All travelers wishing to visit Cambodia must be aware that starting July 1 of this year, they must present an electronic arrival card at least seven days before entering the country.
This digital entry card, known as the CeA or “Cambodia e-Arrival,” will streamline the process for travelers and provide a hassle-free start to their journey. It will also replace the traditional paper immigration form, health form, and customs declaration, consolidating them into one convenient online portal, VisaGuide.World report.
The CeA introduction follows the traditional tourism ‘high season’ and other high-profile events in Cambodia, such as the Water Festival, Angkor Marathon, and Kep Sea Festival.
2 Online Channels to Be Available for an E-arrival Card Application in Cambodia
The e-Arrival card, free of charge, can be made via two channels:
- The official government website, which allows for online submission of the e-arrival card
- The Cambodia e-Arrival app, which is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
For the time being, this process will apply to travelers who arrive by flights into Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports. Meanwhile, those entering Cambodia by land crossing, boating, or through Sihanoukville airport will continue to use paper-based forms.
Although the online submission deadline is seven days before arrival, people who missed the online submission can still execute the e-arrival process with the tablets available at Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports.
Reserving an electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA) can also accelerate the arrival process via this platform. The cost of a tourist visa is $30.
When completed, a QR code is issued to be presented, printed, or electronically registered to immigration officials upon arrival in Cambodia. Authentik Vietnam recommends that travelers use the e-Visa reservation system for a faster, smoother arrival process.
The Cambodia e-Arrival Card was first introduced on January 1, 2024, as part of a trial program to simplify the entry process for both foreign tourists and nationals.
Tourism in Cambodia Showed an Uptrend in 2023
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the kingdom recorded 4.4 million international tourists in the first ten months of last year, marking a significant rise of around 180 percent from 1.57 million in 2022.
The same source further revealed that between January and October 2023, over four million foreign tourists visited Cambodia, with most arrivals coming from three nearby Asian countries topping the list – Thailand, Vietnam, and China, which accounted for 63.1 percent of all foreign visitors.