Background
Immigration enforcement in Cambodia covers visa control, residence status, border entry procedures, and the removal of foreign nationals who violate immigration or criminal laws. Deportation is an administrative and legal measure used after authorities identify breaches such as unlawful stay, illegal entry, document fraud, or involvement in criminal activity.
The General Department of Immigration operates under the Ministry of Interior and oversees immigration investigation, border control coordination, and removal procedures. International airports and land border checkpoints are key operational nodes in Cambodia’s immigration system because they are used both for entry screening and for executing deportation orders.
Online scam cases have become a major cross-border enforcement issue in Cambodia, linking immigration control with broader efforts against transnational crime. Immigration procedures are also used in cases involving fake passports, fraudulent visa QR codes, unlawful employment, kidnapping for ransom, and other criminal offenses involving foreign nationals.
Key Developments
According to the General Department of Immigration, authorities deported a total of 1,175 foreign nationals, including 167 women, from Cambodia between 12 and 19 April 2026. The individuals were from 28 nationalities: Rwanda, Cameroon, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, China, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, Madagascar, Ghana, the Philippines, Lebanon, Korea, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Taiwan, Kyrgyzstan, and Canada.
The department stated that 327 Chinese nationals linked to online scam cases were deported through Techo International Airport police checkpoint. It also stated that 226 Vietnamese nationals linked to online scam cases were deported through the Chak Krie international border checkpoint.
Other deported foreign nationals were reported to be involved in illegal border crossing, use of forged documents, residence without passports, kidnapping for ransom, use of fake visas including fraudulent QR codes, online scams, illegal work, and other criminal offenses in Cambodia. Additional removals were carried out through the Techo International Airport checkpoint.
Institutional Role
The General Department of Immigration said the deportations were carried out by its Investigation and Procedure Enforcement Department under the direction of the Director General of Immigration. The announcement framed the removals as part of broader enforcement measures under the Ministry of Interior.
The department also linked the operation to government efforts to suppress technology-enabled crime, particularly online scam activity. That positioning shows how immigration enforcement is being used not only for status violations but also as an operational response to foreign nationals connected to transnational criminal networks.
Operational Implications
The reported removals indicate continued use of airports and land border gates as deportation channels in Cambodia’s immigration system. Techo International Airport and the Chak Krie international border checkpoint were specifically identified as exit points used for enforcement actions during the period.
For businesses, employers, and foreign residents, the cases underscore the compliance risks associated with irregular immigration status, fraudulent travel documents, unauthorized work, and criminal conduct. The announcement also suggests sustained coordination between immigration authorities and broader anti-crime operations targeting online scam networks.
Official Source
General Department of Immigration (GDI), Facebook post published on 20 April 2026.
