Moving to Cambodia

Cambodia is a great place to live, but it isn't for everyone. Here is a list of things that you should consider when deciding if Cambodia is right for you. You might also be interested in our video that covers many of these points and more.

Poverty

Cambodia is a developing country, but what that means on the ground can be confronting. You will see children out at night collecting recyclable items to sell. Their clothes are often dirty and it's common for them to have no shoes. You might see people with significant deformities and diseases that would have been effectively treated in the west. Seeing people, particularly men, with limbs missing is quite common (likely ERW* survivors) - they do the best they can without prosthetics. You will come across people begging at markets and beside traffic lights, and sometimes they will have very young children with them.

*explosive remnants of war

Heat

It's hot in Cambodia. You've seen the YouTube videos, googled the weather, and prepared yourself as best you can. What it isn't possible to understand before coming here is how it feels to live in intense heat day in and day out, and how living in this kind of heat impacts your capacity and desire to do things. The heat is one of the reasons that life slows down here. It is difficult to be as productive in Cambodia as it is in a cooler climate. 

Animal cruelty / disease / deformity

Sometimes people behave in ways towards animals that would be considered inappropriate in the west. While the dog meat trade has been outlawed in Siem Reap province, at times evidence of it can still be seen. Another thing you will see is animals, particularly dogs, in horrible condition with full body mange or a huge tumour that they have to drag along behind them. Buddhist beliefs mean that these animals cannot be euthanased. There are organisations doing great work in this area, but the scale of need makes this an insurmountable task.

Road accidents

Road accidents are very common in Cambodia, and the longer you are here, the more likely it is that you will see an accident happen or come across one immediately after. Being involved in a road accident is also a concern, particularly if you are going to be riding a bicycle or moto. If you have insurance, check that it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake. 

Insurance

Accessing long term health insurance, as distinct from travel insurance, can be difficult the older you get. In Cambodia, finding insurance after 60 years of age is difficult, and nearly impossible after 70 years of age. Also, the older you are, the more expensive insurance becomes. Being in Cambodia without insurance is a risk, and one that you should consider seriously. Medical care for routine and minor things is very inexpensive, so it's no problem to pay for those things as you go. Insurance is for catastrophic events, and if you don't have it when something big goes wrong, it can be devastating. Also consider the burden on family members who would have to deal with the situation from back in your home country if something were to happen.

Health

If you have serious or complex health issues, Cambodia might not be the right place for you. The standard and availability of health care is very much developing. Cambodia does not have the breadth of medical specialists that you might be used to. If you are able to find a specialist in a less common area of medicine, it is likely they will only work from expensive private hospitals or clinics in Phnom Penh. If you're living in Siem Reap or Kampot, this can cause challenges. 

Mental health is an emerging field of medicine in Cambodia, and the level of awareness of different mental illnesses and conditions is low. People who have a history of non-compliance with prescribed medication are particularly at risk because they won't have their usual support mechanisms around them. Anecdotally, many of the western travellers and expats who go missing in this country have a history of mental illness. They are usually found, but then family members have to come to Cambodia to bring them safely back to their home country.

Mobility

If you have limited mobility, you would find it difficult to live here. It can be done, and we know wheelchair users who successfully navigate life in Siem Reap. Access to essential services like banks and supermarkets is improving with the addition of ramps and lifts in newer constructions, but in general, most buildings are not accessible. Some apartment buildings have apartments on the ground floor and some have lifts, so seeking these properties out will be important if you have issues with mobility.

Money

Many people move to Cambodia because their money goes further, and in many cases, they can afford to retire. We understand, everyone enjoys the lower cost of living here. However, coming to Cambodia with a very small amount to live on, with no safety net to bail you out if something goes wrong, can be a recipe for disaster. Always try to keep at least enough money to cover the airfare back to your home country. 

Facebook

Cambodia is the land of Facebook. In Cambodia, if you don't have Facebook you are choosing to make your life more difficult by about 72% (highly technical guestimate). Finding a house or apartment, asking where to find something, asking for recommendations, seeing promotions at bars and restaurants, or discovering local events - all of this happens on Facebook, and in particular in Facebook Groups. Be warned that there is a particular breed of disgruntled expat that can be found in these groups. These people delight in ridiculing others. Get busy blocking them and your Facebook experience will improve dramatically.

If you can, visit before moving to Cambodia

If you have the means, visiting Cambodia before making the decision to move here permanently is the best way forward. If any of the items mentioned above give you pause, then consider your move very carefully. 

Here is a checklist of things that you should do while you are preparing to move to Cambodia.

Documents: take photos of important documents such as medical records and save online or on a drive. Organise the photos and rename them appropriately so you can find what you are looking for quickly. If you need to access them, you will be pleased you made the effort to do this. My preference is to shred the originals so there is no need to store them.

Check expiry dates of everything: check your passport, your bank cards, your driver's license, everything. If anything is expiring in the near future, try to renew before you leave. We keep a document listing everything that has an expiry date, starting with the soonest.

Banking: many banks use outdated SMS technology for their two factor authentication/multi factor authentication. Search for a bank that uses web-based technology such as an authenticator app and switch to that bank. Also, notify your bank that you will be located in Cambodia so that any transactions you make here aren't flagged as suspicious and your card cancelled. It's best to retain accounts with two banks in your home country so that you can still access funds if there is an issue with one of the banks. This happened to us and we were very glad that we had the second bank as a backup.

Phone number: look for plan that allows you to retain your phone number in your home country and set this up. Not being able to receive SMS verification messages is incredibly frustrating. We use Amaysim to keep an Australian number. 

Subscriptions: if you have subscriptions that you won't use, make sure you cancel them. Make a note of all remaining subscriptions and their end dates so you can either extend or cancel before the renewal date.

Facebook groups: join some Facebook groups for the city you are planning to live in. It's best to join groups that are private because public ones are full of advertising and you won't find many useful discussions. Some groups do not allow you to join until you are actually on the ground in Cambodia. Respect this and hold off trying to join until after you arrive.

Mail: every time you receive something in the mail, consider if you can either opt out or opt for online communication only. 

Police clearance: if you are looking to work in a school or in an NGO (non-government organisation or charity), you might be required to submit a police clearance report from your home country. Doing this in your home country before you leave is going to be quicker, cheaper and easier. 

Most of the things you will need for daily life in Cambodia can be bought once you arrive, however there are a few things that you should consider bringing with you.

Towels: they are expensive and low quality here.

Sheets: if you can find 100% cotton sheets here, they will be expensive.

Clothing & shoes: if you are larger than the average Khmer, it can be hard to find things that fit.

Medications: bring what you need for at least the first month, ideally six months' worth.

Unlocked phone: make sure the phone you bring isn't locked down to a provider in your home country.

Toiletries: if you prefer certain brands, bring a supply with you as available brands will differ.

Sunscreen: it is expensive in Cambodia and the quality might not be as high.

The pages below will help you to learn more about Cambodia.

Andy Brouwer

Andy is an expert in Khmer art and history. He posts regularly about temples, statuary, the repatriation of looted artwork, and much more. If you are interested in this kind of thing, you should follow him.

Arnaud Darc

Arnaud is restaurateur, hospitality and tourism expert, and food critic. He also authors interesting thought pieces relating to tourism in Cambodia, border tensions, and Cambodia's economy, to name a few.

Lao Classics

Lao is a young Khmer tour guide who specialises in off-the-beaten path experiences. He posts regularly about parts of Cambodia that you might not otherwise see.

Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Department

Keep up to date with tourism initiatives in Siem Reap.

Overseas Marketing & Promotion Department, Ministry of Tourisim of Cambodia

See official announcements about events and other initiatives occurring in Cambodia.

Staying long-term in Cambodia is very easy, with one of most simple and generous visa systems in the world. We suggest that you spend some time doing your own research and learning as much as you can about Cambodia's visa process. Below is some introductory information to get you started.

Some airlines will not let passengers board without a valid visa. Check with your airline prior to travelling.

Tourist visas and ordinary visas can be arranged online prior to arrival or in person on arrival. If applying online, please be sure to use the official website. If you are using a site that does not end in .gov.kh, it is not the official government website.

Tourist visa 

• The tourist visa costs US $30 on arrival or US $36 if you apply online prior to arriving.

• Tourist visas are single entry.

• Tourist visas are valid for 30 days and can be extended for a further 30 days without leaving the country. Visit a travel agent to organise the extension, and expect to pay around US $50. 

• You are not allowed to work on a tourist visa. 

• If you want to change from a tourist visa to an ordinary visa, you will need to leave Cambodia and re-enter.

Ordinary visa (also known as E type visa)

• If you want to stay long-term in Cambodia, the easiest way is to enter on an ordinary visa.

• The ordinary visa can be organised on arrival (US $35) or online (US $42) prior to arrival. 

• The ordinary visa is valid for 30 days.

• Nationals of some countries experience difficulty securing an ordinary visa without evidence of employment.

• If you are able to get your visa online prior to arrival, we recommend doing so.

Extending an ordinary visa

Once you are in Cambodia you can visit a travel agent and have them extend your visa.  A list of agents who can do this for you is in the resources map on the Siem Reap resources page. Allow around US $300 - US$350 for a 12 month extension. Shorter extensions are also possible for a lower fee. If you know you're going to stay at least a year, go for a 12 month extension straight up as you'll save time and money.

Extensions of six months or more are multiple entry.

Retirement extension

• If you get a retirement extension, you have an ER (E type visa with a retirement extension).

• The only requirement for a retirement extension is to be over 55. 

Business extension

• If you get a business extension, you have an EB (E type visa with a business extension).

• Visit an agent to understand the required supporting documentation.

Work permit

It is mandatory that holders of an E visa with a business extension also hold a valid work permit. Work permits follow the calendar year (not the dates of your visa) and should be organised in the first quarter of each year. Your employer can help with this, and visa agents can also assist. Allow up to US $250 if you use an agent. 

Other visa types

Workers in some international charities, non-government organisations (NGOs) and not-for-profits can access a C type visa. C stands for courtesy - these visas are free of charge. In order to be eligible, the organisation or charitiy must have a current memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC). Here is the list of organisations that meet this requirement.

The question around whether proof of onward travel is required comes up regularly. Here's the answer. 

Cambodian Immigration does not require proof of onward travel. 

However, some airlines ask to see this and if it comes to a stand-off where they won't let you board, there's no point arguing that it isn't a requirement. Be ready to purchase a flight out so that you can show it, or use a ticket holding service like Onward Ticket or Best Onward Ticket. 

If you see this quesiton asked in an expat forum, you'll likely see loads of people saying, "Well, I've entered Cambodia 500 times and I've never been asked to show an onward ticket." Great, but it does happen and being prepared is your best defense. 

Everyone who enters Cambodia is required to complete the e-Arrival digital form. The digital form replaces the old physical arrival card and consists of your travel information, health information, and customs declaration. You must complete the form within seven days of your arrival. On completion of the form, you'll receive a QR code that you can show when entering Cambodia.

The only place where you could ever legally purchase Cambodian Riel outside Cambodia was Travelex at Singapore's Changi airport. This was announced as a new service in 2023 however the Travelex website doesn't list Cambodian Riel as one of its currencies so this service may no longer exist. 

Assume that you cannot purchase Riel prior to arriving. Currencies like USD, AUD, GBP, EUR are very easily changed once you arrive. The shops near Pub Street in Siem Reap have rates that are only slighty below xe.com.