Techo International Airport (IATA code KTI) replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on 9 September 2025 as the capital gateway of Cambodia. Every passenger flying into KTI must file the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) within seven days before landing and present either an approved Cambodia eVisa or a visa-exempt passport.
Why KTI Replaced Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) on 9 September 2025
On 9 September 2025, Cambodia officially transferred all commercial passenger operations for the capital from the historic Pochentong facility (former IATA code PNH) to the newly constructed Techo International Airport (IATA code KTI) in Kandal Province, approximately 30 to 40 kilometers south of central Phnom Penh. Operated under the supervision of the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation and Cambodia Airport Investment Co., KTI was engineered to handle widebody long-haul aircraft and modern biometric border processing.
Because airline reservation systems, boarding passes, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) eVisa portal now route all capital traffic through KTI, travelers must select Techo International Airport (KTI) as their port of entry. Selecting the retired PNH code on third-party forms or confusing old guidebooks with current 2026 airport procedures is one of the most common pre-departure mistakes.
If you already hold an approved Cambodia Tourist eVisa (Type T) or Business eVisa (Type E) that was issued for another air checkpoint such as Siem Reap Angkor (SAI) or Sihanoukville (KOS), Cambodia allows eVisa holders to enter through any of the three designated international airports. However, your Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) must specifically list your actual inbound KTI flight number and arrival date.
- Current active airport code for Phnom Penh: KTI (Techo International Airport).
- Retired airport code: PNH (closed to scheduled commercial passenger flights since 9 September 2025).
- Location: Kandal Stueng and Bati districts, south of Phnom Penh via the dedicated airport expressway.
- Accepted entry credentials at KTI: Cambodia eVisa (Type T and Type E), Visa on Arrival, diplomatic/official visas, and ASEAN/bilateral visa exemptions.
Mandatory Documents Inspected Before You Board for KTI
Before you even step onto the aircraft in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Doha, or Ho Chi Minh City, airline check-in staff verify two distinct Cambodian compliance items: your entry permission (visa or visa-exempt passport) and your Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) QR code. Cambodia’s embassy notices explicitly warn that carriers have denied boarding to passengers who confuse the e-Arrival Card with a visa or forget to save their QR code offline.
Your passport must be valid for more than six months beyond your entry date into Cambodia, and the physical booklet must be undamaged with no missing pages. Immigration officers at KTI routinely inspect passport corners and laminate integrity; water-damaged or torn bio-data pages can result in refusal of entry before you reach the baggage carousel.
- Undamaged passport valid for more than 6 months from the date you land at KTI.
- Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) QR code submitted within the 7 days before arrival (saved as a screenshot or printed PDF).
- Approved Cambodia eVisa certificate (now featuring a verifiable QR code on certificates issued from 1 August 2026) or eligibility for visa-free ASEAN entry.
- For travelers opting for Visa on Arrival at KTI instead of a pre-approved eVisa: a physical passport-size portrait photo and clean, crisp US dollar banknotes.
How the KTI Smart Gates Work for Eligible Passports in 2026
One of the biggest upgrades at Techo International Airport (KTI) compared to the old PNH terminal is the installation of automated biometric Smart Gates by the General Department of Immigration (GDI). When your Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) is submitted prior to takeoff, your passport number, biometric portrait, and flight manifest record are pre-indexed in the KTI immigration database.
Holders of eligible machine-readable biometric passports can walk directly to the KTI Smart Gate lanes. You place your passport photo page face-down on the optical reader until the first barrier opens, step into the biometric capture zone, remove glasses or hats for the facial recognition camera, and press your fingertips on the scanner. Once cleared, the gate opens and the GDI system dispatches your digital Cambodia v-Pass entry record to the email address registered on your CeA.
Travelers travelling with young children, holders of non-biometric travel documents, or nationals not yet enrolled in the KTI Smart Gate list simply proceed to the staffed eVisa and Foreign Passports counters adjacent to the automated lanes, where an officer scans the same CeA QR code and eVisa certificate.
Smart Gates at Techo International Airport (KTI) serve eligible passports including ASEAN member nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, China, Hong Kong and Macao SAR, Japan, India, and South Korea.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough Inside the KTI Arrivals Terminal
Upon disembarking at KTI via the aerobridge, follow the overhead bilingual Khmer and English signage toward International Arrivals and Immigration. If you forgot to complete your Cambodia e-Arrival Card within the 7-day pre-flight window, you will be directed to the self-service tablet kiosks and Wi-Fi zone before the immigration queue. During peak regional arrival banks from Bangkok (BKK), Singapore (SIN), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), waiting for a tablet kiosk can add 25 to 40 minutes to your clearance time, which is why completing the CeA before departure is strongly advised.
If you already hold an approved Cambodia Tourist eVisa (Type T, US$30 government fee) or Business/Ordinary eVisa (Type E, US$35 government fee), bypass the Visa on Arrival application counters completely and walk straight to the Immigration Control queues or Smart Gates. After your passport and CeA QR code are processed, descend to the baggage claim hall, collect your luggage, and pass through the General Department of Customs and Excise channel.
- Step 1 — Health & Quarantine Walk-Through: Thermal cameras screen arriving passengers passively; only travelers arriving from yellow-fever risk countries are asked for a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- Step 2 — CeA QR Verification: Keep your phone brightness high or hold your printed CeA QR code ready as marshals direct you to Smart Gates or staffed eVisa desks.
- Step 3 — Immigration Clearance & v-Pass Issuance: Present your passport and eVisa QR certificate. Verify that your v-Pass email arrives or that your passport is properly processed before leaving the desk.
- Step 4 — Baggage Claim & Customs Declaration: Your CeA already includes your digital customs declaration. Declare foreign currency exceeding US$10,000 or dutiable goods exceeding the 2-liter alcohol and 200-cigarette adult allowance.
Currency, SIM Cards, FPCS Registration & Ground Transport into Phnom Penh
Once you exit the KTI customs doors into the public greeting hall, you will find official bank foreign-exchange booths, local telecom counters (Cellcard, Smart Axiata, and Metfone), and official ground transport dispatch desks. Cambodia uses a dual-currency system where both the Cambodian Riel (KHR) and US Dollars (USD) circulate side by side. Be aware that Cambodian merchants and banks strictly reject torn, taped, ink-stained, or heavily creased US dollar bills — inspect every USD note you bring or withdraw.
For ground transfers from KTI into central Phnom Penh (Daun Penh, BKK1, or Riverside), ride-hailing apps (Grab and PassApp), official airport taxis, and express shuttle buses operate along the southern airport corridor. Depending on Phnom Penh traffic, the journey into the city center takes 40 to 65 minutes. Finally, once you check into your hotel or guesthouse in Phnom Penh, ensure the front desk logs your passport in the Foreigners Present in Cambodia System (FPCS), which is mandatory if you ever wish to extend your stay inside Cambodia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I select KTI or PNH on my Cambodia eVisa and e-Arrival Card in 2026? — Always select KTI (Techo International Airport). KTI permanently replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on 9 September 2025.
Do I still need the Cambodia e-Arrival Card at KTI if I already have an approved eVisa? — Yes. Every traveler flying into KTI must submit the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA) within 7 days before arrival, even when holding an approved Tourist (Type T) or Business (Type E) eVisa.
Which nationalities can use the automated Smart Gates at KTI Airport? — Official Cambodia e-Arrival guidance lists ASEAN nations, China, Hong Kong and Macao SAR, Japan, India, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Germany as eligible for KTI Smart Gates.
Can I enter at Phnom Penh Techo Airport (KTI) if my eVisa lists Siem Reap (SAI)? — Yes. An approved Cambodia eVisa is valid for entry at any of the three international airports (KTI, SAI, or KOS) as well as the designated eVisa land checkpoints at Bavet and Tropaeng Kreal.
How much cash can I bring through KTI Customs without a special declaration? — You may bring up to US$10,000 (or equivalent foreign currency) without a currency declaration. Any amount over US$10,000 must be declared on your Cambodia e-Arrival Card customs section.
What is the government fee for the Cambodia e-Arrival Card at KTI? — Self-filing on the official arrival.gov.kh portal is free ($0 government fee). Nomadic Mart also offers an optional concierge filing and early-queue service starting from $20.
