How to Apply for a Cambodia Visa in New Orleans

Cambodia – land of exotic beaches, tropical river cruises, and fabled Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world -- continues to attract a growing number of leisure and business travelers from the New Orleans area.  Almost 5.5 million foreigners visited Southeast Asian destination last year, with the United States ranking among the top five countries for inbound tourists.

Located on the Indochinese Peninsula, the Kingdom of Cambodia borders Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand on the South China Sea.  It covers almost 70,000 square miles along the Mekong River and around Tonle Sap, the largest lake in the region. “There's a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors,” Lonely Planet reported. “An adventure to Cambodia will inspire travelers to contemplate what happens when ancient and modern worlds collide.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia)

For more than 1,000 years, Cambodia was the center of the powerful Khmer Empire, which stretched into China and Thailand and helped spread Hinduism and Buddhism across the region.  In 1863, it became a French protectorate before declaring independence from France in 1953.  During the 1960s, the Vietnam War spilled over into Cambodia, triggering a civil war which brought the communist Khmer Rouge to power in 1975.  The 1991 Paris Peace Accords ended the conflicts, leading to the current constitutional monarchy and multi-party state.  Today the country is home to more than 17 million residents who are primarily ethnically Khmer, speak the Khmer language, and are Buddhists.  Some 85% of Cambodians live in rural areas, where agriculture sustains most of the population.

Cambodia’s economy grew by 5.4% in 2023 and by an estimated 5.8% in 2024, according to World Bank statistics, with GDP forecast at more than $50 billion for 2025.  Manufacturing and tourism were the main drivers in that growth, while other major sectors were agriculture, real estate, and construction. “The United States is Cambodia’s largest export market and one of Cambodia’s larger overall trading partners,” the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia stated. “The Cambodian government offers a generous package of incentives to foreign investors and imposes few restrictions on imports from abroad,” the embassy continued. “Opportune sectors for potential investment in Cambodia include tourism, aviation, education, construction, agriculture/agribusiness, automotive, energy, manufacturing, health care, and technology.” (https://kh.usembassy.gov/getting-started-in-cambodia/) While New Orleans area businesspeople who import fashion apparel and accessories will be the mostly visitors to Cambodia, the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) stated that sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, fast food and beverages, automobiles and automotive parts, education, household appliances, and power generation equipment also offer good prospects for U.S. exports and investments. (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/cambodia-education?navcard=13882)

Tourism is another pillar of the Cambodian economy that offers opportunities for New Orleans-based companies.  The World Trade & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates the sector contributed $10.1 trillion dollars in 2024, or 10% of the kingdom’s GDP.  By 2034, WTTC added, tourism will grow to $16 trillion, or 11.4% of GDP.  ITA added, “Most tourists are attracted to the historical/cultural complex of Angkor Wat, but an increasing number of tourists are also visiting the beaches in and around Sihanoukville,” a coastal destination where the airport was recently expanded.  Also, in 2024, government officials launched their first public-private partnership to expand tourism to focus on such attractions as beach getaways, pristine rainforests, and cultural experiences. “The government has approved a number of resort development projects by international and Cambodian developers on the country’s islands, southern coastline, and mountain areas,” ITA stated.  “The government is also looking to open up more of the country to eco-tourism, capitalizing on natural resources such as mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and rare animal species like the Mekong dolphin.  Cambodia’s tourism developments present market opportunities for U.S. companies to develop resort or tourist attractions and supply tourism-related products or infrastructure.” (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/cambodia-travel-and-tourism)

Most visitors from New Orleans will arrive at the international airports in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and largest city, or Siem Reap near Angkor Wat.  Top tourist attractions in Phnom Penh include the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, and Independence Monument.  Phnom Penh’s oldest structure, Wat Phnom, is a pagoda that dates back to the city’s founding in 1373.  The city’s architecture reflects a vast range of influences and styles, including French Colonial, New Khmer, Chinese, and post-modernism.  Phnom Penh is also the kingdom’s economic center, with new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shopping centers opening in a city surrounded by garment factories and trading enterprises.  However, Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second-largest city and the home of Angkor Wat, is the country’s leading tourist destination.  One of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cambodia, Angkor Wat is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex first constructed in 1150 CE that includes ancient ruins and restored structures.  Cambodia was mainly known as a backpackers’ haven before Angkor Wat became an international tourism “must-see” that draws 2.5 million visitors annually.

While Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s best-known international draw, ancient monuments only account for a small percent of its global tourism, the Los Angeles Times reported. “Today, leisure, adventure, wellness, and business tourism account for most of the market,” Tourism Ministry CEO Ith Vichit told the publication.  The report added, “Beyond the ancient temples, Cambodia boasts a trove of natural wonders and less-known locations primed to capitate adventurous travelers.” The northeastern and southwestern regions contain unique Amazon-type rainforests, while pink dolphins can be found in the Mekong River and in the ocean, as are the rare manatee-like dugong. (https://www.latimes.com/specialsupplements/one-world-media/story/beyond-angkor-wat-cambodias-next-big-move-in-global-tourism) Other popular tourist activities in Cambodia for residents of New Orleans include cruises on the Mekong River or into the South China Sea; exploring tropical jungles and palm-lined beaches; biking along the river or through Angkor Wat; walk with a herd at the Elephant Valley sanctuary; paddleboarding on the Tuek Chhou River; looking for rare waterfowl at Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary; or enjoying the unique Phare the Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap.

Requirements for Obtaining a Cambodia Visa

Citizens of the United States and most other nations living in New Orleans are required to obtain a visa before visiting Cambodia. (The 35 countries whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements are listed at https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/how-to-get-a-visa.html.)  The main requirement for visa applicants and visa-exempt visitors is holding a passport valid for at least six months beyond their departure date that also contains one blank page.  There are no vaccination requirements, although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends routine vaccinations for travelers to Cambodia (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/cambodia#vaccines-and-medicines).

Cambodia offers several types of visas, with visitor and tourist visas the most popular.  Applicants can obtain an electronic visa (eVisa) online; a traditional paper visa through the Cambodia embassy in the country where they live; or a visa upon arrival at international airports and major ports of entry.

Option 1: Electronic Cambodia Visa

Residents of the New Orleans area can apply for tourist and business electronic visas through the government portal at https://www.evisa.gov.kh/.  The tourist entry e-Visa (or Visa T) and the business e-Visa (Visa E) are valid for three months after issue.  The single-entry visas allow you to stay in Cambodia for up to 30 days after arrival.  Processing time is typically four business days.  The visa fees are $30 for a tourist e-Visa and $35 for business. 

You can use the e-Visa at the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Angkor International Airports, as well as designated entry ports listed at https://www.evisa.gov.kh/information/port_entry/3.

The basic process to apply for and use tourist and business e-Visas is:

  • Complete and review the online application at https://www.evisa.gov.kh/application. You will need to include a scanned color copy of your passport information page, a digital photo, flight itinerary, and hotel reservations.
  • Pay the appropriate fees online. Fees can be paid using the following payment methods: Visa, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, UnionPay, Alipay, or WeChat.
  • Receive an approval letter from Cambodian authorities, normally within three days.
  • Download your e-Visa confirmation certificate and present it to immigration authorities when you arrive in Cambodia.
  • Health Insurance.  Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Cambodia.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.

You can also apply for to up 10 people in the same group (such as family members) using the same online session.  Once you complete the first application, add additional individual applications after you review the first one.  Visa fees apply to each person in the party.

Option 2: Apply through the Cambodian Embassy

Residents of the New Orleans area can also apply for a traditional visa through the Cambodia embassy to the United States in Washington, D.C.  You can apply in person or through the mail, and receive a visa sticker that is attached to your passport.  Details about this visa can be found via the embassy’s website at https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/how-to-get-a-visa.html.

Visas available through the embassy include tourist (Visa T), business (Visa E), official, and diplomatic visas.  Like the e-Visa, the physical visa is a single-entry visa good for up to three months that allows you to spend up to 30 days in Cambodia.  However, you can also extend the visa for another 30 days by visiting the Cambodian Immigration office in Phnom Penh.

You can apply for a tourist visa up to two months ahead of your trip.  Processing time is typically seven to 10 business days.  You will need to:

  • Download the application at https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/tourist_visa_type-t.html, fill it out, and sign it.
  • Provide your passport, good for six months beyond your departure date and containing at least one blank page.
  • Supply two color passport-size photos taken within the last six months.
  • Provide a copy of your flight or vessel itinerary.
  • Pay a visa fee of $30, using a money order or cashier’s check payable to the Embassy of Cambodia.

The requirements for the business visa are similar to the tourist visa.  The business visa is for those who have received an invitation from a Cambodian company, are being sent to the kingdom for commercial purposes, or have accepted a job in Cambodia.  The application can be found at https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/business_visa_type-e.html.  The main differences are:

  • You must supply a letter of invitation from a Cambodian company or a letter from your employer confirming the business trip.
  • Your passport must have two blank pages rather than one.
  • The fee is $35, payable by cashier’s check or money order to the embassy.
  • Include a copy of your passport biometrics page and your most recent Cambodian visa (if you have visited previously).

You can apply for a tourist or business visa in person at the Cambodian embassy in Washington, D.C., or you can mail your application and supporting documentation.  If you decide to apply in person, no appointment is necessary.  Walk-in hours are 9 am to noon and 1-4 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays listed on their website).  The embassy address is:

Royal Embassy of Cambodia
4530 16th Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20011
Phone: 202-726 7742

​If you mail your application and documentation to the embassy, keep copies of all your materials.  Mail it via UPS, FedEx, or USPS to the address above.  Send your application in an envelope with a tracking number.  Also include a pre-addressed envelope with prepaid postage and a tracking number to receive your passport and visa via return mail.  Processing time is 7-10 days from the date the application is received (plus return mail transit time).  You can check the status of your application at https://recdcvisa.embassyofcambodiadc.org/visastatus/.

Option 3: Visa on Arrival

You can also apply for a traditional visa when you arrive at an air, land, or seaport in Cambodia.  However, the embassy “strongly recommends” visitors should obtain visas prior to their travel “to avoid any inconvenience.”

Tourists, diplomats, and business travelers can obtain a Cambodian visa at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings, the U.S. State Department noted. “Cambodian immigration officials at airports now collect fingerprints upon entry using an inkless, electronic process.  You will need a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cambodia.html)

You will need to bring your passport and a passport photograph.  Upon arrival, you will be required to complete an application form and present it to immigration officials.  The embassy also suggests you check with your airline to make sure they will allow you to board without presenting a Cambodian visa.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in New Orleans or anywhere in the state of Louisiana and have difficulty applying for a Cambodia visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Cambodia visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the Cambodian government.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

We provide the following Cambodia visa services for our customers in New Orleans:

  • Cambodia Tourist Visa
  • Cambodia Business Visa
  • Cambodia Official Duty Visa
  • Cambodia Diplomatic Visa
  • Cambodia Courtesy Visa
  • Cambodia Khmer Visa (for Cambodians holding valid foreign passports)
  • Cambodia Hotel Accommodations
  • Cambodia Tour Packages
  • Cambodia Travel Insurance