass through airport immigration.
Think of the three documents in chronological order: (1) Cambodia eVisa grants visa approval, (2) Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) clears you to board and approach immigration, and (3) Cambodia v-Pass is your digital entry stamp after you land.
Why Official Advisories Mention Both the v-Pass and Physical Stamps
While arrival.gov.kh states that arriving visitors at Cambodia’s international airports receive a digital v-Pass by email replacing the inked stamp in their passport, foreign government travel advisories (such as the UK FCDO) still remind travelers to check their passport and keep their entry record safe. Why? Because during transitional rollouts or when crossing overland at checkpoints like Bavet (Vietnam border) or Tropaeng Kreal (Laos border), physical ink stamps remain in use.
The safest 2026 practice at Phnom Penh Techo (KTI), Siem Reap Angkor (SAI), and Sihanoukville (KOS) is straightforward: before walking away from the immigration booth or Smart Gate area, glance at your passport AND check your email (or the Cambodia e-Arrival app) to confirm your v-Pass has arrived and shows the correct permitted stay date (up to 30 days from entry for eVisa holders, or 14/30 days for visa-exempt passports).
Why Your Email Address on the Cambodia e-Arrival Card Is Critical
A single typo in the email field when filling out the Cambodia e-Arrival Card means your digital v-Pass will bounce or land in someone else’s inbox after you clear immigration at KTI or SAI. Because hotels, motorbike rental shops, banks, and visa extension agents in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap ask to see your entry date and permitted stay expiration, missing your v-Pass email creates avoidable friction.
When you file your Cambodia e-Arrival Card through Nomadic Mart (or on the official portal), double-check your email spelling, whitelist notifications, and download the v-Pass PDF to your phone’s local files as soon as you connect to airport Wi-Fi.
- Verify your full name and passport number on the v-Pass match your passport bio page.
- Check the "Admitted Until" / "Stay Expiry" date (30 days from arrival for Type T and Type E eVisas).
- Save a local PDF copy of the v-Pass on your smartphone so you can show hotel reception for FPCS registration.
- remember that overstaying your permitted v-Pass date incurs a US$10 per day fine with no upper cap.
Using Your v-Pass for FPCS Registration, Visa Extensions & Departure
Under Cambodian immigration regulations, your hotel, guesthouse, or landlord must register your stay in the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS). Reception staff will ask for your passport bio page, your Cambodia eVisa, and your v-Pass entry details. Being properly registered in FPCS is a mandatory prerequisite if you decide to extend a Tourist eVisa (Type T, extendable once inside Cambodia) or convert a Business/Ordinary eVisa (Type E) into a 1-, 3-, 6-, or 12-month EB, EG, ER, or ES extension.
When you depart Cambodia — whether flying out of KTI, SAI, or KOS, or exiting overland through an open international border checkpoint — keep your v-Pass PDF readily accessible on your phone alongside your passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply separately for the Cambodia v-Pass before my flight? — No. You apply for the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) within 7 days before your flight. The v-Pass is automatically emailed to you after immigration processes your CeA QR code on arrival.
Does the Cambodia v-Pass replace a Cambodia eVisa? — No. The v-Pass is only the digital entry stamp issued after you clear immigration. You still must hold an approved Cambodia eVisa (or visa-exempt passport) and a Cambodia e-Arrival Card before flying.
Where do I find my Cambodia v-Pass if I cannot see the email? — Check your spam or promotions folder first, or open the official Cambodia e-Arrival mobile app / portal using your passport number and CeA registration reference to download the v-Pass.
How many days of stay does my v-Pass show when entering on a Cambodia eVisa? — Both the Cambodia Tourist eVisa (Type T) and Business/Ordinary eVisa (Type E) grant a stay of up to 30 days from the date you enter Cambodia.
Do I need the v-Pass to extend my visa in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap? — Yes. Visa extension offices and your hotel’s FPCS registration require your entry record (the v-Pass or entry stamp) alongside your passport valid for at least 6 months.
