Cambodia visa for Thai citizens — ASEAN exemption and stay

TL;DR

• Cambodia and Thailand are both ASEAN members: Thai ordinary-passport holders enter Cambodia visa-free — no e-Visa, no visa on arrival (VOA) for short stays.
• The exact exempt stay length is to be confirmed: the bilateral agreement provides 14 days for ordinary passports, but the applied duration may have been reduced (2025 border crisis). Check at the border or with the embassy before travelling.
• A Cambodia-Thailand tax treaty is in force (signed 2017, effective 2018) — a real advantage for long-term residents, unlike most nationalities.

Visa exemption (ASEAN)

Cambodia grants a visa exemption to nationals of ASEAN member states, including Thailand, under bilateral agreements. In practice, a Thai national travelling for tourism or a short business trip has no consular procedure to complete: no e-Visa, no VOA, no visa fee.

According to the official visa-exemption list published by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAIC), Thai passport holders benefit from the following exemption:

• Ordinary passport: visa exemption — bilateral-agreement stay of 14 days.
• Diplomatic or service (official) passport: 30-day exemption.

The exemption covers short tourist or occasional business stays only. It gives no right to work or to settle long-term (see below).

Entry and permitted stay

Entry conditions required of every traveller, including the visa-exempt:

• Thai passport valid ≥ 6 months after the entry date.
• At least one blank page for the stamp.
• Onward / return ticket showing a stay within the permitted limit.

To stay beyond the exempt period you cannot simply extend the exemption: you must switch to a long-stay visa (below) or exit and re-enter, within immigration rules.

Beyond the exemption: EB or ER

The ASEAN exemption is a short-stay facility. To live, work or retire in Cambodia, a Thai national needs the same long-stay visas as everyone else:

• EB (Ordinary Business) for working or founding a company; renewed yearly with an MLVT work permit and NSSF registration. See the EB visa guide.
• ER (Ordinary Retired) for retirees over 55 with pension proof; renewable indefinitely. See the ER visa guide.

Tax: treaty in force

Good news for Thai nationals: unlike most nationalities (UK, US…), Thailand is among Cambodia’s tax-treaty partners. The Cambodia-Thailand double-taxation agreement (DTA) was signed on 7 September 2017 and is effective since 1 January 2018. Thailand appears on the in-force DTA list published by the General Department of Taxation (GDT).

What the treaty delivers in practice:

• Withholding tax capped at 10% on cross-border dividends, interest, royalties and technical service fees (instead of the standard 14% non-resident rate).
• Elimination of double taxation via a tax-credit mechanism: tax paid in the other state is creditable in the residence state, up to the tax actually paid.
• Exemption of income tax on air transport between the two countries.

As for any nationality, Cambodia treats presence beyond 183 days over 12 months as tax residency — see the tax residence guide. The treaty exists precisely to articulate taxation cleanly between Phnom Penh and Bangkok.

FAQ

Do Thai citizens need a visa to enter Cambodia?

No, not for a short stay. As an ASEAN member, Thai ordinary-passport holders get a visa exemption: no e-Visa or visa on arrival is needed. A visa is required for a long stay or to work.

How many days can a Thai national stay without a visa?

The bilateral agreement provides 14 days for ordinary passports (30 days for diplomatic and service passports). This length is to be confirmed, however: it may have been reduced amid the 2025 border crisis. Check at the border, on evisa.gov.kh or with the embassy before travelling.

Is the e-Arrival card required to enter via Poipet?

No. The digital e-Arrival card applies to air arrivals only (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville). At land crossings such as Poipet you fill in a paper form at the immigration counter.

Is there a Thailand-Cambodia tax treaty?

Yes. The Cambodia-Thailand double-taxation agreement, signed in 2017, has been in force since 1 January 2018. It caps withholding tax at 10% and provides a tax credit to eliminate double taxation.

Can a Thai national work in Cambodia under the ASEAN exemption?

No. The exemption covers short stays only. To work you need an EB visa and a work permit from the MLVT, like any other nationality.

Is a Thai driving licence valid in Cambodia?

Yes, under the 1985 ASEAN agreement on the recognition of national driving licences, for a temporary stay. Carry a certified English translation (or an international permit) and convert your licence if you settle long-term.