Since 1 July 2024, travellers have to fill in an electronic entry form, the so-called Cambodia e-Arrival Card. This is in addition to applying for a Cambodia visa. You can fill in the e-Arrival Card on a website or app by the Cambodian government.
More efficient entry procedure
The new e-Arrival Card (CeA) is supposed to make the immigration checks upon entry to Cambodia more smooth. The CeA replaces multiple forms which had to be filled in separately before. The new form contains a health and customs declaration, as well as some questions about the passport and personal details of the traveller. Since July, travellers no longer have to fill in paper immigration forms, as they can simply declare their goods online before departure. Travellers may also apply for the mandatory Cambodia visa online. If you apply for your visa and fill in the immigration form online, you can swiftly pass immigration after arrival.
Cambodia’s introduction of the online immigration form follows the example of some other Southeast Asian nations which recently eased their immigration procedures. This includes Thailand, where international airports are automating passport controls by using modern facial recognition software. Singapore also introduced a digital arrival card which can be filled before departure. Therefore, travellers can pass immigration at airports in Singapore within seconds.
Filling in the e-Arrival Card
There are two ways to fill in the e-Arrival Card for Cambodia. On the one hand, you may use a special app designed by the Cambodian government, which is available in the App Store and the Google Play Store. On the other hand, you may fill in the e-Arrival Card on the website of the Cambodian authorities. You may fill in the CeA seven days before your arrival in Cambodia at the earliest. Filling in the form is free of charge, and you may fill it in for multiple travellers at the same time. After completing the form, you receive a QR-code. You have to show this code digitally or in print upon arrival in Cambodia.
Travellers who forgot to fill in the e-Arrival Card before departure may do so at the airport after arriving in Cambodia. The international airports of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have prepared special tablets for this purpose. However, it is advised to fill in the CeA before departure to avoid long waiting times upon arrival.
Parts of the form
The e-Arrival Card is an umbrella form consisting of multiple parts. Until 1 July, each separate part had to be submitted to the Cambodian government. These included an immigration form, a health declaration and a customs declaration.
First, travellers have to fill in some personal and contact details. Also, they need to submit a passport photo and a scan of their passport. Next, they have to answer some questions regarding their trip to Cambodia and their accommodation in the country. In the following part, travellers have to fill in some health details, and name the countries they visited in the past 14 days. Finally, travellers have to answer whether they want to declare any goods or if they intend to import large amounts of cash.
Cambodia visa is still mandatory
The e-Arrival Card or CeA should not be confused with the Cambodia e-visa. The introduction of the e-Arrival does not influence the visa requirements for Cambodia. British and Irish travellers still need a visa to be allowed to enter Cambodia. They may use the e-visa, which can be applied for online.
It usually only takes a few minutes to fill in the visa application form. Afterwards, each traveller has to submit a digital passport photo and a photo or scan of their passport. All of this is done online, meaning that it is not necessary to visit the embassy or consulate. After the application is approved, the Cambodia visa is issued by e-mail. Travellers have to print the visa twice so that they can submit the first copy upon arrival and the second copy upon departure.