Cambodia
Southeast Asia's easiest visa
Cambodia offers something increasingly rare: genuinely easy long-term residence with minimal requirements. The ER (Extended/Retirement) visa is renewable indefinitely, has no income proof requirements, and costs around $300/year. For those prioritizing simplicity over infrastructure, Cambodia delivers.
Our framework evaluates Cambodia across 6 strategic pillars. Each pillar answers a key question that matters when planning your relocation strategy.
Profile Weight Distribution
How we score: Six strategic pillars with weighted sub-factors. Confidence indicators show data quality (●●● = verified, ●●○ = researched, ●○○ = editorial). Read our full methodology
Profile weighting: Different expat profiles prioritize different pillars. Select your profile above to see personalized rankings.
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Immigration Overview
Cambodia is the contrarian choice. While Thailand tightens visa requirements and Bali builds bureaucracy, Cambodia remains almost casually open. Get a tourist visa on arrival, convert to a long-term ER visa in-country, renew annually forever. No income proof, no bank statements, no interviews. Just show up, pay, and stay.
The infrastructure trade-off is real. Healthcare is basic (serious issues require Bangkok). Roads outside cities are rough. Power and internet reliability varies. English proficiency is lower than Thailand or Philippines. You're not getting first-world services at third-world prices. You're getting third-world services at even lower third-world prices.
Phnom Penh has developed significantly in recent years. Riverside cafes, coworking spaces, decent western restaurants. A growing community of digital nomads appreciates the combination of low costs, easy visas, and enough infrastructure to work. Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) attracts a different, more tourism-focused expat crowd.
Visa & Residency Pathways
ER Visa (Ordinary/Extended)
The remarkably easy long-term option
- Get tourist visa on arrival ($30)
- Convert to ER visa in-country
- Annual renewal ~$300 (via agent)
- No income/savings proof required
- Renewable indefinitely
EB Visa (Business)
For those working or running businesses
- Same process as ER initially
- Requires work permit if employed
- Can open business as foreigner
- Annual renewal ~$300
- Work permit additional cost
Tourist Visa + Extensions
For shorter stays or testing the waters
- 30-day tourist visa on arrival
- One 30-day extension possible
- E-visa available online
- Then must upgrade or exit
- Useful for trial period
Citizenship (Theoretical)
Rarely used pathway
- 7 years continuous residence
- Khmer language requirement
- Must renounce other citizenship
- Rarely pursued by expats
- Most just renew ER indefinitely
Why Cambodia?
Visa Simplicity
No income requirements, no bank statements, no interviews. Show up, pay the fee, stay. The simplest long-term visa in Southeast Asia.
Extremely Affordable
$600-1,200/month for comfortable living. Nice apartment $300-500. Street food meal $1-2. Among the cheapest in Asia.
Dollar Economy
USD is the primary currency. No exchange rate risk. ATMs dispense dollars. Prices quoted in USD.
Tax Simplicity
Foreign-sourced income not taxed. No real enforcement mechanism anyway. Tax optimization by default.
Angkor Wat
One of the world's great archaeological sites is a day trip. Temple complexes, ancient history, cultural richness.
Buddhist Culture
Gentle, welcoming culture. Monks and temples everywhere. A calmer pace of life. Less hustle than Thailand or Vietnam.
General Requirements
ER Visa process (via agent, recommended):
- Valid passport with 6+ months validity
- Passport photo
- ~$300 for annual visa (agent handles everything)
- In-country application (can't do from abroad)
- No income, bank, or insurance requirements
- Processing: 1-2 weeks through agent
Using a visa agent is standard practice in Cambodia. They handle the paperwork, queues, and translation for a modest fee. The process is straightforward enough to DIY, but agents make it genuinely effortless. We can recommend reliable agents in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
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