A Cambodia visa is required of citizens of Azerbaijan, but it is obtained in two easy ways: online as an eVisa before you fly, or at the border at the airport. There is no need to hunt for an embassy to get to the temples of Angkor. The only difference is 6 dollars and the queue.
But the internet is full of middleman sites around the Cambodian eVisa, and they charge 80–100 dollars for a 36-dollar visa. In this article we explain the official route, the fees, which border crossings the eVisa works at, and the options for getting from Baku to Cambodia.
A Cambodia visa: the basics
| Visa type | Tourist visa (T), eVisa or on arrival |
| eVisa fee | 36 dollars: 30 for the visa plus 6 processing |
| Visa on arrival | 30 dollars, cash |
| Length of stay | 30 days, extendable once |
| Processing time | eVisa 3 working days |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| Direct flight | None, via Bangkok, Doha or Dubai |
How to get a Cambodia visa: eVisa or on arrival?
The eVisa is obtained on the official portal of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: a form, a scan of your passport, a photo and a 36-dollar card payment. The approval comes as a PDF within 3 working days; you print two copies, one taken on entry and one on exit. The official portal is the Cambodian government’s eVisa site; sites whose address does not end in gov.kh are middlemen.
The visa on arrival is issued at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports and at the main land crossings: you fill in a form, hand over a photo and pay 30 dollars in cash. It is 6 dollars cheaper, but you need to queue and to have cash, and at some crossings the officers ask for an extra “service fee”. For those arriving by air both routes work, and we recommend the eVisa.
Which crossings does the eVisa work at?
This is an important rule for Cambodia. The eVisa is accepted at all the airports and at only a few main land crossings: Poipet and Cham Yeam from Thailand and Bavet from Vietnam. Those entering through the smaller land crossings are not let in on an eVisa and have to get a visa on arrival there. Anyone travelling by bus from the Thai side should check their route for this.
What do you need for a Cambodia visa?
No bank statement, employment certificate or hotel booking is required, which makes Cambodia one of the simplest visas in the region. Entry to the Angkor temples is separate from the visa: a 1-day ticket is 37 dollars, a 3-day 62 and a 7-day 72, bought on the spot.
Read next: An Indonesia visa for Bali: the e-VOA, extending the 30 days and the Bali tourist tax
How do you get from Baku to Cambodia?
There is no direct flight. The most used route is via Bangkok: from Baku via Doha, Dubai or Istanbul to Bangkok, and from there a 1-hour flight to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Qatar Airways and Emirates also fly to Phnom Penh directly. The whole journey takes 14–18 hours. When looking for a Baku–Phnom Penh air ticket, buying two separate tickets via Bangkok is often cheaper; Thailand gives citizens of Azerbaijan an online visa, so spending a few days in Bangkok and crossing to Cambodia is a popular itinerary.
Cambodia is usually toured not alone but together with Thailand and Vietnam. South-East Asia tour programmes combine the three countries into 10–14 days, and as all three give citizens of Azerbaijan an online visa, the document preparation is minimal.
Things to know before the trip
- Money. The official currency is the riel, but US dollars work everywhere and prices are written in dollars. Take small dollar notes; the change comes back in riel.
- Season. November–March is dry and relatively cool, April and May are very hot, and June–October is rainy.
- Insurance. Not required, but medical care is limited and in serious cases patients are taken to Bangkok.
- Angkor. People go to the temples at 5 in the morning for the sunrise, and the ticket is bought the evening before.
Frequently asked questions about the Cambodia visa
How many entries does a Cambodia visa allow?
The tourist visa is single entry. If you want to go out to Vietnam and come back, you need a second visa.
Can the 30 days be extended?
Yes, once more for 30 days, through the immigration office in Phnom Penh or a travel agency, for about 45 dollars.
What if the eVisa is refused?
Refusal is very rare and is usually to do with the quality of the photo. You can apply again or get a visa at the border.
In closing
A Cambodia visa is 36 dollars and 10 minutes; the main thing is to get it from the official portal and to enter through a crossing where the eVisa works. The Viza.az team helps with arranging the eVisa, building the route via Bangkok and planning a South-East Asia trip.
You can read more about the Cambodia destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. Fees and the list of crossing points can change, so look at the official portal once more before you apply.
