Hello. I'll be headed to SW Asia in a few months. The only country where I am going which requires a visa is Cambodia. The tour company "suggests" I get my visa before I go as "visa requirements change and problems occur, we will not be responsible for delays." This is about a $90 fee plus mailing fees. I can also try and get the visa myself from the Cambodian Embassy, but I tried that for other countries and it was a pain, so unless some has done this and found it ridiculously easy I am hesitant to try it. My second viable option is to wait and get it when I go to Cambodia. I found a couple of websites which suggests it is a pretty easy visa to get in-country. However, with our current president, one never knows (not a political challenging statement--just a concern.) So, to those who have been to Cambodia (fairly recently) and have experience with their visas: 1) Pay the extra and have an agency get it for me or 2) wait until I get there and save $125 or so dollars. TIA for your help and suggestions.
Posted by
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1937 posts
I haven't been to Cambodia, but it seems to me you're asking the wrong question.
If you decide to wait until you arrive to get your visa, will you be able to relax and enjoy your vacation and go with the flow no matter what happens? Or will you be anxious and spend sleepless nights worrying about the possibility of something going wrong when you try to purchase your visa?
If you're a worrier, then bite the bullet and get the visa in advance.
Don't sacrifice your enjoyment of what is likely an expensive vacation in order to save $125.
Posted by
11606 posts
We bought our visa online directly from the Cambodian government : evisa.gov.kh
It says it's $36.00. We bought ours before we left home. Once we arrived at airport in Siem Reap, there were few people on the visa line. The high priced visas you mention are through a commercial visa agency which is totally unnecessary.
Once I had the visa on my computer, I printed it out and stapled it in my passport so it wouldn't get lost.
Posted by
2545 posts
It was simple for us....just print out the blank visa form, complete it, and present it along with cash to the officials at the airport. Easy, fast, economical.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1554 posts
We were there in January and just bought the visa when we arrived. Few people in line, short wait, no problems.
Posted by
OP
Tigard, OR, USA
1068 posts
Thanks for the replies, looks like I will wait.
I haven't been to Cambodia, but it seems to me you're asking the wrong
question.If you decide to wait until you arrive to get your visa, will you be
able to relax and enjoy your vacation and go with the flow no matter
what happens? Or will you be anxious and spend sleepless nights
worrying about the possibility of something going wrong when you try
to purchase your visa?If you're a worrier, then bite the bullet and get the visa in advance.
Don't sacrifice your enjoyment of what is likely an expensive vacation
in order to save $125.
Not for me. If I was that concerned, I simply would have used the agency. Just wondered what, if anything, I might be missing. Thanks for the thought though.
Posted by
2545 posts
A whole gaggle of staff at the Siem Reap Airport processed visa applications with ease and it took maybe five minutes for our visas. Again, just print the visa application form and complete it in advance for presentation to officials. What’s not to like?
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2760 posts
I went to Cambodia in 2014 and got a visa on arrival in Siem Reap airport. I printed out the visa application in advance. Remember to bring cash (US dollars) to pay - they don't take credit cards - and two passport sized photos. The line wasn't horrible even though they were processing an entire flight worth of people - took about 20 minutes. It does appear you can now do this online - I would have done this option if it had existed then.
Also, note that the Cambodian visa takes up an entire passport page, so make sure you have enough blank spots in your book.
Posted by
OP
Tigard, OR, USA
1068 posts
Thanks for the replies. I have checked out the on-line site and will do that within the next month or so. Seems like a good choice.