Almost everyone needs a visa to visit Cambodia, and the rules changed recently enough that half the advice online is out of date. Here's the current, verified picture for 2026 — what to get, what it costs, and the new free document that trips up travelers who haven't read past the visa itself.
The Short Version
For a temple trip you want the tourist visa (type "T"). It costs US$30, allows a 30-day stay, and you can get it two ways: online before you fly (e-visa) or on arrival at the airport. Separately — and this is the part people miss — you must also file a free e-Arrival card within three days of landing. Two different things; you need both.
Option 1: e-Visa (Apply Before You Fly)
The cleaner route for most travelers. Apply on the official government portal — evisa.gov.kh — upload a passport photo and a scan of your passport, pay the US$30 fee by card, and the approved visa arrives by email in about three business days. Print two copies (one for the arrivals desk, one as backup) and you walk past the on-arrival queue entirely.
The approved e-visa is valid for three months from issue for a single entry, so apply a couple of weeks out, not months. It's accepted at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and the main land crossings.
One important warning: only use evisa.gov.kh. A swarm of lookalike third-party sites rank in search and charge $50–90 for the same $30 visa, sometimes with worse processing. If the domain isn't the official government one, close the tab.
Option 2: Visa on Arrival
Still available at Siem Reap's airport, also US$30, paid in cash (bring crisp dollars — USD is the currency you'll use all trip; see our budget guide). You fill out a form, hand over a passport photo, and queue. It works, but after a long-haul flight the e-visa's skip-the-line convenience is usually worth the small effort of applying ahead. Either way the stay is the same 30 days.
The Part Everyone Forgets: the e-Arrival Card
Since 2025, every air arrival must submit an online Cambodia e-Arrival card — combined immigration, customs, and health declaration — within seven days before you land (and it can't be filed earlier than that window). It's free, done on the official e-Arrival site or app, and produces a QR code you show on landing. This is not your visa; it's a separate mandatory step, and "but I have my visa" does not get you out of it. File it the day before you fly, after you've checked in online for your flight.
Passport Rules
- Six months' validity beyond your arrival date — the universal Southeast Asia rule, and it's enforced.
- At least one blank page for the stamp.
- A digital passport photo for the e-visa, or a physical one for visa on arrival (bring two spares; they're useful for the Angkor Pass office and SIM registration too).
Staying Longer: Extensions
The 30-day tourist visa can be extended once, for another 30 days (60 days total), handled through a local travel agent or the immigration office in Siem Reap. If you already know you'll want longer, note that the tourist "T" visa only extends once — long-stayers usually start on a different visa class, which is beyond a normal Angkor trip. For a temple holiday, 30 days is far more than enough; most visitors spend three to five days here (see our 3-day itinerary).
After You Land
The new airport is about 40 km from town — sort your transfer before you arrive, not at the curb at midnight; our airport guide covers every option. Some travelers like having proof of onward travel and a hotel booking on hand at immigration, which is a good excuse to lock in where you're staying early:
Hotels in Siem Reap, Cambodia
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One more thing the visa doesn't cover: the temples themselves need a separate Angkor Pass ($37 for one day, $62 for three), bought at the ticket center or online — full detail in our Angkor Pass explainer.
Quick Checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months, one blank page ✓
- Tourist e-visa from evisa.gov.kh ($30) — or cash for visa on arrival ✓
- e-Arrival card filed within 7 days of landing (free, separate, mandatory) ✓
- Airport transfer arranged ✓
- Angkor Pass plan and a few crisp small-denomination dollars ✓
That's the whole entry puzzle. With it sorted, the only thing left to plan is the fun part — start with the best things to do in Siem Reap or browse the full travel guides.
Visa fees and rules can change; always confirm current details on the official government portals before you travel.