Background
The Ministry of Tourism announced a pilot adjustment to Cambodia’s visa regime aimed at facilitating short-stay travel by Chinese nationals for tourism purposes. The pilot was publicised by H.E. Huot Hak in interviews with more than 11 major Chinese media outlets on 13 June 2026.
The pilot allows PRC passport holders to enter Cambodia without applying for a visa for stays of up to 14 days. Eligible PRC passport holders may enter and exit Cambodia multiple times during the pilot period between 15 June and 15 October 2026. Cambodia received approximately 5.6 million international visitors in 2025, including more than 1.2 million visitors from China, a year-on-year increase of around 42 percent; Chinese travellers were the largest source of international arrivals in the first five months of 2026.
Scope of Application
The pilot applies only to holders of passports issued by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and is limited to the specific dates of 15 June 2026 through 15 October 2026. During this period, eligible travellers can stay in Cambodia for up to 14 days and are permitted multiple entries under the exemption. The exemption does not apply to other nationalities or to periods outside the stated pilot dates.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The Ministry of Tourism communicated the pilot via interviews with Chinese and Cambodian media on 13 June 2026 and identified the pilot start and end dates as 15 June and 15 October 2026 respectively. The exemption removes the prior requirement for PRC passport holders to apply for a visa before travel for stays up to 14 days during the pilot window. Multiple-entry admission is explicitly allowed for PRC passport holders while the pilot is in force.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The pilot represents a temporary, date-bound change to entry requirements for PRC passport holders that businesses and operators in the tourism sector should record in operational planning and reporting. Existing Cambodian laws and administrative requirements applicable to tourism operators and border authorities remain in force unless separately amended by competent authorities.
Official Source
Ministry of Tourism media engagement, Phnom Penh, 13 June 2026; official notice and summary published via Ministry of Tourism social channels: source post.
