PassportSouth Africa

Cambodia: do South Africans need a visa?

South Africans can get a visa on arrival in Cambodia. You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Visa required, available on arrival or as an e-visa before travel. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia states that a tourist visa can be obtained on arrival, but recommends getting it beforehand. The official e-visa is issued only through evisa.gov.kh. Cambodia has no embassy in South Africa, so for South Africans the practical choice is the e-visa or the visa on arrival.12

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Tourist (T) visa for tourism. Business and other non-tourist purposes need the ordinary (E) visa, also available as an e-visa or on arrival.146

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

At least 6 months beyond the date of entry, with at least one blank visa page. The passport must be undamaged.145

Confirmed on an official government source

How to apply

E-visa: apply online only at evisa.gov.kh, at least 4 days before travel (US State says 7), pay by card and print the approval. Tourist e-visa fee reported as US$ 30 since 1 January 2025 (previously US$ 36); ordinary (E) e-visa US$ 35. E-visas are accepted at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville airports and at the Bavet (Vietnam) and Trapeang Kriel (Laos) land crossings. Visa on arrival: at international airports and some land borders, tourist visa US$ 30, paid in US dollars cash, with one passport photo. The embassy-issued tourist visa is US$ 30, valid 3 months from issue for a single entry.12467

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Where South Africans apply

Cambodia has neither resident nor non-resident representation in South Africa (per DIRCO). South Africans apply online at evisa.gov.kh or get the visa on arrival. South Africa's embassy accredited to Cambodia is in Bangkok, Thailand.23

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travel insurance

Not mandatory for entry. DIRCO advises South Africans to take comprehensive travel and health insurance.35

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

Not published by official sources

Accommodation or invitation

Not required for a tourist visa. Your accommodation address is entered on the e-Arrival card.89

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

Cambodia requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate only if you arrive from a yellow fever transmission-risk country. Arriving directly from South Africa, none is needed. Return to South Africa: Cambodia is not a yellow fever risk country, so no certificate is needed for the return, unless you transited through a risk country (more than 12 hours in the airport of a risk country).45

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Cambodia e-Arrival card at arrival.gov.kh (official, run by the General Department of Immigration). Free. Submit within 7 days before arrival, or on arrival using airport tablets. It combines the immigration, customs and health declarations into one form and gives a QR code to show at immigration. Mandatory for air arrivals; the UK FCDO dates the requirement from 1 September 2024.8459

Confirmed on an official government source

Extending your stay and overstaying

A tourist visa can be extended once for 30 days at the Cambodian immigration office. Overstay: US State reports a fine of US$ 10 per day for overstays under 30 days, paid at departure; the UK FCDO warns there is no limit to the fine and you can be detained and deported. Extension fees are not published on the official pages we could read.145

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Transit

Not published by official sources

Travelling with children

Not published by official sources

What changed

15 September 2026US State Department advisory for Cambodia at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) for crime, unrest and unexploded ordnance.
27 December 2025Ceasefire after heavy fighting on the Thailand-Cambodia border in 2025. Land borders with Thailand remain suspended; Cham Yeam and Poipet are closed for e-visa entry. UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Thai border; US State has Level 4 for areas within 50 km of it.
1 January 2025Tourist e-visa fee reported cut from US$ 36 to US$ 30, and ordinary (E) e-visa from US$ 42 to US$ 35, following a Royal Government press release dated 28 December 2024. Not confirmed on evisa.gov.kh, which blocked our fetches.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the United States, Washington DC embassyofcambodiadc.org
  2. 2Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the United States, Washington DC embassyofcambodiadc.org
  3. 8General Department of Immigration, Cambodia immigration.gov.kh

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa dirco.gov.za
  2. 4US Department of State travel.state.gov
  3. 5UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gov.uk

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 6Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

News and guides

Leads we check, never the answer

  1. 7Asia King Travel asiakingtravel.com
  2. 9TourismCambodia.com (private site) tourismcambodia.com

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book.