Visa Types
Business Visa (E Visa): E Visas may be obtained at at the employee’s nearest Cambodian Embassy, and are also available upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport. It costs USD 25.
Work Permit: Work permits are valid for a year, and can be renewed so long as they are not renewed beyond the period specified by the residence permit. They cost USD 100 and take approximately 1 month to process.
Visa Application
Although Cambodia is known for its leniency in practice with foreign workers possessing appropriate documentation for employment, by law they are required to have the proper visas and work permits in Cambodia, as established by immigration laws. Work permits must be secured for employees, and sponsored by a locally licensed and incorporated entity, which can be a problem for companies just entering the Cambodian market.
The process of applying for a work permit is quite straightforward. Company management must request a work permit and must be registered with the Labor Ministry. It is possible for companies that have established a Rep (Representative) Office or WFOE (Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise) in Cambodia to arrange work permits. Long term business visas are known as E Visas are issued for 3, 6, or 12 month durations, however, recent crackdowns by the Government have rendered these insufficient and foreigners are now required to hold valid work permits.
There are two types of work permits available:
- Temporary work permits: These are issued to staff and management specialists, technical staff, skilled workers, and service providers or other labourers.
- Permanent work permits: These are issued to foreign immigrants duly recognised by the Minister Interior, and foreign investors, spouses, and other dependents who are recognised by the Council for the Development of Cambodia.
The most significant issue in applying for a work permit is that fees are not specified publicly by the Ministry of Interior. The steps can be considered as company level, and employee level information.
Apply for a Business Visa
This can be applied for in advance at the employee’s nearest Cambodian Embassy, and are also available upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport. The E Visa costs US $25.
Obtain approval from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training
The employer must first contact the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to obtain approval to employ a foreign worker. Unfortunately, public information is scarce as to the estimated time and cost of this step. In general, however, the information can be obtained from the local municipality or province police station, who are able to assist.
Provide all company level information. These documents are:
- The Certificate of Incorporation with company stamp
- Registered business address
- Tax patent with company stamp
- List of expatriate and local employees (ratio must not be below 9:1)
- MOC approval
- Articles of Incorporation of the company
Provide all employee level information. These include:
- Name, gender, date of birth and height
- Copy of an ID card and/or passport
- Copy of E Visas
- Current residential address
- Full names of mother and father
- Education
- Photo of employee
- Health certificate
- Starting date at company, function of the role, weekly hours worked, salary, and form of payment of salary (i.e. cash or EFT)
- Year in which expatriate received their first E Visa
Time: Around 1 month in total
Cost: US$100 annually
