Background
On 24 August 2026, senior officials from the General Department of Immigration convened to review a draft sub-decree that sets conditions, forms and procedures for permitting non-immigrant foreigners to enter, exit, transit and stay in Cambodia. In Cambodia’s legal framework, a sub-decree is a secondary regulatory instrument used to detail procedures and operational requirements that implement laws and higher-level decrees.
The draft sub-decree under review is focused on administrative procedures for non-immigration permits and is intended to clarify application forms, documentation requirements and procedural steps for border and residency officials. The review meeting included the Deputy Director-General and the head of the Department for Non-Immigration Foreigners along with other immigration officials responsible for drafting and operationalizing procedural rules.
Scope of Application
The draft sub-decree addresses permit types and administrative procedures for foreign nationals who are classified as non-immigration entrants, specifically covering entry, exit, transit and temporary stay operations at Cambodian points of entry and within national territory. The instrument is a regulatory-level text meant to apply to administrative bodies, border control units and affected foreign individuals subject to non-immigrant permits.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The draft specifies three core elements: the eligibility conditions for non-immigrant permits, the standardized forms to be used by applicants and the step-by-step procedural requirements for processing applications and decisions. The document under review also aims to align documentary requirements with existing administrative workflows used by immigration officers at ports of entry and internal processing units.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
If adopted, the sub-decree would create defined administrative obligations for businesses that sponsor or host non-immigrant foreign nationals, including requirements to submit specific forms and supporting documents when facilitating entry or temporary stay. Compliance teams, human resources departments and service providers involved in visa facilitation would need to update their procedures to match any newly prescribed forms and processing timelines set out in the sub-decree.
Official Source
Original notice published by the General Department of Immigration (GDI) on 24 August 2026. Source: GDI social channels and official website: https://www.facebook.com/GDIOfficial/, https://www.tiktok.com/@gdicambodia, https://t.me/GDIOfficial, and www.immigration.gov.kh. The Facebook post associated with this notice is: https://www.facebook.com/GDIOfficial/posts/pfbid0QsxHrRNDct5jYyYW23CKcyCKCTJEzmfBCQfjw8jzv1UTrSHWTKuBM7WU3Fhbekanl.
