Cambodia visa for Japanese citizens — procedures and specifics

TL;DR

• Japanese citizens enter Cambodia with a 30 USD tourist e-Visa or a visa on arrival (VOA) — there is no visa exemption between Japan and Cambodia (only ASEAN nationals are exempt).
• Since 1 September 2024, the e-Arrival card is mandatory for every arrival by air, free, and must be completed within 7 days before the flight.
• No Japan-Cambodia tax treaty in force: an agreement is under negotiation but is not signed and not in effect — a key point for long-term residents.

Conditions

Standard Cambodian e-Visa conditions:

• Japanese passport valid ≥ 6 months after the entry date.
• Passport undamaged: a damaged passport or missing pages can mean refused entry.
• 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 Japan

e-Visa (recommended)

At evisa.gov.kh — 30 USD by card, PDF within 3 business days. Apply at least 4 to 5 days before departure. JPY payment is converted to USD at the daily rate; keep two printed copies of the visa.

Visa on arrival (VOA)

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

Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Tokyo

Possible but rarely useful for short tourism. Address: 8-6-9 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 (tel. +81-3-5412-8521, camemb.jpn@mfaic.gov.kh). By appointment only; for special cases, 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 Japan-Cambodia treaty in force

Unlike France, Japan has no double-taxation agreement in force with Cambodia. Cambodia does not appear on the Japanese Ministry of Finance’s official list of tax conventions, and Japan is not among Cambodia’s dozen-or-so treaty partners (Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China — incl. Hong Kong and Macau —, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey).

A Japan-Cambodia agreement is under negotiation (Japan is among the strategic partners with which discussions are ongoing), but it is neither signed nor in effect so far: no treaty relief applies yet.

For a Japanese resident in Cambodia:

• No treaty relief — you manage your cross-border tax exposure yourself.
• Cambodia taxes residency beyond 183 days of presence — see the tax residence guide.
• Local social contributions fall under the NSSF for employees; there is no Japan-Cambodia social-security agreement (no pension coordination or contribution exemption).

FAQ

Do Japanese citizens need a visa for Cambodia?

Yes. There is no visa exemption between Japan and Cambodia (only ASEAN nationals are exempt). A tourist e-Visa (30 USD, 30 days) or VOA suits a short stay.

Must the Japanese 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 Japan-Cambodia tax treaty?

Not yet. No double-taxation agreement is in force: Cambodia is absent from the Japanese Ministry of Finance’s official list of tax conventions. An agreement is under negotiation but is neither signed nor in effect. On the Cambodian side, tax residency applies beyond 183 days of presence.

Is the Japanese driving licence valid in Cambodia?

The Japanese licence alone is not recognised. Japan issues international driving permits under the 1949 Geneva Convention: get an international driving permit (IDP) in Japan before departure, or convert to a Cambodian licence on arrival.