Cambodia visa for British citizens — procedures and specifics

TL;DR

• British citizens enter Cambodia with a 30 USD tourist e-Visa or a visa on arrival (VOA), no prior consular procedure.
• No bilateral visa exemption between the UK and Cambodia — a visa is mandatory for any stay, even short ones.
• No UK-Cambodia tax treaty: unlike France, the UK has signed no double-taxation agreement with Cambodia — a key point for long-term residents.

Conditions

Standard Cambodian e-Visa conditions:

• UK passport valid ≥ 6 months after the entry date.
• Passport undamaged: the FCDO notes entry is normally refused with a damaged passport or missing pages.
• 1 blank page for the entry stamp.
• e-Visa printout (PDF) or VOA at airports (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville) and main land crossings.

Procedures from the UK

e-Visa (recommended)

At evisa.gov.kh — 30 USD by card, PDF within 3 business days. The FCDO advises applying at least 4 days before departure. GBP payment is converted to USD at the daily rate.

Visa on arrival (VOA)

At international airports and main land border crossings. Have 30 USD cash ready (payment is in US dollars) plus a passport photo — cards are not always accepted.

Royal Embassy of Cambodia in London

Possible but rarely useful for short tourism. Address: 64 Brondesbury Park, Willesden Green, London NW6 7AT (tel. 020 8451 7850, consular@cambodiaembassyuk.org). For special cases only; check current fees with the embassy.

Long-stay visa: EB or ER

For stays > 60 consecutive days, switch to:

• EB (Ordinary Business) for working/founding a company; renewed yearly with an MLVT work permit. See EB visa guide.
• ER (Ordinary Retired) for retirees > 55 with pension proof; renewable indefinitely. See ER visa guide.

Tax: no UK-Cambodia treaty

Unlike France, the UK has no double-taxation agreement with Cambodia. Cambodia’s treaty partners are around a dozen countries (Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei…) — the UK is not among them.

For a UK resident in Cambodia:

• No treaty relief — you manage your cross-border tax exposure yourself.
• Your UK tax residency follows HMRC’s Statutory Residence Test (SRT), regardless of time in Cambodia.
• Cambodia taxes residency beyond 183 days of presence — see the tax residence guide.

FAQ

Do British citizens need a visa for Cambodia?

Yes. The FCDO states plainly: “You must have a visa to enter Cambodia as a visitor.” A tourist e-Visa (30 USD, 30 days) or VOA suits a short stay.

Must the UK passport be valid for 6 months?

Yes — at least 6 months after entry, and undamaged (a damaged passport or missing pages can mean refused entry).

Is there a UK-Cambodia tax treaty?

No. No double-taxation agreement is in force. UK residency stays governed by HMRC’s Statutory Residence Test; Cambodian residency applies beyond 183 days of presence.

Is the UK driving licence valid in Cambodia?

The UK licence alone is not recognised. Get an international driving permit (IDP) in the UK before departure, or convert to a Cambodian licence on arrival.