How Long Can US Citizens Stay in Cambodia
US citizens need a visa to enter Cambodia. The official tourist e-Visa (Visa T) is a single-entry visa valid for three months from issue, with a stay of one month from the date of entry. You can also get a visa on arrival at major airports. Complete the free Cambodia e-Arrival form within seven days before you land, even if you already have a visa. The US State Department says tourist and business visas are valid for one month from entry, and overstays commonly draw a 10 US dollar per day fine. Excessive overstays can mean arrest, deportation at your expense, and a later ban.
This guide is for Americans visiting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or the coast, including remote workers who hope to string together 30-day stamps. Cambodia is not visa-free for US passports. That is the first trap. The second is treating e-Visa validity (three months to enter) as three months of stay.
After reading, you will know the one-month clock, which ports accept e-Visa, how e-Arrival works, and why a Thailand weekend does not create a right to another month.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa for US tourists? | Yes (e-Visa T or visa on arrival) |
| Tourist e-Visa stay | 1 month from the date of entry |
| e-Visa T validity to enter | 3 months from issue, single entry |
| Official e-Visa fee (T) | 30 US dollars on evisa.gov.kh |
| Passport | Valid more than six months at entry |
| Pre-arrival | Free Cambodia e-Arrival within 7 days |
| Overstay (US summary) | Often 10 US dollars per day; heavy overstays can mean detention |
| Official US source | travel.state.gov Cambodia |
Who this applies to
These rules apply to US citizens on a regular US passport entering as tourists.
They do not cover diplomatic visas, Cambodian residence, or employment status. Visa T is a tourist class. Paid work for a Cambodian employer needs the matching permission. Remote work for a foreign employer while present as a tourist is a gray area many travelers navigate carefully. See remote work tourist visa legality.
How the tourist visa works for US citizens
The US State Department states that you need a valid passport and a Cambodian visa to enter. Tourist and business visas are valid for one month from the date of entry. You may apply online or in person at the Cambodian Embassy in Washington, or obtain a visa at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports and at major border crossings. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry. [Source: travel.state.gov Cambodia]
Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa site lists Visa T as a single-entry tourist visa. Fee: 30 US dollars. Validity: three months from the date of issue. Length of stay: one month. Processing: three business days. The passport must have more than six months of remaining validity at entry. [Source: evisa.gov.kh visa types]
Visa-free versus visa on arrival is a different product. Cambodia is visa-required for US passports, with e-Visa or visa on arrival as the usual paths. See visa-free vs visa on arrival.
e-Visa is not accepted at every checkpoint. Official ports that accept e-Visa include Techo International Airport (KTI), Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), Sihanoukville International Airport, Bavet (Vietnam border), and Tropaeng Kreal (Laos border). Cham Yeam (Koh Kong) and Poipet (Banteay Meanchey) are listed as temporarily closed for e-Visa entry. If your land crossing does not accept e-Visa, plan a visa on arrival at that post instead. [Source: evisa.gov.kh ports]
How to enter Cambodia on a tourist visa
Step 1. Apply on the official site evisa.gov.kh unless you will use visa on arrival at a supporting airport or land post. Avoid lookalike sites. Processing is about three business days.
Step 2. Confirm your port of entry is on the e-Visa list if you applied online. Poipet from Thailand is a common miss.
Step 3. Submit the free Cambodia e-Arrival form within seven days before arrival. The e-Visa site says all travelers must complete it, including visa holders. Arriving visitors may receive a v-Pass by email in place of an inked stamp.
Step 4. Photograph your entry record and count 30 days (one month) from the entry date, not from the e-Visa issue date.
Step 5. If you need more than one month, arrange the correct longer visa class with Cambodian immigration or a Cambodian embassy before you run out of days. Do not assume a tourist top-up is automatic.
Worked example with concrete dates
Jordan, a US citizen, receives a Visa T issued on 1 February 2026. That visa stays valid to enter until about 1 May 2026. Jordan lands at Techo International Airport on 4 March 2026. The stay clock is one month from entry, so Jordan should treat 2 April 2026 as the outer tourist date unless a later permission is granted in writing.
Jordan wants "another 30 days" after three nights in Bangkok from 3 April to 6 April 2026. Re-entry on 6 April is a new visa decision. It requires a new visa (the first e-Visa was single entry) and is not a right. Officers can refuse entry if they believe the true intent is de facto residence.
Visa runs, extensions, and longer stays
Cambodia does not publish a simple "leave for X days and get a fresh month" formula for US tourists. Each landing is discretionary. Patterns of back-to-back 30-day stays with short hops to Thailand or Vietnam can attract shorter grants or refusal. Background reading: how visa runs work and are visa runs legal.
The official Visa T page does not advertise an in-country tourist extension. Do not plan a 60-day Cambodia season on a blog claim that "everyone extends once." If you need more than one month, ask Cambodian immigration or a Cambodian embassy about the correct class before you overstay. Neighboring Thailand has its own 60-day exemption and extension path for US passports. Do not mix the two systems. Contrast: how long US citizens can stay in Thailand.
Common mistakes
Treating three-month e-Visa validity as three months of stay. Validity is the window to enter. Stay is one month from entry.
Flying or bussing into a port that does not accept e-Visa. Check the official port list, especially Poipet.
Skipping e-Arrival because you already have a visa. The official site still wants the form.
Miscounting the last day. Use the entry record, not the issue date.
Assuming a Bangkok weekend renews 30 days. Single-entry Visa T is spent when you leave.
How to track Cambodia days without a spreadsheet
A 30-day stamp is easy to lose in a multi-country Southeast Asia loop. Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) logs Cambodia entry and counts down to the limit you record. Alerts at 7, 3, and 1 day reduce overstay risk when you combine Cambodia with Thailand, Vietnam, or Laos. Passport details stay on your device. Only travel dates sync for the math. Available on iOS. Free trial, then annual subscription. See App Store for current pricing.
For tool comparisons, see Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026) and How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries.
Download Staywise on the App Store
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can US citizens stay in Cambodia on a tourist visa?
US citizens usually stay one month from the date of entry on a tourist visa. The official Visa T e-Visa is single entry, valid for three months from issue so you can enter, with a stay of one month after you land. The US State Department describes tourist and business visas as valid for one month from entry. Count from the entry record, not from the approval email date.
Do US citizens need a visa for Cambodia?
Yes. US passports are not visa-free for Cambodia. Apply for a tourist e-Visa on evisa.gov.kh, use visa on arrival at a supporting airport or land post, or apply at the Cambodian Embassy in Washington. You still need a passport valid more than six months at entry and the e-Arrival form. An e-Visa does not guarantee admission if officers find you inadmissible.
What is the Cambodia e-Arrival form?
It is a free digital immigration, health, and customs form on arrival.gov.kh. Submit it within seven days before you arrive. The official e-Visa site says all travelers should complete it even if they already have a visa. Keep the confirmation or v-Pass. Completing it at the counter is slower and easy to miss on a tight connection.
Can I leave Cambodia and come back for another 30 days?
Not as a right. Visa T is single entry, so leaving uses it up. A later trip needs a new visa and a new admission decision. Short hops to Thailand or Vietnam followed by immediate return can look like de facto residence. Officers can admit you for a shorter period or refuse entry. If you need Cambodia as a base, arrange a longer lawful status instead of stacking tourist months.
What happens if I overstay in Cambodia?
The US State Department says Cambodian officials will likely impose a fine of 10 US dollars per day overstayed. Excessive overstays can lead to arrest, official deportation at your expense, and a later re-entry ban. Leave on or before the authorized date. If an emergency blocks travel, contact immigration rather than ignoring the date. Save your entry record so you never lose the deadline.
Related guides
- Visa-free vs visa on arrival
- How long can US citizens stay in Thailand
- Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026)
- How to Track Your Days in Multiple Countries
About Staywise
Staywise is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.
Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Staywise tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.