Cambodia scraps all COVID-19 restrictions for travellers

Cambodia has become the latest country in the region to ditch its COVID-19 entry restrictions for travellers, restoring travel requirements to pre-pandemic norms from 3rd October 2022, for business and leisure trips just how they used to be.

Prior to this change, travellers to Cambodia were exempt from any quarantine requirement with either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a mandatory on-arrival antigen test for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults aged 17 or over, administered at a cost of US$5.

Those subject to the on-arrival test who returned a positive result and had no symptoms or mild symptoms would then be required to isolate at home or at accommodation determined by the Ministry of Health. Those with severe symptoms would be sent to a designated treatment centre.

New entry process

From 3rd October 2022, there are no longer any COVID-19 entry requirements for travellers heading to Cambodia, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

That means you no longer need to show a vaccination certificate or complete an on-arrival test when travelling to the country.

In a further simplification, Cambodia’s passenger health declaration has also been scrapped.

There will still be remote temperature screening of passengers at entry ports, for officers “to check and advise passengers who may have COVID-19 symptoms”.

Cambodia was the first country in the region to remove all testing for vaccinated travellers back in March 2022, and has progressively relaxed its border measures since then, initially by removing mandatory vaccination and insurance requirements back in July 2022.

This new policy will see a complete return to pre-COVID travel requirements when entering the country, with the exception of on-arrival temperature checks.

Cambodia also continues to require mask-wearing in enclosed settings, including on board flights to and from the country.

Cambodia entry requirements

Here’s a summary of Cambodia’s regular entry requirements for non-national visitors, which thankfully no longer have anything to do with COVID-19.

• ASEAN nationals, including Singapore Citizens, do not need a visa to enter Cambodia for stays of up to 30 days.
• Those with any non-ASEAN nationalities, for example Australian, British and U.S. Citizens, will need to apply for an e-Visa (T category) prior to travelling, or obtain a visa on arrival, at a cost of US$36.
• All passports will need to be valid for a minimum period of six months from your date of entry to Cambodia, whether you are entering visa-free (ASEAN) or not.
• An onward or return travel ticket and proof of sufficient funds may be required to visit Cambodia, whether you are entering visa-free (ASEAN) or not.

Singapore – Cambodia flights

Based on November 2022 schedules, there are 35 weekly flights between Singapore and Cambodia:

• Jetstar offers 7 x weekly flights to and from Phnom Penh (Airbus A320)
• Singapore Airlines offers 21 x weekly flights to and from Phnom Penh (Airbus A350 Medium Haul and Boeing 737-8 MAX)
• Singapore Airlines offers 7 x weekly flights to and from Siem Reap (Boeing 737-8 MAX)

Prior to COVID-19, Jetstar and SilkAir were flying 47 flights per week to and from Cambodia, so schedules unfortunately still remain at around three-quarters of pre-pandemic levels.

Regional COVID-19 travel relaxations

Other countries in the region that have already removed all COVID-19 entry restrictions, and similarly returned to a fully pre-pandemic travel format, include Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and Malaysia.

South Korea was the most recent addition to the list, with no more entry requirements regardless of vaccination status and with no testing since 1st October 2022.

The Maldives is also a pre-COVID experience, with the exception of the requirement for travellers to complete a health declaration within 96 hours (4 days) of arrival. New Zealand retains a similar requirement.

What about Singapore?

Despite widespread regional ditching of all COVID-19 restrictions for travellers, Singapore still retains differentiated entry requirements at the time of writing, requiring unvaccinated travellers to have a negative COVID-19 test conducted within two days of departure, in order to travel to the country.

Furthermore, all travellers arriving in the Lion City by air are required to complete an electronic health declaration (SGAC) within three days of arrival, including Singapore Citizens and residents.

Travel to Cambodia is now a completely pre-COVID experience, whether you’re fully vaccinated or not, making it one of the simplest options in the region alongside several other countries that have finally ditched COVID-related entry restrictions.

One in three tourist arrivals in Cambodia prior to COVID-19 were Chinese nationals, and with strict ongoing border requirements there leading to most of those travellers still staying at home, this could be a great opportunity to visit sites like Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) and beat the crowds.

(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)